Convicts

Spring Bay Local History Convicts

Introduction Our teacher found out about this competition which challenged us to think about celebrating the Year of the Older Person. We learnt lots about the area from some older people in our community and some experts on local history. The project was a very good experience because we learnt a lot and we can pass it on to the rest of the world through this web site.	This is our guide Bill Robertson on our walk along the convict track to the ruins of the probation station.
With special thanks to Mr Bill Robertson for his help.
How long were convicts at Orford? Some convicts were brought to Orford around about 1820 to 1850. Convicts were on Maria Island in two stages first from 1825 to 1835 then from 1842 to 1850. Who was in charge of the convicts? On Maria Island Lieutenant Peter Murdoch was in charge first. Lieutenant Murdoch was replaced by Major T.D. Lord. How far does the convict road go? The road goes all the way to Buckland from the Bridge over the Prosser River at Orford, there are places where it is difficult to follow after heavy rains as there are creeks crossing it. What crimes were these people convicted of before coming to this area? Convicts were sent to Tasmania for small crimes (like stealing a handkerchief) and serious crimes (like murder) How did the convicts build roads? The convict overseer measured how wide they wanted the road and then the convicts rolled rocks down the hill to where they wanted the road to go. Then they filled the space between the rocks and the hillside with dirt and smaller rocks. Convicts did this over and over again till they got the road how they wanted it. The road was then quite nice and secure. It had to be wide enough for horse and cart to go across it although not many did, usually it was just people on foot or horseback.	This is the sign at the beginning of the Convict road. What kinds of work did the convicts do? Convicts were postmen, they had to carry mail by foot. Clearing land, building temporary timber housing and workshops was also work done by convicts. Convicts also did tailoring , blacksmithing, wood working, shoemaking, quarrying stones and tanning leather. Convicts also spent their time weaving cloth, making bricks and course pottery. Loading and unloading government vessels and occasionally preparing land for cultivation were some of the other jobs. Of the twenty eight convicts stations in Van Dieman’s Land Maria Island was the second and was thought of as too easy to escape from. How long ago was the road built? The road was built around 1820. What buildings did the convicts build? The convicts built roads, probation stations and bridges. Who was sent to this area as a convict? Job Ovington was sentenced to 14 years in 1821 and was sent to Tasmania . He was sent to work at Orford, to work for Mr Meredith but continued to misbehave.
This page was created by David, Natasha, Theresa and Melissa.

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