Show threadBruce MacDonaldMar 13

"The term swag similarly has its origin in thieves’ slang. It originally referred to a thief’s booty or plunder, but by the middle of the nineteenth century it was used to describe the collection of personal belongings wrapped up in a bedroll, as carried by a bush traveller. This is the beginning of the swagman tradition.

"Most of the recorded terminology has to do with the organisation and administration of the convict system, and disappeared with the demise of that system. Many of these, however, are included in the Australian Oxford Dictionary because of their importance to Australian history."
—from the article

#Australia #ConvictEra #history

Bruce MacDonaldMar 13

Further to the Convict Era terminology:

"Between 1788 and 1852 some 150,000 convicts were transported from Britain to eastern Australia, with New South Wales and Tasmania established as penal colonies. About 25,000 of these were women. With the impending cessation of transportation to the eastern colonies, the British government commenced transportation to Western Australia in 1850, and this continued until 1868. About 10,000 convicts were sent to Western Australia."
https://slll.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/andc/convict-era

#Australia #ConvictEra #swag

The convict era | School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics

Between 1788 and 1852 some 150,000 convicts were transported from Britain to eastern Australia, with New South Wales and Tasmania established as penal colonies. About 25,000 of these were women. With the impending cessation of transportation to the eastern colonies, the British government commenced transportation to Western Australia in 1850, and this continued until 1868. About 10,000 convicts were sent to Western Australia.

Bruce MacDonaldMar 13

I saw this reference in the news report to a "convict-era" bridge closed for three months.

I'd known in general terms about Australia's history but didn't realize that that period had been given that name.

"Transport for New South Wales (TFNSW) closed eastbound lanes along the Mitchell's Causeway, also known as the Convict Bridge, after cracking was detected by staff last Thursday."

Interesting.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-13/great-western-highway-closed-three-months/106449956

#Australia #ConvictEra #history

Highway linking Sydney to western NSW closed for at least three months

Extra rail and bus services will be rolled out after cracking on a convict-era bridge closes one of the main roads between Sydney and western NSW.