How many convicts were transported to eastern Australia?

By 1830, approximately 58,000 convicts had been transported to Australia, a figure that included nearly 50,000 men.1

The transportation of convicts to Australia began in 1788 following the loss of Britain's American colonies, which had previously served as the primary destination for transported felons. The First Fleet, which arrived in January 1788, carried about 730 convicts. Over the following decades, the rate of transportation increased significantly, particularly after the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars. These individuals were either employed directly by the government or "assigned" to private employers to support the development of the colonies.2341