Over the course of several days in January, 1788, 11 ships from the British First Fleet delivered their cargo of 732 British, North American, West Indian and African convicts to Sydney Cove. As the prisoners disembarked, they knew there was little chance of seeing their homeland or loved ones again. Were your ancestors on board?

Over the next 80 years, 165,000 convicts were transported the 15,000 mile journey from England. Today, many people around the world can trace their family’s roots to these first “colonists.” Does your family have Australian convict roots? We invite you to search this collection and see for yourself. Who knows, it might even be exciting.