Did Australians originate from British prisoners?

Until 1782, English convicts were transported to America. However, in 1783 the American War of Independence ended. America refused to accept any more convicts so England had to find somewhere else to send their prisoners. Transportation to New South Wales was the solution. read more

Many Aborigines were British prisoners (many de facto at least, if not all according to law) and many other Australians were first generation prisoners of the British crown or their descendants. But there is no single origin for Australians. read more

Thomas J. Nevin's photographs of Tasmanian convicts at the National Library of Australia; Visualisation of the British Convict Transportation Registry; The Convict Stockade "Convicts and the British Colonies". Australian Government; State Records NSW (2010). "Order-in-Council ending transportation to New South Wales, 22 May 1840". read more

South Australia was never a British convict colony and between 1836–1840 about 13,400 immigrants arrived in the area. 24,900 more arrived between 1841–1850. Some escaped convicts did settle in the area and no doubt a number of ex-convicts moved there from other colonies. read more