Strange as it may seem, Australia was first settled because of the Revolutionary War in America. At one time, many countries used their colonies as jails. The British shipped convicts and other prisoners to colonies in America. But after the American colonies won their freedom, a new place had to be found.
Almost 300 years ago, a fleet of ships left Britain, bound for Australia. Aboard the ships were men and women who were being sent away from their country. Some of these people were criminals, but many of them had been put in jail simply because they had no money to pay their debts. These first Australians settled at what is now Sydney, Australia’s largest city. Later, some of the worst criminals were sent to special prisons called Penal Settlements. One of the main penal settlements was Port Arthur on Van Die men’s land. This rugged island, now called Tasmania, lies off the southeastern coast of Australia.
Life at the Port Arthur was as bad as you can imagine. And there wasn’t much chance to escape. Guards and dogs kept watch. Shark-filled waters crashed against steep, rocky cliffs. Many prisoners tried to get away, but few ever made it. Port Arthur served as a prison for about 300,000 men over a period of almost 50 years. Then, two years after it was abandoned, most of the settlement was destroyed by fire.
Today, many tourists visit Port Arthur. Among the ruins that have been standing for over a hundred years, you can see the prison and the watch tower, a house, a church, and a hospital—all built by the prisoners. The ruins serve as a remainder that Australia is a country that began as a jail.

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