Convict Guide - published 2006 - Manual / Resource - Page 403
Guide to New South Wales State archives relating to convicts and convict administration
14 July — Van Diemen's Land was separated from New South Wales by an Order-in-Council
17 December — Lieutenant General Ralph (later Sir Ralph) Darling, the new Governor arrives in New
South Wales
1826
King George's Sound (now in Western Australia) was established as a convict settlement (1831
withdrawn)
Western Port settlement established
1827
7 June — Fort Wellington was established
1828
Western Port settlement abandoned
25 July — New Constitution Act enlarges Legislative Council and increases its powers
November — First Census of the Colony of New South Wales held
1829
18 June — The new colony of Western Australia proclaimed
March — Fort Dundas abandoned
August — Fort Wellington abandoned
1830
Bushranger Act made it legal to detain persons on suspicion of their being a runaway convict
1830
July — Port Macquarie closed as a penal settlement. The convicts were largely transferred to Norfolk
Island
Port Arthur was established on the Tasman Peninsula as a place of punishment for the worst reconvicted
convicts
1831
Ripon Regulations introduce system under which Crown Land sold at public auction instead of being
granted.
3 December — Major General Sir Richard Bourke became Governor
1834
Assignment Board abolished. A Commissioner of Assignment was appointed
The 6 Tolpuddle Martyrs are sentenced to 7 years transportation
John Batman signs a treaty with the Aboriginal people of Port Phillip. The Government disallows the
treaty on the grounds that the land belonged to the Crown
1835
Foundation of Anti-Transportation League in Sydney
1836
Proclamation of the new colony of South Australia
September — Frederick Hely, Principal Superintendent of Convicts for NSW, died and John Ryan Brenan
assumed the position
1837
General Muster of Convicts in New South Wales
2 January — Edward Deas Thomson appointed Colonial Secretary and Registrar of Records
Sir William Molesworth appointed Chair of the House of Commons Select Committee on Transportation
September — Captain JL McLean is appointed Principal Superintendent of Convicts for New South Wales,
which he held until the position was abolished
1838
24 February — Sir George Gipps became Governor
10 June — Massacre of 28 Aboriginal people at Myall Creek near Inverell. Some of the perpetrators were
convicts. This was the first time white men were hanged for crimes against Aboriginal people
9 August — The abolition of convict transportation to New South Wales and the abolition of assignment of
private settlers was recommended by the Molesworth Select Committee
Bill for the Protection of Aborigines is drafted
Port Phillip Aborigines Protectorate is instituted
1839
Moreton Bay ceased to be a penal establishment
Military juries abolished
8 October — A notice was published in NSW Government Gazette advising that convicts arriving in the
future would no longer be assigned to private individuals
An Act to allow the Aboriginal Natives of New South Wales to be received as competent Witnesses in
Criminal Cases (3 Vic. No. 16)
1840
Captain Alexander Maconochie, known for prison reform was appointed commandant at Norfolk Island
22 May — Order-in-Council ends transportation of convicts to New South Wales
17 August — The Margaret arrived carrying the last female convicts to New South Wales
An Act to prohibit the Aboriginal Natives of New South Wales from having Fire Arms or Ammunition in
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State Records Authority of New South Wales
