People of convict Sydney
Convict men and women made up more than one-third of Sydney’s population at the time Taylor painted his panorama. Most of the convicts are shown busy at work, quarrying stone and cutting timber, grooming horses, shepherding sheep, child-minding and doing domestic chores. Their tasks are similar to and no more arduous than those performed by the working class people in Britain. In fact, many cities argued that the colony was a 'paradise' for convicts and not punishing enough to deter future crime in Britain.
Macquarie believed convicts could be reformed. An important part of his plan, they were the workers building die new society and its future citizens. But the colony's free settlers and the military found the Governor's open encouragement of convicts and emancipists distasteful.
Interestingly, it is almost impossible to discern the convicts and ex-convicts from free settlers in this image. Emancipists and free settlers often enjoyed comparable lifestyles and opportunities in this period.
... above nine-tenths of the population of this colony are or have been convicts, or the children of convicts ... these are the people who have quietly submitted to the laws and regulations of the colony ... these are the men who have tilled the ground, who have built houses and ships, who have made wonderful efforts ... in agriculture, in maritime speculations, and in manufactures ... Macquarie to Bigge, 1819
Macquarie believed convicts could be reformed. An important part of his plan, they were the workers building die new society and its future citizens. But the colony's free settlers and the military found the Governor's open encouragement of convicts and emancipists distasteful.
Interestingly, it is almost impossible to discern the convicts and ex-convicts from free settlers in this image. Emancipists and free settlers often enjoyed comparable lifestyles and opportunities in this period.
... above nine-tenths of the population of this colony are or have been convicts, or the children of convicts ... these are the people who have quietly submitted to the laws and regulations of the colony ... these are the men who have tilled the ground, who have built houses and ships, who have made wonderful efforts ... in agriculture, in maritime speculations, and in manufactures ... Macquarie to Bigge, 1819