Australian Convict and Criminal Records

Find your convict heritage

One in five Australians have a convict in their family history and this Australia Day Ancestry.com.au offers you free, unlimited access to Australia’s most comprehensive online collection of convict and criminal records until 29th January. With free access to over 2.5 million convict and criminal records, including passenger lists from the First Fleet and original documents dating back to 1788, Ancestry.com.au can help you discover your convict heritage.

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    e.g. teacher or "Victoria Barracks"

Convict Transportation

Transportation of convicts began in 1788, predominantly to New South Wales. Many convicts were sentenced for crimes of poverty. For many it was a second chance, away from established class systems, overcrowding and squalor.

Convict Facts

  • Approx. 160k convicts sent to Australia
  • 80% were convicted of larceny
  • 20% of convicts were female
  • Average age was 26
  • Youngest convict was 9
  • Oldest convict was 82

Famous Convicts

  • Red Kelly - Father of Ned Kelly the famous bushranger
  • Elizabeth Thackery - the first female convict. She was sentenced to 75 years for the theft of 5 handkerchiefs
  • Margaret Dawson - First fleet convict known as the 'Founding Mother' of Australia
  • William Smith O'Brien - Famous Irish Revolutionary deported after leading a rebellion in Tipperary, Ireland

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Featured Collections

New South Wales, Convict Indents, 1788-1842new
New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1825 new
New South Wales, Australia, Tickets of Leave, 1824-1867new
Australian Convict Transportation Registers - First Fleet, 1787-1788Free Index
Australian Convict Transportation Registers - Second Fleet, 1789-1790
Australian Convict Transportation Registers - Third Fleet, 1791
Australian Convict Transportation Registers - Other Fleets & Ships, 1791-1868
Australia - Convict Savings Bank Books, 1824-1886
Australia, List of Convicts with Particulars, 1788-1842
England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892Free Index
New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849
New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia, Convict Pardons and Tickets of Leave, 1834-1859
New South Wales, Australia Convict Ship Muster Rolls and Related Records, 1790-1849
New South Wales, Australia, Certificates of Freedom, 1827-1867
New South Wales, Australia, Convict Death Register, 1826-1879
New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Convicts' Applications to Marry, 1826-1851
New South Wales, Australia, Settler and Convict Lists, 1787-1834
New South Wales, Australia, Convict Registers of Conditional and Absolute Pardons, 1791-1867
New South Wales, Australia, Wives & Children of Irish Convicts, 1825-1840
UK Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857
UK Surgeon Superintendents' Journals of Convict Ships, 1858-1867

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