Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Convict jacket

Convict jacket

c1840
Felted wool
Bequest of Sir William Dixson, 1952
DR 114

This short-bodied convict jacket dates from the final years of the convict system in Australia. It is thought to have been used at Port Arthur in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania). Yellow, the traditional colour of disgrace, was generally reserved for prisoners who had re-offended.

In 1839 a report was sent with dispatches from chief police magistrate M Forster in Van Diemen’s Land to the Colonial Office in London recommending 10,000 suits of half black and half yellow – 10,000 suits all yellow – and 10,000 suits of grey clothing be sent from the Ordinance Department. This is perhaps one of them.

The last shipment of convicts to the Australian colonies disembarked in Western Australia in 1868.

The majority of convicts sent to Australia were English and Welsh (70%), with Irish making up 24% and Scottish 5%. Convicts were also sent from other parts of the British Empire, including India, Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the West Indies.

Men and women were transported to NSW for a wide variety of offences, with the most common being theft, including pickpocketing, sheep and horse stealing, highway robbery, burglary, housebreaking and receiving stolen goods.

The letters 'WD' stamped on the inside of the jacket indicate that the jacket was made by the War Department of Great Britain.

Inside the jacket is a broad arrow mark, signifying British government property.

Between 1788 and 1868, 165,000 convicts were transported to Australia. Transportation in NSW officially ceased in 1840, although was revived briefly in 1849.