Convicts in Van Diemen's Land

Overview

First settlement at Risdon Cove

In 1803 Governor King, concerned by rumours of a possible French occupation, ordered Lieutenant John Bowen to head an expedition to Van Diemen's Land where he established a settlement on the Derwent River at Risdon Cove.

Sullivan’s Cove

Colonel David Collins was later sent from England to found an outpost at Port Phillip. He moved to the Derwent after deciding that his original destination was unsuitable. In February 1804 he opened up Sullivan's Cove later to become known as Hobart Town. (Robson, Tasmania, pp.39ff, Tipping, Convicts Unbound, p.104). Both Bowen and Collins had convicts under their charge.

Port Dalrymple

In 1804 Governor King sent Lieutenant-Colonel William Paterson to Port Dalrymple (near Georgetown). This settlement was transferred in 1806 to the site of present-day Launceston. (Australian Encyclopaedia, 4th ed., vol.10, p.7).

Convicts transported to Van Diemen’s Land

At first, the settlements in the north and south were independent but a Government and General Order, which made Port Dalrymple a dependency of Hobart, united the two in 1812. During that year convicts were sent directly from England for the first time.

Judicial system established 1814

In 1814 the second Charter of Justice laid the foundations for the judicial system in Van Diemen's Land. A Lieutenant Governor's court was opened to hear civil matters when the sum in dispute was less than fifty pounds. Cases which exceeded this amount and criminal matters were sent to the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction in Sydney.

From 1821 to 1833 Macquarie Harbour was used as a penal settlement for reconvicted persons. Its remoteness caused communication problems and it was replaced by Port Arthur.

A separate colony 1825

In 1825 by an order in Council, Van Diemen's Land became a separate colony.

A list of record series

See also the Guide to Convicts and Convict Administration »

• Appendix II: Chronological list of Convict Ships arriving at Van Diemen's Land 1812–53, and guide to the location of papers relating to each vessel
• Appendix IV: Guide to convict records in the Public Records Office, London, available on Australian Joint Copying Project microfilms.

Note: There are many documents relating to Tasmanian convicts in the Mitchell Library and the Dixson Library (State Library of New South Wales), which are generally kept in separate series. Lists of these papers are available in these Libraries. Microfilm copies of many are available at Tasmanian archives + heritage .

A list of record series

Where to find the lists of convicts

Guide to shipping lists of convicts transferred or retransported from Van Diemen's Land, 1812-1853, and guide to the location of the relevant Indents and Papers. Some of these papers are held at the Mitchell Library (part of the State Library of NSW)

C. To Van Diemen's Land from Sydney and Melbourne, 1812–53

D. To Van Diemen's Land from Norfolk Island

Sources held elsewhere

• Chief Justice’s reports of persons tried at the Supreme Court Sessions held at Hobart and Launceston,1823-1839
  Dixson Library Add 552/6
• Alphabetical register of convicts secondarily transported from New South Wales to Norfolk Island and remaining there in Aug 1844.
  The volume lists the 590 convicts on the island before the transfer in control from New South Wales to Tasmania took place in Sep 1844
  Copy of the original in the Archives Office of Tasmania at COD 2

Additional Sources

• Nobbs, Raymond, (ed). Norfolk Island and its First Settlement, 1788–1814, Library of Australian History, North Sydney, 1988 Contains population lists in the back of the book.

As the administration of Norfolk Island was transferred from New South Wales to Van Diemen's Land in 1844 researchers should also contact Tasmanian archives + heritage