In this episode, we dive into one of the darkest chapters of convict transportation to Australia: the voyage of the Neptune, the notorious ship of the Second Fleet. This 1790 journey was marked by unprecedented cruelty, neglect, and tragedy, with the highest death toll in the history of convict transportation. We explore the harsh conditions aboard the Neptune, where over 500 convicts were packed into overcrowded, disease-ridden holds, with little food, water, or medical care. SOURCES Collins, D. (1975) An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, with Remarks on the Dispositions, Cust ..read more

In the thrilling second episode of Season 4 of the Convict Australia Podcast, we journey back to 1825 to a stormy night in Tasmania as Matthew Brady and his infamous gang of bushrangers lay siege to the small town of Sorell. As the rain poured and the night deepened, Brady knocked on the door of Robert Bethune’s estate, launching a daring raid that spiralled into a full-scale takeover. Hear the gripping tale of how these outlaws, driven by desperation and cunning, outwitted local authorities and took control of the town. Feel the tension as they ambush unsuspecting soldiers and confront Lieute ..read more

On 21 March 1823, four convict men left Sydney in a 29ft open boat heading for the Five Islands to collect cedar. On the way, they encountered a fierce storm that pushed them out to sea and hundreds of miles north. This is the story of their remarkable fight for survival. LINKS Get your copy of Convict Australia, Extraordinary true stories of shipwrecks, riots, daring escapes and more.  https://www.amazon.com.au/Convict-Australia-Extraordinary-stories-shipwrecks/dp/0648946819 Get your copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of 32 prisoners. https://www.amazon.com.au/Convict-Sydney ..read more

This is the story of Thomas Drewery, a man who was accused of theft, found guilty and sentenced to 7 years transportation for a crime he did not commit.  This is about his fight to clear his name. LINKS Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of 32 prisoners: www.jennifer-twemlow.com Support Convict Australia and receive goodies such as the Convict Australia Newsletter: https://www.patreon.com/ConvictAustralia Join the conversation on our Facebook & Instagram pages: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173850624015866 https://www.instagram.com/convict_australia/?hl=en Start yo ..read more

This is the true story of convict First Fleeter, Mary Bryant.  In March 1791 Mary, her husband, their two infant children and 6 other convicts made a daring escape from the fledgling colony of NSW.  In a tiny boat, they managed to make it all the way to Timor. LINKS Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of 32 prisoners: www.jennifer-twemlow.com Support Convict Australia and receive goodies such as the Convict Australia Newsletter: https://www.patreon.com/ConvictAustralia Join the conversation on our Facebook & Instagram pages: https://www.facebook.com/groups/17385 ..read more

Join me as I talk to Matthew Bateman-Graham, a tour guide at Fremantle Prison – a UNESCO World Heritage site for convicts in Western Australia.  Matthew talks about how Fremantle Prison came to be, the types of convicts that were sent over, their skills and routine.  Plus, he discusses some of the extraordinary escapees such as Moondyne Joe and much more. LINKS Fremantle Prison https://fremantleprison.com.au/ Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of 32 prisoners: www.jennifer-twemlow.com Support Convict Australia and receive goodies such as the Convict Australia Newsl ..read more

Join me as I talk to Tammy Reardon about the Isle of the Dead – the final resting place for convicts who died at Port Arthur. Tammy has been conducting tours at the Isle of the Dead and Port Arthur Historic Site for over 15 years. She shares with us stories about the Island, convicts and free settlers associated with the site such as Henry Savery, the Staveley family and the last gravedigger, Mark Jeffery. LINKS The Isle of the Dead Cemetery Tour: https://portarthur.org.au/tour/isle-of-the-dead/ Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of 32 prisoners: www.jennifer-twemlow.com Sup ..read more

Reverend Samuel Marsden arrived in NSW in 1794 as the new chaplain but was quickly appointed as a magistrate. Marsden detested sin and sought to rid the colony of it. He became known as the 'Flogging Parson' for handing out severe punishments, but he also did a lot of good in the colony.  For example, he actively tried to improve conditions for female convicts at the Parramatta Female Factory and he helped with the establishment and administration of the Female Orphan School.  Join me as I talk to historian Michel Wilson as we unpack the good, the bad, and the ugly that was Samuel Ma ..read more

George III left Woolwich, England in December 1834 transporting 220 male convicts. The voyage was an eventful one - a fire broke loose, scurvy was rife and one day out from reaching Tasmania, the ship was wrecked when it ran into an unchartered rock. LINKS Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of 32 prisoners: www.jennifer-twemlow.com Support Convict Australia and receive goodies such as the Convict Australia Newsletter: https://www.patreon.com/ConvictAustralia Join the conversation on our Facebook & Instagram pages: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173850624015866 https://w ..read more

Join me as I chat with Janice Ruse Huntington about her ancestor, James Ruse.  James was a Cornish convict who was transported to Australia with the First Fleet.  He claimed to be the first European from the First Fleet to set foot on Australian soil. He also became the first ex-convict to receive a land grant from Governor Phillip and quickly turned his Experiment Farm into a success, proving that with little assistance a settler could become self-sufficient. LINKS For a copy of the book My Mother Reread Me Tenderley, the life of James Ruse by Janice Ruse Huntington please contact J ..read more