Was Botany Bay a Prison?

From 1788 to 1823, the site at New South Wales was officially recognized as an English penal colony. ... About 162,000 male and female prisoners were sent to Botany Bay between 1788 and 1868, the last year that convicts were sent there.

What did the convicts do when they arrived in Botany Bay?

They also made doors, window frames, shutters and roof shingles. Down at the edge of Sydney Harbour, convicts built boats and made rope and sails for ships. Other convicts transported water and food stores, or loaded and unloaded ships that had arrived from other parts of the world.

How many prisoners were at Botany Bay?

40 people died during the eight-month journey to Botany Bay. Around 162,000 convicts were sent to Australia between 1787 and 1868. Transportation was often a punishment given to people found guilty of theft – 80 per cent of transported convicts were guilty of theft. Most were repeat offenders.