Why Great Britain needed Australia as a penal colony?

Answer 1

Great Britain established Australia as a penal colony in the late 18th century primarily to address overcrowding in its prisons. Following the American Revolutionary War, Britain lost its access to American territories for transportation of convicts, prompting the need for a new solution. Australia provided a remote location where offenders could be sent, allowing Britain to alleviate its prison population while also facilitating the establishment of a foothold in the Pacific. This strategic move also aimed to bolster British claims to territory in the region and support future colonization efforts.