Moreton Bay Penal Settlement

European settlement, Australia

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The Moreton Bay Penal Settlement was established in 1824 in present-day Queensland, Australia, as a strict penal colony for colonial recidivists. It was founded in response to reports advocating for severe punishment within the penal system. The settlement was initially located at Redcliffe before being moved to the site of present-day Brisbane in 1825.1234

Life for convicts at Moreton Bay was harsh, with particularly brutal treatment for those on chain-gang duty. Colonization of the immediate region was forbidden due to the presence of dangerous convicts. The number of convicts fluctuated, reaching over 1,100 by 1833. The penal settlement was abolished in 1840, with approximately 100 convicts remaining at that time.12

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Queensland
The penal settlement
The Moreton Bay Penal Settlement arose in response to the government-commissioned reports of J.T. Bigge, which advocated severe punishment as central to the penal system. Within the Moreton Bay area, a penal settlement for colonial recidivists was founded at Brisbane, followed by other penal establishments at…
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The Moreton Bay Penal Settlement arose in response to the government-commissioned reports of J.T. Bigge, which advocated severe punishment as central to the penal system. Within the Moreton Bay area, a penal settlement for colonial recidivists was founded at Brisbane, followed by other penal establishments at…
Read More