Long before Alcatraz Prison there was Devil’s Island. It was a living hell, not just a violent, tropical prison, but also rampant with malaria, cholera and yellow fever. From 1852 to 1953, Devil’s Island operated as part of the Îles du Salut Penal Colony in French Guiana. Up to 90% of prisoners perished there dueContinue reading “Devil’s Island, the French Guiana Penal Colony”
Tag Archives: penal colony
Podcast: Australia began as a Penal Colony 230 Years Ago
It is no longer a well-hidden fact, nor even a national embarrassment, that Australia was originally founded as the Botany Bay Penal Colony in the late 18th century. Botany Bay is an inlet on the eastern coast of Australia, just south of Sydney. But how exactly did an entire continent come to be settled byContinue reading “Podcast: Australia began as a Penal Colony 230 Years Ago”
Australia began as a British Penal Colony over 230 years ago
It’s no longer a well-hidden fact, nor even an embarrassment, that Australia was founded as the Botany Bay Penal Colony in the late 18th century. But how exactly did an entire continent come to be settled by British convicts? Botany Bay is an inlet on the eastern coast of Australia, just south of Sidney. InContinue reading “Australia began as a British Penal Colony over 230 years ago”