Did British Convicts in Australia have the option to stay?

In the opinion of many, if not all Australian historians, Australia would not have been settled at all but for the pressing problem the British government had of disposing of its' criminal population. Australia was seen primarily as a convenient dumping ground for British prisoners. read more

Whatever their crime, convicts in Australia were employed according to their talents and skills. There were “Tickets of Leave”, Absolute Pardons, Certificate of Freedom, and Conditional Pardons issued for good behavior. read more

As the colony developed, the convicts worked in more skilled areas such as smithing, building tools, and even more intellectual pursuits where they showed aptitude. One of Australia's most famous architects, Francis Greenway, was a convict. Another convict with a background in printing was given permission to establish the colony's first newspaper. read more