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The Female Convicts Research Centre promotes interest in the female convicts of Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), by encouraging and facilitating research.
From 1803 to 1853, 13,500 female convicts were transported to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), as punishment for crimes, mainly theft. After serving their sentences they were released into the community. Their transportation left a lasting legacy.
The Female Convicts Research Centre encourages research into these female convicts, mainly through its database, website and seminars.
When you register with the FCRC, you gain access to our database where you will find information entered by our volunteers as we attempt to reconstruct the life course of each female convict.
We update this website and our database regularly and sometimes daily, as our volunteer transcribers continue to provide new information. Please bookmark this page and return soon.
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Latest News:
Congratulations to Dr Alison Alexander.
Congratulations to Dr Alison Alexander for being awarded the Dick and Joan Green Family Award for Tasmanian History, for her book The Waking Dream of Art: Patricia Giles, Painter. The $25,000 biennial award recognises high quality published work that makes a significant contribution to an understanding of Tasmania’s past and seeks to celebrate and promote books on Tasmanian history and cultural heritage, including biographies and historical fiction. Alison is the author of approximately 30 books, an outstanding achievement. Her book, The Ambitions of Jane Franklin, Victorian Lady Adventurer won the prestigious Australian National Biography Award in 2014. Alison is a founder member of the Female Convicts Research Centre and currently President of Convict Women’s Press. Well done, Alison!
Dr Dianne Snowden AM
President, Female Convicts Research Centre.
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National Family History Month- August
State Library, Tasmanian Archives & Allport Museum will be holding 16 interesting free talks during August.
Location: State Library and Tasmanian Archives Reading Room, 91 Murray Street, 2nd Floor, Hobart, TAS 7000. You can book a seat or, if available, join an online webinar.
Of interest to our readers:
NFHM History of Cornelian Bay Cemetery: 150th Anniversary and their records with Maree Ring.
Tue, Aug 9, 2:00 PM
NFHM Convict Women at the New Norfolk Asylum with Dianne Snowden
Wed, Aug 10, 2:00 PM
NFHM Using DNA to solve family history mysteries with Ros Escott
Wed, Aug 24, 2:00 PM
Plus 11 more events. Bookings are through Eventbrite. For more information click here.
FCRC Seminar : Sunday, 7 May 2023.
Topic: Transported for life
Call for papers
More information here:
TASMANIA v. BRITISH EMPIRETHE BATTLE TO END CONVICT TRANSPORTATION By Alison Alexander |
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The British government was determined to keep getting rid of its criminals to Tasmania; colonists had had enough of them. The Empire used all its weapons against the colonists – lying, intimidation, belittling, threatening, physical force – but in the end the colonists triumphed. Publisher: Forty South ISBN 978-0-6454382-3-9 RRP: $50 Available at bookshops or from the author |
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Save The Date:
Seminar Sunday 7th May, 2023. Topic: Transported for Life
Recent Updates
Blogs:
View all Blog Posts
Convict Stories:
- LAYSHAW, Ann (Mary III, 1823) by Don Bradmore.
- GURNEY, Ellen (Hector, 1835) by Helen Ménard
- DONOVAN, Margaret (Hector, 1835) by Helen Ménard.
- POWELL, Ann (Brothers, 1824) – 'From Childish Games to Transportation and Hard Labour'. By Ann Williams-Fitzgerald
- PREECE, Jane (Anna Maria 1852) by Don Bradmore.
- MARKHAM, Essy (John William Dare, 1852) by Don Bradmore.
- JOHNSTON, Eliza (2) (Sir Robert Seppings, 1852) by Don Bradmore
- MILLER, Janet (Emma Eugenia, 1851) by Helen Menard.
- LATHAM, Mary (Emma Eugenia, 3, 1844) by Don Bradmore
- SMITH, Anne (Emma Eugenia 1846). By Helen Menard
View all Convict Stories
Other Updates:
Petitions - Bridget Mann per Duke of Cornwall 1851, (contributed by Colleen Arulappu 25/07/2022), Mary Anne Hennessy per Duke of Cornwall 1851 (contributed by Colleen Arulappu 6/06/2022).
Convict Image Gallery - Elizabeth Downs (Baretto Junior, 1850) (updated 15/07/2022)
Books, Theses & Reports - Tasmania v British Empire by Alison Alexander (updated 15/07/2022)
Justice System - An updated web page, replacing the 'Magistrates' page, expanding on the justice system in Van Dieman's Land as it operated during the convict era. (2/06/2022).
Probation System - Overview and Timeline (contributed by Helen Menard, 20/05/2022).
Seminar Papers - 2021: The Early Years, 1803-1828 most papers are now available along with audio recordings (please contact us for access to audio).