In 18th and early 19th century Britain, transportation as a form of punishment was used to combat the over-crowded prisons. Children as young as seven could be tried as adults and sent to Australia as convicts.
Convicts sent out to the penal colonies in Australia were expected to work as a part of their punishment, and convict kids were no exceptions. They also lived under the same harsh conditions as the adults.
Convict kids in Australia suffered a variety of punishments for even the most minor offences. These punishments ranged from flogging to solitary confinement or work gangs.
As a convict kid, once you served your usual sentence of 7 or 14 years, you would still have had the majority of your life ahead of you to make a fresh start.
Convicts sent out to the penal colonies in Australia were expected to work as a part of their punishment, and convict kids were no exceptions. They also lived under the same harsh conditions as the adults.
