Imagine being a convict in Australia during the 19th century. Life was tough, and many prisoners didn’t even survive the long journey from Britain due to diseases or shipwrecks. Once they arrived, the conditions were so harsh that many convicts tried to escape, even though getting caught meant severe punishments like extra years in prison or brutal beatings.
In one prison, run by a particularly cruel governor, failing to escape could result in 100 lashes and six months in solitary confinement. Some convicts who managed to escape lived in the wild, known as the bush, where they survived by stealing and robbing travelers. These escapees were called bushrangers, similar to the highwaymen of old England.
In 1843, one daring convict managed to escape by paddling out to sea in a stolen bathtub. No one knows if he made it to freedom because he was never seen again. Another convict, George Billy Hunt, tried to disguise himself as a kangaroo to avoid capture. Unfortunately, a guard thought the kangaroo was real and used it for target practice, leading to Hunt’s capture and 150 lashes.
Mundane Joe, a Welsh-born trapper, was sent to a penal colony in 1853. Over 20 years, he escaped multiple times, frustrating the authorities so much that they built him a special escape-proof cell. Yet, Joe managed to escape by piling rocks to hide himself and breaking through a wall. He was recaptured two years later but was eventually released in 1871. Joe continued his cycle of escaping and being recaptured until he passed away in 1900 at the age of 72.
Frederick Woodsward, a convicted horse thief, was sent to Cockatoo Island, a maximum-security penal colony. In 1863, he escaped from a chain gang and swam to freedom, later becoming known as Captain Thunderbolt. His escape story was romanticized, with tales of his girlfriend swimming across shark-infested waters to help him. However, this story was likely exaggerated, as he wasn’t wearing chains, and his girlfriend was working elsewhere at the time.
Ward continued his life of crime for seven years before being killed in a gunfight with the police in 1870. Even today, convicts still find creative ways to escape. In 1999, a career criminal named John Killick was broken out of a high-security prison by his Russian girlfriend in a hijacked helicopter. They managed to stay on the run for 45 days before being captured, adding another bizarre chapter to Australian criminal history.
Imagine you are a convict in a 19th-century Australian penal colony. Create a short skit with your classmates where you plan and attempt an escape. Consider the challenges you might face and how you would overcome them. Present your skit to the class and discuss what you learned about the convicts’ desperation and creativity.
Using your knowledge from the article, design your own penal colony. Think about the security measures you would implement to prevent escapes. Draw a map of your colony and explain your design choices to the class. Consider how the harsh conditions might affect the prisoners and their desire to escape.
Choose a famous bushranger from Australian history and research their life and escape attempts. Create a presentation or poster to share with the class, highlighting their most daring escape and how they survived in the bush. Discuss how their actions impacted society at the time.
Write a diary entry from the perspective of a convict planning an escape. Describe your thoughts, fears, and hopes as you prepare for your attempt. Share your entry with a partner and discuss how writing from this perspective helped you understand the convicts’ experiences.
Participate in a class debate on whether the punishments for escape attempts in the penal colonies were justified. Divide into two groups, with one arguing for the harsh punishments and the other against them. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your arguments.
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Now, let’s talk about insane penal colony escape attempts in 19th century Australia. Being a convict at an Australian penal colony during this time was a harrowing experience. Many convicts didn’t even make it to the colony due to outbreaks of disease or shipwrecks on the treacherous six-month journey from Britain. Once there, convicts often devised imaginative and desperate ways to escape the harsh conditions, but failing to escape came with severe consequences, including years added to their prison sentences or brutal punishments.
In one prison run by a particularly cruel governor, a failed escape could result in 100 lashes and six months in solitary confinement. Many who did escape often continued a life of crime, living in the wilderness known as the bush, where they survived by stealing livestock and robbing travelers, similar to highwaymen in old England. These convicts were referred to as bushrangers, a term later used for anyone living in the bush and engaging in criminal activities.
In 1843, one bold convict escaped in a stolen bathtub, managing to paddle out to sea without drawing suspicion from the guards. It’s unknown if he made it to freedom, as he was never seen again. Another convict, George Billy Hunt, attempted to disguise himself as a kangaroo to evade capture. Despite his convincing disguise, he was discovered when a guard used the kangaroo for target practice, resulting in Hunt receiving 150 lashes.
Then there was Mundane Joe, a Welsh-born trapper transported to a penal colony in 1853. Over 20 years, he repeatedly escaped, frustrating authorities so much that they built him a special escape-proof cell. However, he managed to escape from the courtyard by creating a pile of rocks that obscured him from view, allowing him to break through a wall. He was recaptured two years later but was eventually released in 1871. Joe continued his cycle of imprisonment and release until his death in 1900 at the age of 72.
Frederick Woodsward, a convicted horse thief, was sent to Cockatoo Island penal colony, which resembled a maximum-security prison. In 1863, he escaped from a chain gang and swam to freedom, later adopting the nickname Captain Thunderbolt. His escape story was romanticized, claiming his girlfriend swam across shark-infested waters to deliver a file for him. However, this version was likely embellished, as he was not wearing chains at the time and his girlfriend was working elsewhere.
Ward continued a seven-year crime spree before being killed in a gunfight with police in 1870. Even over a century later, convicts are still breaking out of prison in imaginative ways. In 1999, a career criminal named John Killick was broken out of a high-security prison by his Russian girlfriend in a hijacked helicopter. They remained on the run for 45 days before being captured in a bizarre episode of Australian criminal history.
Convict – A person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court – Many convicts were sent to Australia as part of the British penal system in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Escape – To break free from confinement or control – Some convicts attempted to escape from their harsh conditions in the Australian penal colonies.
Prison – A building where people are held as punishment for crimes they have committed – The old prison in Sydney is now a museum that tells the story of Australia’s convict past.
Punishments – Penalties imposed for breaking a law or rule – Punishments for convicts in early Australia were often severe, including hard labor and flogging.
Bushrangers – Outlaws who lived in the Australian bush and often attacked settlers and travelers – Bushrangers like Ned Kelly became infamous in Australian history for their daring robberies.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs – Learning about the history of the First Fleet helps us understand the beginnings of European settlement in Australia.
Australia – A country and continent located in the Southern Hemisphere, known for its unique history and geography – Australia was initially used as a penal colony by the British Empire.
Penal – Relating to the punishment of offenders under the legal system – The penal colonies in Australia were established to house British convicts.
Colony – A territory under the immediate political control of a distant country – The British established colonies in Australia to expand their empire and relieve overcrowded prisons.
Crime – An action or omission that constitutes an offense and is punishable by law – Theft was a common crime that led to many people being transported to Australia as convicts.
