Did Great Britain originally use Australia?

Answer 1

Great Britain first used Australia in the same way it used North America - as a dumping ground for excess prisoners. When the North American colonies refused to accept any more prisoners, the great continent in the Southern Hemisphere had considerable appeal as a prison from which convicts were unlikely to return.

Answer 2

Great Britain first used Australia in the same way it used North America - as a dumping ground for excess prisoners: in other words, Australia was originally established as a penal colony for British convicts. When the North American colonies refused to accept any more prisoners, the great continent in the southern hemisphere had considerable appeal as a prison from which convicts were unlikely to return.

There were also many resources in Australia which the British hoped to utilise, as well as the continent being in a prime strategic position for defensive purposes in the South Pacific.

See also the related question.

Answer 3

It was a penal colony. Individuals that broke the law in Britain could be sentenced to 'transportation' to the colony rather than being sent to jail.

Further Information:

Transportation of convicts was just one of the ways the British used Australia in the early years of colonisation. There were also many resources in Australia which the British hoped to utilise, as well as the continent being in a prime strategic position for defensive purposes in the South Pacific.

In summary:

England decided to use Australia for the following purposes:

1. Primarily: to solve the problem of Britain's overcrowded prisons by establishing a new penal colony in a land which showed promise for eventually becoming self-supporting.

2. To expand the British empire, and prevent the French from gaining a foothold in the Australian continent or in that part of the Pacific.

3. The continent had Natural Resources and raw materials which England wanted.

Answer 4

It was a military post to pre-empt French expansion, using convict labour, and intended to be a source of naval stores. This extended to a means of sending away convicts and making it difficult for them to return home, and a place for agricultural expansion

Answer 5

Yes. Great Britain claimed and settled Australia, using the continent as a penal colony (and later, a series of penal colonies) for its excess prisoners. Great Britain also used Australia to increase its presence in the Pacific.

Answer 6

(Study Island :D) It was a penal colony =)