Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01891:body:0:p23
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01891
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 74771–77535

of mitigation being the main
object. Governor Darling's object was that it was to be a place for the most extreme punishment, short of
death.

A party, under the command of Major Robert Turton of the 40" Regiment, landed on Norfolk on 6
June 1825. The initial settlers were a detachment of soldiers, six women, six children and 57 convicts,
most of them 'mechanics'. Turton found the former settlement in ruins but had many of the original
buildings roofed and occupied within two months. By December 1825, Turton had erected a
storehouse at the Landing Place and had undertaken works to Foveaux's Government House and
the Gaol (Government House was not completed until 1829, with additional works following). The
remainder of the settlement was grass huts or tents. Roads were re-formed and the Garrison was
placed behind Government House, giving it a view of both the Prisoners' Camp and the Garrison Farm.
A garden was formed in Arthur's Vale for the detachment, and facilities to produce building materials
were prepared. In December 1825 a further 31 convicts arrived, as well as a number of women who may
have been associated with the detachment.

In March 1826, Captain Vance Young Donaldson and the 57" Regiment relieved Turton. His orders
included the removal of all women, both bond and free. Women continued to be excluded until 1829
when officers' wives and families were allowed, but no female convicts. A convict uprising on 25
September 1826 resulted in four deaths and the later execution of two convicts in Sydney. In 1833,
after a series of murders, authorities decided that accused prisoners should be tried on Norfolk
Island—three prisoners were tried and executed. Hard labour included work in gangs, in the mills and
at quarries. By 1833 there were 600 prisoners and 130 troops. A series of Commandants over the
next eight years saw the construction of the Prisoners' Barracks, the Old Military Barracks, the
Lumber Yard, the Beach (or Pier) Store and Crankmill.

An official report on the conditions described convicts working from dawn to dusk in building and
agriculture. Well behaved prisoners could be given land to cultivate food and responsible positions.
A further prisoner mutiny took place on 15 January 1834. It was controlled, but nine convicts died
and 13 more were found guilty and executed. Some of their headstones are in the cemetery at Kingston.

Kingston and Arthur's Vale Historic Area—Heritage Management Plan, April 2016

Authorised Version F2016L01891 registered 09/12/2016

Jean Rice Architect | CONTEXT | GML Heritage

By the time Major Joseph Anderson of the 50" Regiment arrived in April 1834, the place was known as
Kingston. Anderson directed construction of the Commissariat Store, the New Military Barracks, and