The Australian Penal Colony A common theory is that the first humans got to Australia there by land bridges from present-day South-East Asia around 42,000 years ago. Poverty and crime were extremely prevalent in 19th-century Britain. By 1740, London was overcrowded and crime was at an all time high. Part of the reason for a high crime rate was the fact that British cities did not have police forces at that time. Each area had a watchman, but that was it. In 1776, a system of laws was passed in Britain that quadrupled the amount of offences that were punishable by death. This system of laws now called the “Bloody Code” included very small offences like stealing goods worth over 5 shillings, cutting down a tree, and stealing animals. Once the…show more content… They were searching for an area to create a penal colony. A penal colony is a separate place that prisoners can be taken to for any reason. A modern example of a penal colony is Guantanamo Bay. During his famous voyage, James Cook claimed Australia for Britain. James Cook and his partner during his expedition both recommended a place called Botany Bay in Australia to form the colony. Since the area met all of their needs, Britain decided that the place where present-day Sydney is would be the perfect area for the first European settlement in Australia. The First Fleet included 736 convicts, 17 children of convicts, 211 marines, and about 300 officers and others. In 1788 the First Fleet arrived in Australia and the penal colony was formed on January 26 1788. The colony was officially established by Governor Philip on February 7 1788. Since the colony was established at Sydney Cove, there was a fresh water supply, and a safe harbor very close…show more content… He was Governor between 1831 and 1837. Richard Bourke passed an act called “The Magistrates Act” which improved the treatment of prisoners. Originally, there was no limit to the amount of lashes that could be given to a prisoner. After the Magistrates Act, they could only give up to fifty lashes. The creation of this act worried many citizens because they were afraid that a reduced amount of physical punishment would result in a higher crime rate. They were also afraid that if less punishment was given, then the prisoners would not be as afraid as they currently were.
Although many of the citizens showed disapproval of the new direction that Sir Richard Bourke was going in, he continued by granting rights to freed prisoners. Another thing that Richard Bourke did was implementing the ticket of leave. After 7 years in prison, well behaved prisoners were given a Certificate of Freedom which allowed them to become a settler in Australia, or go back to England. If a convict misbehaved they were sent to “secondary punishment” where they would experience even more punishment and solitary