Journal of Australian Colonial History, Vol. 24, 2022, pp. 133-156.
'The establishment of Queensland's first establishment for paupers, the Dunwich Benevolent Asylum on Stradbroke Island, led to over 18,000 males and 3,000 females being transferred by ferry
from Brisbane's bayside to their island exile between 1865 and 1946. Among their number were at least 148 male and nineteen female ex-convicts who had once served sentences of transportation in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land.'
'In this article I am concerned mostly with the emancipist women, and some of the men, who can be identified as being admitted to the Dunwich Benevolent Asylum. These stories form
an underexplored and underrated aspect of Queensland's colonial history.
Indeed, the registers of the Dunwich Benevolent Asylum provide a treasure trove of genealogical and historical clues to the backgrounds of female ex-convicts, revealing maiden names, as well as details about parents, husbands and children, and some account of each woman's 'History' prior to admission.'
Complete article available here:
Journal of Australian Colonial History, Vol. 24, 2022, pp. 133-156.
Department of Archaeology, Classics and History
University of New England
Armidale NSW 2351
Australia
http://www.une.edu.au/jach
