How did a convict live in 1790 in Sydney Cove?

Answer 1

Although life was hard in Sydney in 1790, it was usually better than the conditions which caused convicts to be transported in the first place.

By 1790, the convicts had huts, a step up from the lean-to arrangements, or tents, which they had in the early months. Food was a constant problem until 1791, whencrops finally started to grow properly. Unable to obtain sufficient rations from other countries, and also unable to hunt the strange Australian animals, many people simply starved. Australia was a long way from advanced medical help as well. There was no sanitation, of course, so creeks were quite polluted as they were where people washed their clothes, themselves and anything else.

In the early years, convicts were put to work immediately on building projects, particularly roads, and farming. New buildings needed to be constructed as the first shelters were just tents and lean-tos. The first jobs involved clearing the land. The convicts had to chop down trees, then cut the wood up for practical uses such as building. They needed to clear the shrubs and low bushes as well, and prepare the ground for tilling and planting. This was hard work as most of the English tools were unable to stand up to the demands of Australia's harsher, rocky soil. The convicts also had to quarry rock and haul it. This was used for building, and in the construction of roads and bridges.

Some of the convicts were assigned as servants to the free settlers or the officers. As the colony developed, the convicts worked in more skilled areas such as smithing, building tools, and even more intellectual pursuits where they showed aptitude. One of Australia's most famous architects, Francis Greenway, was a convict. Another convict with a background in printing was given permission to establish the colony's first newspaper. gradually, so many of see early convicts developed their own trades, businesses or farms, and found themselves with far greater opportunities than they would have had back in England.