Life at the barracks
Although the Hyde Park Barracks was not a prison, its residents could not come and go as they pleased. Nor did they have much privacy, free time or personal space. Some of the men also complained of corrupt and sadistic treatment at the hands of barracks superintendents.
A bell was rung at daybreak. After breakfast the convicts were mustered into gangs with their overseers and marched to worksites around town. The men typically worked from sunrise to sunset, with only two meal breaks and an hour free in the evening. Anyone caught outside the barracks after 9pm, when the doors were locked, was thrown in the watch house overnight.
On Saturdays well-behaved convicts could do private work in town to earn money. Church on Sundays was compulsory, but the afternoon was free time outside the barracks until sunset. On being let out, most convict men rushed straight to The Rocks to socialise, drink, gamble and bet on cockfights or bare-knuckled prize fights.
A bell was rung at daybreak. After breakfast the convicts were mustered into gangs with their overseers and marched to worksites around town. The men typically worked from sunrise to sunset, with only two meal breaks and an hour free in the evening. Anyone caught outside the barracks after 9pm, when the doors were locked, was thrown in the watch house overnight.
On Saturdays well-behaved convicts could do private work in town to earn money. Church on Sundays was compulsory, but the afternoon was free time outside the barracks until sunset. On being let out, most convict men rushed straight to The Rocks to socialise, drink, gamble and bet on cockfights or bare-knuckled prize fights.
Slops
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/7/6/13765630/3647088.jpg)
Convicts were issued clothes from the government’s commissariat store. Each man and women got a basic set of garments, known as ‘slopes’, and was supposed to change to clean clothes once or twice a week. Governor Macquarie also ordered spare trousers to be given out to allow convict men to ‘appear’ clean at church on Sundays.
An identifiable convict uniform was desirable, but due to shortages a hodgepodge of colours and types of clothes was issued, of varying quality and fit. Supplies from England had to be supplemented with garments made in the colony.
The numbers and names of barracks convicts were written on their clothes, because theft of portable personal items was rife. Newly washed men’s shirts were often dried on the shoulders of the owners to ensure they couldn’t be stolen.
An identifiable convict uniform was desirable, but due to shortages a hodgepodge of colours and types of clothes was issued, of varying quality and fit. Supplies from England had to be supplemented with garments made in the colony.
The numbers and names of barracks convicts were written on their clothes, because theft of portable personal items was rife. Newly washed men’s shirts were often dried on the shoulders of the owners to ensure they couldn’t be stolen.
Cooking Pots
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/7/6/13765630/4313190.jpg)
Cast-iron boiler with British Board of Ordnance and broad arrow markings, 1846.
The salted meat ration was boiled with any available vegetables such as cabbage, potato, onion or turnip to make a watery soup, which was cooked in giant communal pots like this one. This pot would hold about 445 litres of soup.
Although it was against the rules, convicts often bartered their rational food for other things they wanted. They also stashed away the bones from soup and made them into useful items such as gaming pieces or nit combs, or sharpened them to use for tattooing.
The salted meat ration was boiled with any available vegetables such as cabbage, potato, onion or turnip to make a watery soup, which was cooked in giant communal pots like this one. This pot would hold about 445 litres of soup.
Although it was against the rules, convicts often bartered their rational food for other things they wanted. They also stashed away the bones from soup and made them into useful items such as gaming pieces or nit combs, or sharpened them to use for tattooing.
Mess bags
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/7/6/13765630/5205431.jpg)
Barracks men were allocated to mess groups of six, who ate together. One man from each mess organised the ration. It seems likely that the barracks followed British naval traditions, in which food for each mess was boiled in a tagged bag, allowing it to be retrieved from the pot once cooked.
Depending upon how many men were in the barracks at any time, there were between 100 and 220 mess groups. Observers known as ‘delegates’ were stationed in the kitchen to make sure convict cooks allocated the rations fairly.
Depending upon how many men were in the barracks at any time, there were between 100 and 220 mess groups. Observers known as ‘delegates’ were stationed in the kitchen to make sure convict cooks allocated the rations fairly.
Small indulgences
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/7/6/13765630/606786.jpg)
Many convicts enjoyed smoking. To get the money to buy tobacco they sometimes stole from their roommates or from houses along Sydney’s streets. Convicts could earn cash by working in the town on Saturdays, provided they were well behaved and allowed free time out of barracks. Tea, sugar, rum, candles and similar small indulgences were other popular items on which they spent their money.
Gambling was banned in the barracks, but it did take place. Some men made gaming tokens out of bones fished from their soup, and playing cards were made out of the pages of bibles handed out by missionaries. Games were enjoyable pastimes and betting offered the chance to win cash to buy small luxuries.
Gambling was banned in the barracks, but it did take place. Some men made gaming tokens out of bones fished from their soup, and playing cards were made out of the pages of bibles handed out by missionaries. Games were enjoyable pastimes and betting offered the chance to win cash to buy small luxuries.
Hats
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/7/6/13765630/2910872.jpg)
FELT
This type of hat was issued to convicts from the government stores. Its scratchy, hot felt and lack of sun protection were not suited to Sydney’s climate. Most convicts had no socks or underpants, but they were supplied with woollen waistcoats. Like the impractical felt hats, waistcoats were often discarded or never worn in Sydney.
LEATHER CAP
This was another type of cap given to convicts as part of their uniform. Its flaps could be pulled down to provide some sun protection, but its dark colour absorbed the sun’s heat, so it still wasn’t ideal for Sydney’s climate. The chief engineer, Major George Druitt, told Commissioner Bigge that the government issued leather caps were quite useless.
CABBAGE TREE HAT
This hat was cooler on the head and offered the best protection from sunburn or sunstroke. This was important because many convicts working outdoors came from pale skinned British or Irish stock.
Convicts were allowed to spend their free time of an evening making hats out of cabbage tree palm leaves they had gathered. Finished hats could be bartered or sold to earn money for indulgences.
This type of hat was issued to convicts from the government stores. Its scratchy, hot felt and lack of sun protection were not suited to Sydney’s climate. Most convicts had no socks or underpants, but they were supplied with woollen waistcoats. Like the impractical felt hats, waistcoats were often discarded or never worn in Sydney.
LEATHER CAP
This was another type of cap given to convicts as part of their uniform. Its flaps could be pulled down to provide some sun protection, but its dark colour absorbed the sun’s heat, so it still wasn’t ideal for Sydney’s climate. The chief engineer, Major George Druitt, told Commissioner Bigge that the government issued leather caps were quite useless.
CABBAGE TREE HAT
This hat was cooler on the head and offered the best protection from sunburn or sunstroke. This was important because many convicts working outdoors came from pale skinned British or Irish stock.
Convicts were allowed to spend their free time of an evening making hats out of cabbage tree palm leaves they had gathered. Finished hats could be bartered or sold to earn money for indulgences.
Food
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/7/6/13765630/5636004.jpg)
Barracks inmates ate just two meals a day. Breakfast was hominy, a porridge of maize and sugar. Dinner, served at 2pm, was bread and soup. The monotonous diet was high in salt and fat, with no fruit or dairy, but it provided enough energy for working men. There was no evening meal, but those with their own supplies could enjoy a cup of tea and a pipe.
Governor Macquarie increased the male convicts' ration by half when he opened the Hyde Park Barracks, as an incentive to stay and work a longer day. As punishment, men could be put in solitary confinement on bread and water.
Women at the Female Factory received half the meat and bread ration of barracks men, but got an allowance of tea. Being denied food could trigger unrest. The women rioted when their tea, sugar and bread ration was cut in 1827.
Governor Macquarie increased the male convicts' ration by half when he opened the Hyde Park Barracks, as an incentive to stay and work a longer day. As punishment, men could be put in solitary confinement on bread and water.
Women at the Female Factory received half the meat and bread ration of barracks men, but got an allowance of tea. Being denied food could trigger unrest. The women rioted when their tea, sugar and bread ration was cut in 1827.