Early migration to Australia
Starting in 1788, Britain sent convicts to Botany Bay in Australia. Over the next 80 years, over 162,000 convicts were transported to the Australian Penal Colony. The Majority of these criminals were arrested for petty crimes such as thievery. Prisoners were punished by being whipped with a cat of 9 tails and sometimes being locked in dark cells. Their job was to build roads, buildings, hospitals and churches. Later on, they were employed to local farmers as labourers.
The journey from England to Botany Bay took approximately 252 days via ship. On the first flight, there were 543 men and 189 women, and 22 convict children.
In London at the time, it was a very dirty and polluted place under the influence of the Industrial Revolution. Lots of factories were being built, and the city was overcrowded.
