Source Information

Ancestry.com. Australia, Convict Records Index, 1787-1867 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018.

Original data:

Australia Convict Records Index, 1787-1867. State Library of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. https://convictrecords.com.au/: accessed Sep 2017

Entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project.

About Australia, Convict Records Index, 1787-1867

About the Australia, Convict Records Index, 1787-1867

General collection information

This collection contains an index compiled from registers of convicts held in Queensland, Australia between 1787 and 1867. Original records were created by the Commandant's office from the penal colony at Moreton Bay. Original records are held by the Queensland State Archive. All records are in English.

Using the collection

Records in the collection may include the following information:

Name

Age

Birthplace

Religion

Physical description

Conviction place

Vessel's name

Departure date

Arrival date and place

Although not listed as a separate category, this collection may also contain known aliases. Often, aliases will be listed next to the convict's given name in parenthesis.

If you can't find your family member, consider searching for them by their initials. More common names were likely to be abbreviated. John or Johnathan may be abbreviated to "Jno." while Charles may be shortened to "Chas."

Many of the records in the collection may precede the establishment of Queensland. Queensland didn't become an independent colony until 1859. It was originally a part of the New South Wales penal colony. If you can't find a record, you may wish to compare your family member's residence against historic maps to determine if your family lived in the area that became Queensland.

Collection in context

In 1825, a penal settlement was established at Moreton Bay on the traditional lands of the Turrbal people. The colony was intended to house those convicted of multiple or serious offenses. Living conditions at Moreton Bay were known to be harsher than other colonies. The new colony lacked food and water and punishment was more severe than in other penal colonies. A tenth of those in custody at Moreton Bay died.

Although steps were taken to improve living conditions, the population at Moreton Bay declined as the transportation sentencing system was abolished. The penal colony eventually closed in 1842, and the area was opened for settlers. The city of Brisbane was incorporated on these lands nearly two decades later.

Once their sentence was served, the majority of people sentenced to transportation opted to stay for life. Upon emancipation, the British government offered the former convicts the option to become colonists. They were given land, tools, food and their families were allowed to join them.

Bibliography

Museums of History New South Wales. "Moreton Bay Penal Settlement." Last Modified December 8, 2017. https://mhnsw.au/guides/moreton-bay-penal-settlement/.

National Committee of Australia Memory of the World. "The Convict Records of Queensland 1825-1842." Last Modified March 19, 2021. https://www.amw.org.au/register/listings/convict-records-queensland-1825-1842.

Queensland Government. "Convict Register (chronological) 1824-1839." Last Modified March 12, 2021.https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/convict-register-chronological-1824-to-1839.

Queensland Government. "Creation of a State." Last Modified July 20, 2018. https://www.qld.gov.au/about/about-queensland/history/creation-of-state.

State Library New South Wales. "The Convict Experience." Last Modified October 27, 2023. https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/convict-experience.

Turrbal Tribe. "Our Story." Accessed November 13, 2023. https://www.turrbal.com.au/our-story.