Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Convict Biographies:
Joseph Lucas Horrocks 2
Moondyne Joe 3
James Walsh 4
Thomas Bushell 5
Patrick Gibbons 7
Convict Administrators:
Edmund Henderson 9
Pensioner Guards 14
Published by Fremantle Prison, Department of Treasury and Finance Building Management and Works, Government of Western Australia
The Terrace, Fremantle, Western Australia, 6160, Australia
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Acknowledgements:
Fremantle Prison would like to thank the following organisations and individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of this resource State Records Office
of Western Australia, State Library of Western Australia, National Library of Australia, Western Australian Museum, History Teachers Association of Western Australia, City of
Fremantle - Local History Collection, St Patricks Primary School, Margaret McPherson, Maree Whitely
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Convict Biographies FREMANTLE PRISON
The Swan River was first settled in 1829. Life was THE TYPICAL
tough and the growth of the colony was very slow. CONVICT
For many years the future of the Swan River Colony
Most convicts came from
looked bleak. poor backgrounds. In general
they were convicted of crimes
such as pick pocketing and
Desperate to save their farms the York Between 1850 and 1868 nearly 10,000
Agricultural Society sent a letter to the convicts were sent to Western Australia.
burglary, although 13% were
government in 1847 asking for convicts to be At first the colony only received men convicted of violent crimes
sent to the colony. They argued that convict convicted of non-violent crimes such as against other people. Most
labour would help the economy and open theft. This changed and by the late 1850s were between 20 and 30
up the state to farming and development. convicts convicted of violent crimes years old and were unmarried.
including murder, manslaughter, assault, All of the convicts sent to
Other settlers, particularly those who lived sexual offences and kidnapping began Western Australia were men.
in Perth and Fremantle, were worried that arriving at Fremantle.
convicts would bring crime and violence to Some convicts once released from
the colony. English prisons however were prison went on to live constructive and
overcrowded and the British Government productive lives. A number became
quickly agreed to send 100 prisoners to colony school teachers. Others ended
Fremantle. On 6 November 1849 the West their days in the Lunatic Asylum, in
Australian Government Gazette reported homes for the poor or in drunken misery.
that the Swan River Colony had become a Some convicts were unable to live
penal settlement. peaceful lives and spent the rest of their
days in prison.
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Convict Biographies FREMANTLE PRISON
Horrocks was convicted of forgery in When the Lynton depot at Port Gregory was Many newly released convicts headed north
London in 1851. Sentenced to fourteen years abandoned in 1857, Horrocks received his to the mine with the hope of employment.
transportation he arrived at Fremantle on the conditional pardon and settled in the district The community with its curving stone-
Marion in 1852. Horrocks differed from most of Wanerenooka north of Geraldton. There walled road, its neat row of cottages and
of the other convicts. He was well educated he started a copper mine which he named carefully tended gardens2 was named
and could read and write. He was also much Gwalla. The copper mine was successful and Northampton in 1864.
older than the other convicts at 35 years. between 1862 and 1865 he employed sixty
ticket of leave men. Very soon a community Despite failing health, Joseph Horrocks
During the first year of his sentence he sprang up around the mine. continued working to build the community.
worked on the construction of the Convict He successfully applied for a government
Establishment. By 1853 he earned his ticket of Horrocks encouraged the settlers to grow grant to set up a schoolhouse in 1863. He
leave and travelled north to the convict depot at wheat and he built a mill powered by a steam asked the government to build the States
Port Gregory where he worked as a doctor. engine which drew ore from the Gwalla mine. first public railway between his mine and
He built the Gwalla Church between 1861 and Geraldton port, thirty miles to the south.
1864, and had carved on the foundation stone a While he did not live to see the railway
quote from Isaiah, My house shall be called a built, his request was accepted and the
house of Prayer for all People. railway opened in 1879.
1
Erickson, R. The Brand on his Coat Biographies of some
Western Australian convicts, University of Western Australia
Gwalla Church built in Northampton c1860s Press, 1983. p 224.
State Library of Western Australia 2
Ibid., p.226.
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Convict Biographies FREMANTLE PRISON
MOONDYNE JOE
When Joseph Johns arrived at Fremantle on Joes health got worse. To give him fresh air
the Pyrenees in 1853, he was immediately and exercise, he was put to work breaking
granted his ticket of leave. He worked as rocks in the Parade Ground in 1867. Under
an animal tracker near Toodyay until 1861 strict supervision Joe broke rocks daily
when he was accused of stealing a horse. until a large pile of rubble had built up near
This earned him a three year sentence in the front wall of the prison. Now, partially
the Convict Establishment. It was not long hidden behind the pile, Joe quickly dug a
before he received another ticket of leave. He hole through the prison wall with his pickaxe
returned to the Moondyne Springs area near and emerged into the Superintendents yard.
Toodyay, but only four years later in 1865 he He escaped through a gate and disappeared
went back to prison after stealing and killing into nearby bushland.
an ox. He escaped from a work party in that
year but was recaptured and another year Moondyne Joe was at large for the next two
was added to his sentence. A year later he years. In 1869 he broke into the cellar of
managed to escape once again but was again Houghtons Vineyard in the Swan Valley
recaptured and a further five years were added intending to steal some wine. Bad timing
to his sentence. By this time the newspapers saw a group of policemen led into the cellars
were writing about Moondyne Joe and he for a social drink and Joe, attempting to flee,
became well known in the colony. literally ran into their arms.
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Convict Biographies FREMANTLE PRISON
JAMES WALSH
Example of drawings found in James Walshs cell, E33, 4 division St. John on the Isle of Putmos
receiving inspiration for the Book of Revelations (left) and Possible self portrait (right) c1860s
Fremantle Prison Collection
James Walsh was born in England in 1833 and worked as a labourer, a clerk and then a
jeweller. In 1852 he was convicted in the Old Bailey for forging a request for goods and
sentenced to 15 years transportation to Fremantle. He arrived on the Ramillies on 10
August 1854 and spent the next two years at the Convict Establishment. On 25 March
1856 he was granted his ticket of leave and on 11 June 1859 his conditional pardon.
He only remained a free man for four In 1964, almost 100 years after Walshs After being released for the second time,
months before he was again convicted for death, some whitewash was accidentally Walsh managed to stay out of prison and
forgery. This time he was sentenced to eight removed from the wall of a cell that was found work as a colonial artist. He painted
years as convict 5569. He regained his used as a storeroom. This accident revealed landscapes documenting the colony
ticket of leave on 23 September 1863, and a cell decorated with artworks. The pictures including two views of Perth from Mount
his conditional pardon on 14 October 1867. included a range of religious figures such Eliza dated 1864. He also produced a
as angels and demons, scenes from the series of twelve pencil and watercolour
After 1867 he worked as a clerk and a Bible, a picture of Queen Victoria as a sketches of Aboriginal people engaged in
painter in both Perth and Fremantle. He young woman, a fountain covered with traditional activities, held in the Art Gallery
died of tuberculosis only a few years later angels, a kangaroo hunt and a self-portrait. of Western Australia.
on 27 May 1871. The history of Walshs An inscription under one picture reads, J
incarceration, freedom and reconviction Walsh left this cell 9 Mar.
in the prison does not differ greatly from
hundreds of other convicts who passed
through the Establishment. What makes
Walsh unique is the record he left of
himself on the walls of his cell.
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Convict Biographies FREMANTLE PRISON
THOMAS BUSHELL
6
Superintendents Letter Book, 9 July 1865: Acc. No. 1156/C8
intended to harm him.8 Despite Hollis 7
Inquirer, 13 September 1865
defence of the man who had attacked him, 8
Perth Gazette, 8 September 1865
the jury found Bushell guilty. 9
Thomas, J.E. and Stewart, A. Imprisonment in Western
Australia: evolution, theory and practice, University of
Western Australia Press 1978. p. 29.
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Convict Biographies FREMANTLE PRISON
Thomas Browne was an architect and engineer in London with experience in building
railways. Convicted of forging a money order he was transported to Western Australia
on the Lord Dalhousie and arrived in Fremantle in 1863. While a prisoner at the
Convict Establishment his skills were used for building projects in the colony.
Browne received his ticket of leave in June While his personal life was marred with Satan Brownes bad luck soon returned
1865 and found work as a schoolmaster in tragedy, Brownes public life suffered and by 1881 he was in debt for 42 Pounds.
the township of Ferguson near Bunbury. because of his convict background and The law dealt harshly with ex-convicts.
Four years later he received his conditional he found it difficult to find employment. Realising he would be sent back to
pardon and moved to Fremantle to work as In 1879, after many failed attempts to Fremantle Prison, Browne gave way to
an architect. Because of his black hair, and find work Browne leased the Old Mill at despair and swallowed a lethal dose of
pale and thin face, Browne was given the South Perth and proceeded to develop it strychnine. In his dying moments he
nickname Satan. as a pleasure resort. Brown transformed scrawled a final message: I wish to lay
the mill into a hotel with a refreshment bar against my child.
Browne was a skilled artist and produced on the ground floor, a dining and supper
a number of paintings depicting buildings room on the first floor with a wide circular The beautiful and famous Alta Gardens also
around Fremantle including the Convict balcony, a smoking room for gentlemen on came to a sad end. The building was leased
Establishment. the second floor, and a viewing gallery at within a week or two of Satan Brownes
the top of the tower which boasted views death and turned into a chicken farm. The
Browne was granted a Certificate of mill became derelict after years of neglect
across the river to Mount Eliza and Perth.
Freedom in 1872. He married Mary Ann and would have been demolished if not for
Alta Gardens opened on 21 April 1880 and
Lecht (known as Polly) in 1875. They had the concerted efforts of local residents.
quickly became the place to be seen.
a daughter in May 1876 who unfortunately
died six months later.
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Convict Biographies FREMANTLE PRISON
PATRICK GIBBONS
Patrick Gibbons was originally sentenced After being released in 1870, Gibbons moved This earned Gibbons another year at
to fourteen years transportation in 1862 for to Toodyay where over the course of the Fremantle. Released in 1879 he was
striking a superior officer in the army. His year he was brought before the court eight returned again to Fremantle in 1881 for
ticket of leave was granted in December times for drunkenness, fighting and breach stealing a hat. In December 1881 he was
1868 but in less than one month he was of ticket of leave regulations.11 He moved to charged with robbing and biting another ex-
brought before the Magistrates Court in York and over the next few years continued convict. He stayed out of trouble for a few
Vasse charged with drunkenness.10 To make his unruly behaviour with charges for years until 1886 when he was arrested four
matters worse he assaulted the Resident drunkenness, fighting, obscene language. On times for drunken and disorderly conduct.
Magistrate in the courtroom and was 3 October 1877 he was arrested in Beverley In 1890 he was charged with trying to burn
returned to Fremantle for fifteen months for maliciously assaulting a fellow ticketer in down the York Hotel. Later that year he
hard labour. what was described as a cannibal act. was found lying in a ditch outside of York
very drunk. A father and son who were
riding past lifted him onto their cart to take
M. Brady T. L. reported at station at 3:30pm that last night when he was him into town. As the cart bumped over a
rough patch of road Gibbons was jolted off
at Harden York s at Beverley he happened to have a few words with Patrick and the fall to the ground killed him.
Gibbons T. L. and that while he was asleep at about 11pm he felt a sharp pang and
upon awaiking found his lower lip gone, and saw Gibbons standing in front of him
with the piece in his mouth. The whole bottom lip had been bitten off from the chin
leaving only the corners.
10
Bentley M. in The Brand on his Coat Biographies of some
Western Australian convicts, Erickson, R. (ed) University of
York Occurrence Book 3 October 1877 Western Australia Press, 1983. p 206.
Ibid.
11
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Convict Biographies FREMANTLE PRISON
Convict number 9684, John Casey, one Together they planned OReillys escape
of the Fenians, described their arrival at and organised passage for him on an
Fremantle Prison. American whaler, the Vigilant. In February
1869 OReilly escaped from his work
the shame of being domiciled party, met up with Maguire and rode to a
under the same roof, sleep[ing] in the secluded beach where a rowboat waited.
same cell or the next hammock within They rowed out into Geographe Bay but
hearing of horrid oaths, the frightful unfortunately the Vigilant failed to see
blasphemies and obscenities, and the them and sailed away.
horrifying details given, night after
By this time the police and Aboriginal
night, by these godless wretches, who trackers were chasing him. OReilly
gloried in their past sinful careers, and was forced to hide in the sand dunes in
who now proudly confess and boast of the scorching summer sun with little
their atrocities before their applauding fresh water for weeks while McCabe
associates ... The moment the door had and Maguire organised another rescue.
been locked and the warder departed, Eventually McCabe found another whaler
there commenced such a scene of the Gazelle to carry OReilly to safety.
immorality and profligacy; of fighting, On 2 March 1869 he again rowed out into
bullying and obscene language ... that I Geographe Bay, was picked up by the
shrank horrified, thinking whether hell whaler and sailed to freedom.
itself could surpass in crime the fiends This was not the end of OReillys
huddled together in that division. involvement with the Fenian prisoners
John Casey, Journal 1868
of Fremantle Prison. Once he arrived
The Fenians did not spend much time at in America he moved to Boston where
Fremantle before they were sent throughout he found work on a local newspaper.
the colony on work parties. With John Devoy, the head of the Fenian
Brotherhood in America, he worked on a
John Boyle OReilly was granted the plan to rescue the six military Fenians still
position of party constable in the Bunbury remaining in Western Australia. O'Reillys
work party. He was responsible for plans eventually led to the Catalpa rescue.
mustering the convicts and carrying
communications between the work party
warder and the local convict depot. OReilly
took advantage of his position to meet
with two locals in the Bunbury Catholic
community, a local priest Father McCabe
12
Pease, Z. W. The Catalpa Expedition, Hesperian Press, 2002,
and another man Big Jim Maguire.12 (First published 1897 by George S Anthony, Commander of John Boyle OReilly Convict # 9843, 1868
the Catalpa), p. 32. Fremantle Prison Collection
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Convict Biographies: CONVICT ADMINISTRATORS FREMANTLE PRISON
EDMUND HENDERSON
Comptroller-General of Convicts
The Comptroller-General was in charge of all aspects of convict life. Sir Edmund
Henderson was born on 19 April 1821 in Hampshire, England, into a military family.
After quickly rising through the ranks of the Royal Engineers (a command in the
British Army commonly referred to as the Sappers), he was appointed the Swan
River Colony's first Comptroller-General of Convicts.
University Press. Republished in 1991 by Fremantle Arts Edmund Henderson, Comptroller-General of Convicts, Western Australia 1860
Centre Press. State Library of Western Australia
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Convict Biographies: CONVICT ADMINISTRATORS FREMANTLE PRISON
Thomas Dixon arrived at Fremantle with Captain Dixon believed that the role of the prison
was to reform criminals. During his nine
Henderson and the first convicts on the Scindian in years at the Establishment, Dixon began
1850. Dixon was the Superintendent of convicts during a series of programs that helped reform
the construction phase of the Establishment between convicts, including rewards for good
behaviour and educational opportunities.
1851 and 1859 and served with distinction as a One idea was a series of lectures organised
reforming and humane superintendent.14 His personal in 1853, given by and for convicts, on a
life was troubled and he had continual financial and number of subjects including philosophy,
geology, poetry, astronomy, chemistry, and
marital problems. human anatomy. Dixon demonstrated his
trust in the convicts by allowing his own
daughters to attend the lectures.
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Convict Biographies: CONVICT ADMINISTRATORS FREMANTLE PRISON
Wray was an extremely practical man, as his description of the completed gates suggests:
A pair of iron gates with small side gates have been prepared and fixed at the entrance leading from the outer yard to the prison.
These gates have been made principally from the iron from convict ships, which from its generally inferior quality is unfit for
ordinary purposes, where welding is required. They have been so constructed as not to require welding, and, as finished, present a
good appearance, and are a substantial as well as economical piece of work. Henry Wray 1856
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Convict Biographies: CONVICT ADMINISTRATORS FREMANTLE PRISON
In 1856 Henry Wray became Acting On 30 May 1856, just a few months after his Apart from his organisational and
Comptroller-General in charge of the promotion, Wray witnessed one of the more engineering talents, Wray was also an
Establishment while Henderson returned unusual incidents in the prisons history: accomplished artist. His two watercolours
to England for an extended stay. Wray was of the Convict Establishment painted after
described in a letter written by Governor About 5:30pm yesterday, a whirlwind completion of the building project are the
Kennedy to the Secretary of State for passed over the prison premises from, earliest pictures of the prison as well as that
the Colonies as a most exemplary and north to south-east and has done of Western Australian convict life.
industrious officer who has for many damage to a large extent tearing off
months done the work of several15. Henry Wray left the colony on 2 January
branches from the trees and carrying 1858 with high commendations and a
everything it came across up to a healthy reputation.
great height in its vortex. As soon as
it reached the prison wall, nearly the
whole of the northern boundary 150
yards long, 20 feet high and in some
places two feet six inches thick, was
laid perfectly flat, turning over on its
Quoted by James, R. E. in The Royal Engineers Journal,
15
side like a hinge. Obituary Notice: The Late Lieut.-General H. Wray, C.M.G.,
Henry Wray Personal diary 1856 R.E., June 1, 1900, p.129.
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Convict Biographies: CONVICT ADMINISTRATORS FREMANTLE PRISON
The surgeon, responsible for the physical and mental health of the convicts, was one of
the most important positions in the prison. The Convict Establishments first surgeon,
Doctor Rennie was not in the job for long. In 1855 he became immensely unpopular
when he reduced the convicts rations and attempted to cut out meat altogether. He
believed that meat was poorly digested in warm climates and that it turned men into
savages. He was replaced by George Attfield who arrived on the Dolphin in 1857.
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Convict Biographies: CONVICT ADMINISTRATORS FREMANTLE PRISON
PENSIONER GUARDS
Most Pensioner Guards found private As an extra incentive, a bonus of ten pounds
work in the colony, but they were always was given to each of them and they were
available to help in case of an outbreak promised the use of convict labour to help
among the prisoners. clear the land. Nearly all of the Pensioners
accepted this offer and many pensioner
The Enrolled Pensioner Guard uniform blocks were still owned by their descendants
consisted of dark greyish-brown trousers at the beginning of the First World War.
with a scarlet stripe down the leg, knee
length dark blue surcoats with facings of By 1863 the Pensioner Guards replaced
red and yellow, and a tall, regulation hat. the Queen's troops as the colony's military
force. They were used to protect the colony
To encourage them to stay in the colony, and control civil unrest. At one time the
they were offered an allotment of ten acres Enrolled Pensioner Force numbered over
of land which they could select and lease 600 men. The Pensioner Guards were
for seven years and then own. dissolved in 1904 and their duties assumed
Pensioner Guard John Tunney c1855-1860
by the Western Australian Police. State Library of Western Australia
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