Australia's Convict background is quite well known but is hard to appreciate until you see the faces, hear the stories, and walk through the buildings of this time. Once again i will re-interate that the real suckers in the deal were the folks who never got onto the boat in the first place and stayed at home in the dreary rain confines known as the U.K. As a new arrival to the convict outpost (Sydney) you were afforded increased freedom to work out your sentence among the normal population. In fact we were suprised to learn that the most wealthy new Aussies were in fact prisoners who had served their time. Anyhow, most of the area that surrounds the Sydney Harbour (bridge/opera house) were constructed out of the rocks via prison labor and are preserved to this day for silly tourists to poke and prod.
This is the area known as the "rock" which holds Sydney's oldest buildings including the oldest pub in New South Wales, "The Soldier of Fortune." In the background you can clearly see the Harbour Bridge.
One of the many narrow alley ways where sailors spent their hard earned coins. Apparently now only Swedish tourist live here.
The Convict museum.........
A clever and handsome person playing around on the steps...
Make note of this original building, how small must the people have been? Clearly Jo has an interest in the elves that may still take residence.
The Online records of every convict ever shipped out to the outback. I was pleased to find that one of my distant relatives had made the journey. Thanks for the genes Dad!
Don't feel left out mother because there were 2 members of your side who made the trip aswell. Good to know i come from excellent stock. I know that everyone in Sweden is wondering...and yes there were some Swedes who made the trip. Mainly small time thieves who had moved to London, but no Koping's or Lindh's.
Finally Mrs. MacQuarie's walk and stone. The first lady of the first Governor of NSW. She had the convicts cut out a 1km walkway along the coast ending of course with a custom cut stone chair for her to enjoy. No common folk or prisoners were allowed...oh how things have changed.....(they let me in).
