Australian convict sites
World Heritage Nomination
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts,
January 2008
ISBN 978 0 642 55390 4
PDF files
- Australian convict sites - full report (PDF - 13,578 KB) - large file
- Australian convict sites - Contents (PDF - 252 KB)
- Australian convict sites - Part 1 (PDF - 2,989 KB) - large file
- Australian convict sites - Part 2 (PDF - 3,933 KB) - large file
- Australian convict sites - Part 3 (PDF - 2,779 KB) - large file
- Australian convict sites - Part 4 (PDF - 261 KB)
- Australian convict sites - Part 5 (PDF - 444 KB)
- Australian convict sites - Part 6 (PDF - 161 KB)
- Australian convict sites - Part 7 (PDF - 237 KB)
- Australian convict sites - Part 8 (PDF - 141 KB)
- Australian convict sites - Part 9 (PDF - 3,375 KB) - large file
Executive summary
The Australian Convict Sites is the name of the nominated property and comprises 11 sites across the continent of Australia. The sites are representative of the global phenomenon of convictism and its association with global developments in the punishment of crime in the modern era. The 11 sites are the pre-eminent examples of Australia’s rich convict history with more than 3,000 convict sites remaining around Australia. This is unique in the world today.
The nominated sites are: Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area (Norfolk Island); Old Government House and Domain (New South Wales); Hyde Park Barracks (New South Wales); Brickendon–Woolmers Estates (Tasmania); Darlington Probation Station, (Tasmania); Old Great North Road (New South Wales); Cascades Female Factory (Tasmania); Port Arthur Historic Site (Tasmania); Coal Mines Historic Site (Tasmania); Cockatoo Island Convict Site (New South Wales); and Fremantle Prison (Western Australia).
The property is nominated under criteria (iv) and (vi) for its outstanding universal significance as:
- an exceptional example of the forced migration of convicts - an important stage of human history (criterion iv); and
- an extraordinary example of global ideas and developments associated with the punishment and reform of the criminal elements of humanity during the Age of Enlightenment and the modern era (criterion vi).
In 2007 the importance of the Australian convict memory to all humankind was recognised when some of Australia's convict records were included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.
The Australian Convict Sites have a high level of integrity and authenticity and fully meet the requirements of the UNESCO Operational Guidelines to the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention. A world class management system, entitled the Australian Convict Sites strategic management framework (2008), will ensure the full protection and conservation of the property. The framework comprises a ministerial agreement which incorporates legislation, conservation management plans, community engagement and a range of policies covering each of the convict sites across three levels of government. Each of the 11 sites is listed on national and State or Territory heritage registers which ensure their protection under the various laws and policies. The framework will ensure the preservation, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations of the heritage significance of the Australian Convict Sites.
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