On this Day On this day in history: Australia's first convict pardon Six years into his seven-year sentence, John Irving was busy helping treat patients in the fledgling colony of Sydney.
History & Culture The story of Australia's last convicts The Hougoumont, the last ship to take convicts from the UK to Australia, docked in Fremantle, Western Australia, on January 9, 1868 – 150 years ago. It brought an end to a process which deposited about 168,000 convicted prisoners in Australia after it began in 1788.
News Earliest convict arrivals recorded online The arrival records of the First Fleet, and some of our most famous convicts, are now available on the web.
On this Day Birth of the Australian Empire? 1804’s Castle Hill Rebellion was the first Australian convict uprising, a violent and chaotic attempt to overthrow the colonial authorities.
Wild Journey The vegetable Australia gave the world The first Australian food to be cultivated abroad was a seashore spinach.
News Convict sites get World Heritage listing Port Arthur, Freemantle Prison and Cockatoo Island are among 11 former convict sites inscribed this week.
News The fight to protect Australian heritage A new government initiative will help to preserve the history of Australia's iconic heritage sites.
News DNA confirms Ned Kelly's remains Minus most of the skull, the skeletal remains of bushranger Ned Kelly have been found at Pentridge Prison.