More than 165,000 men, women and children were transported from Great Britain and Ireland to Australia as punishment for their crimes between 1788 and 1868. Transportation tells the stories of individual convicts sent to Australia and the impact forced migration had upon their lives as well as the major impact convictism played in shaping Australian society.
Convicts contributed to all aspects of colonial life, from exploration, land clearing and farming to the construction of roads, bridges and public buildings, many of which are still in use today.
Key objects on display include an original flogging post, convict clothing, a recently donated Ticket of Leave and Hampton Cheese road paving.
A highlight of the exhibition is The Wild Goose, a newsletter hand-written by some of the 62 Irish Fenian convicts while on board the Hougoumont. This rare artefact is on loan from the State Library of New South Wales and features the writings of John Boyle O’Reilly, John Flood and John Casey.
Transportation was developed by Fremantle Prison, and will be open to the public, free of charge, for one year. The event is expected to bring visitors to the City of Fremantle, boosting the local economy and supporting jobs.