Tag Archives: transportation

Curator’s talk

Join Curator’s Heather Clarke and Eleanor Lambert as they walk you through our new exhibition Dancing in Fetters: The Culture of Convict Dance. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia funding. Exhibition partners include Abbey … Continue reading

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April School Holiday Activity

Why was dance so important to the Convicts?What kind of dances did they do? And what did they wear? Come find out during the April school holidays. Dress up and dance like the convicts. At the Rocks Discovery Museum.

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Irish convict musicians

Blind Loftus opened the proceeding by dancing a hornpipe, then came Irish jigs, reels, and songs, and when the boys got warm they were as wild as goats without a shepherd.  The spree was kept up for three days and … Continue reading

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Fremantle Prison: Sept 2023 – Jan 2024

Fremantle Prison will host the Dancing in Fetters exhibition from 16 September 2023 – 28 January 2024. Step back in time and immerse yourself in the mesmerizing world of convict dance and music. Fremantle Prison proudly presents an exhibition curated … Continue reading

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John Barry 1821

Dancing on convict ships 19 August 1821 …the soldiers were still on deck in numbers at the time, having just finished their usual evening dancing… Surgeon-superintendent, Daniel McNamara kept a medical journal on the convict ship from 16 May to … Continue reading

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Grenada 1821

6 June 1821; serving Lime juice and sugar to the guard and convicts,… gave permission to dance. Surgeon-superintendent, Peter Cunningham was noted for encouraging the convicts in his charge to dance.  His medical journal of the convict ship, Grenada, was … Continue reading

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Guildford 1820

Dancing on convict ships The surgeon recommends that convict ships should carry pipes and tabors so that convicts may dance to prevent them brooding on their misfortunes.1 The Guildford transported 190 convict men to the colony from England in 1820.  … Continue reading

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In transit from hulk to convict ship

Dancing on convict ships. Before leaving the Hulk, the convicts are thoroughly clothed in new suits, and ironed; and it is curious to observe with what nonchalance some of these fellows will turn the jingling of their chains into music … Continue reading

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Daphne 1819

Dancing on convict ships. Music and dancing on deck in the evening. The Daphne transported 180 convicts from Ireland in 1819.  These men came from all over the country and had been held in the Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin, and … Continue reading

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Surry 1816, 1819 and 1823

Dancing on convict ships Captain Thomas Raine had a liberal and  humanitarian approach to convicts in his care and encouraged dancing on his ships, recognising its physical, mental, and emotional benefits. As the Surry neared her destination, the prisoners were … Continue reading

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