Convict & Colonial Australia

Australia's history is somewhat similar to America's, in that Europeans occupied and extended their population over vast, forbidden territories. Some of the earliest Australians were convicts, exiled from England for their crimes. This two-part Globe Trekker historical travelogue begins with host Ian Wright looking at Australia's 19th-century convict era, which brought not only male criminals to the territory, but also women and children. Arriving in Australia didn't end the convicts' miseries, as they endured harsh climates, frequent floggings, and being shackled in irons. Surprisingly, due to their relatively young age, and the fact that a large number possessed manual skills valuable to the colony, many of these convicts managed to survive. Still, conditions were brutal at remote outposts like Norfolk Island, where some convicts preferred "communal suicide" to life in captivity. In Tasmania, one "model prison" considered sensory deprivation to be a rehabilitation tool (talking was limited, masks were used, and guards muffled their footsteps with slippers). Today, a convict background has evolved from a mark of shame to a celebration of pride, and computerized convict registries allow descendants to trace their family histories. The second part, on colonial Australia, finds host Zay Harding recalling the gold rush days in the area around Melbourne, once the most cosmopolitan and prosperous of all Australian cities. Harding also examines the legacy of outlaw Ned Kelly, reviled by some, but considered a folk hero by many others (Kelly was known for his bizarre suit of armor, fashioned out of ploughshares). Unfortunately, thick accents make this series somewhat hard to follow at times. Still, this should be considered a strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (S. Rees)