Welcome to Convict Landscapes: 1788 – 1868
This website brings together a suite of projects investigating the history and archaeology of Convict Australia. This aspect of our past is complex, convoluted and – at times – controversial. Through our many projects we seek to examine past lives, labours and landscapes to understand this foundational moment in Australian history.
“…maybe there was a system, sometimes, and then again, maybe there was not…”
Alan Atkinson, Historian
Convict Landscapes is a long-running research project documenting the history, archaeology, and heritage of convict Australia. Our research explores convict places, people, landscapes, and material culture across Australia, with a focus on making this history accessible to a wide audience. Learn more about the project’s background, funding, and key personnel on the About page.
The footprint of the convict system is surprisingly large, resulting in many places where traces of the convict past can still be found. Using the map, or the tabs below, you can view our Australian convict places.
We also trace the convict past through objects held in collections around the country. Like the landscapes that remain, these artefacts reveal stories about convict daily life and administration. The Virtual Museum of Convict Australia brings together a range of visualisations to help us better understand different aspects of Australia’s convict system and the ways we can study it. Use the tabs below to explore our virtual musem.