The data contained in this map were generated by the Landscapes of Production and Punishment project based at the University of New England, Australia. The Landscapes project examines the convict system from the perspective of convicts as workers, using the sites, buildings, work places, products and life outcomes to understand their lives and labours whilst under sentence and beyond. The project is looking at a variety of situations, including Van Diemens Land (Tasmania), Port Arthur and Maria Island (Tasmania, Australia). This map of Australia and Norfolk Island provides data on several aspects of the convict experience (Note: some of these fields and datasets are still in development and will be loaded in the future):

1. The locations of key sites directly associated with the convict system: Convict (accommodation, incarceration, work sites, assignment), Administration (police, gaols, courts and military outposts), as well as Public Works resulting from the system
2. Landmarks and Places mentioned in convict records: such as properties (allotments) where convicts were assigned to private settlers, or are notable landmarks mentioned in court and offence records. The allotments for 1788-1815 Norfolk Island are already available.
3. Offence data: (convictions and absconding) – under development
4. Macquarie/Bigge Tours: A final category is the tours of the colonies by NSW/VDL Governor Lachlan Macquarie during 1810-21, as well as the fact-finding tours of his nemesis, Commissioner John Bigge 1819-21, sent from Britain to investigate Macquarie’s running of the colony. Geolocating to understand where these tours went and who each interacted with is a major project currently in development

The mapping is a visual means of understanding the expansion and activities of the convict system as well as how it was managed. It allows for interrogation and searching of the data. The main data compilation was by Prof. Martin Gibbs, Dr Richard Tuffin, and Assoc. Prof. David Roberts (UNE), with Esk Mapping & GIS creating the web-mapping interface. For instructions on using the map click here for a PDF download, or click on the Help & Admin icon to access the Help document