Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Convict leg irons, possibly from Port Arthur, 1830–1848

Convict leg irons, possibly from Port Arthur, 1830–1848

Cast iron, hand forged
State Library of NSW, bequest of Sir William Dixson, 1952
DR 167

Until 1825, Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) was a dependency of New South Wales. Port Arthur was established as a penal settlement in 1830. In 1848 the first stone for the Separate Prison was laid at Port Arthur, the completion of which brought about a shift in punishment philosophy from physical to mental subjugation.

Leg irons are one of the most recognisable symbols of the penal system in Australia.


Convicts who ran away from their work were often sentenced to wear heavy leg irons for at least six months and up to three years. A blacksmith was required to put on or take off leg irons.

Around 1833 the convict John Harty, originally from Yorkshire, received 6 months in leg irons for stealing a hat from another prisoner.