A Good Riddance: The Inception of Criminal Deportation in Colonial Australia

Over the past decade, many Australians have become familiar with the concept of criminal deportation. Since December 2014, more than 3,000 people have been deported from Australia, with around 60% being returned to Aotearoa New Zealand.

But criminal deportation has a long history in Australian colonies... sometimes known as transportation.

We know about the relentless campaign the Reverend John West waged to end transportation from England but it seems the practice took hold in Australia too.

In this lecture, Associate Professor Kristyn Harman examines the lives of some of formerly free people who were criminally deported to, or within, Van Diemen’s Land in the 19th century.

The annual John West Memorial Lecture is organised by the Launceston Historical Society.

The lecture was held on 17th March and broadcast on City Park Radio 1st April 2024.

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