Lynton Convict Hiring Depot

The Lynton Convict Hiring Depot (1853–1857) was the first convict depot north of Fremantle, Western Australia. It was established on 22 May 1853 with the arrival of the 173 ton brigantine Leander, which transferred 60 ticket-of-leave convicts and Pensioner Guards (retired British soldiers) that had arrived at Fremantle on the Pyrenees on 1 May. It was established to supply labour to the Geraldine Lead Mine, 64 kilometres (40 miles) north of the site on the Murchison River, and to local settlers.[1] The depot was closed by order of Governor Kennedy on 3 January 1857 due to the high cost to the government of its maintenance.[2][3][4]

Lynton Convict Hiring Depot Ruins, Yallabatharra, Northampton Shire, Western Australia

By 1856 a store, bakery, depot, lockup, hospital, lime kiln and administration block had all been built but a lack of fresh vegetables had seen the convict population ravaged by scurvy. It was decided to close the settlement and the convicts were transferred with the officer in charge to Champion Bay in 1857. The transfer seems to have been due to the growing importance of the town of Geraldton, and the need for public works in the district.[3]

Five women from the "Bride Ships" were known to have arrived in Lynton.[5][6]

Lynton remains the most intact example of a regional convict depot in Western Australia.[7] Entered on the Register of the national estate and vested in the Northampton Shire Council, conservation works are in progress via the Northampton Historical Society.[8]

References
  1. Gibbs, Martin (December 2010). "Landscapes of Redemption: Tracing the Path of a Convict Miner in Western Australia" (PDF). International Journal of Historical Archaeology. 14 (4): 593–613. doi:10.1007/s10761-010-0121-y. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  2. "Wednesday, February 2, 1859". The Inquirer & Commercial News. 2 February 1859. p. 2. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  3. "Early Convict Depot". The Western Mail. 11 April 1946. p. 12. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  4. Wright, Judy (2006). Selling Sparrows. Dunstable, Bedfordshire: J.H. Wright & The Book Castle. ISBN 978-0955351600.
  5. Erickson, Rica (1992). The Bride Ships – Experiences of Immigrants Arriving in Western Australia 1849-1889. Carlisle, Western Australia: Hesperian Press. ISBN 0 85905 162 5.
  6. Gibbs, Martin (2007). "Lynton: convicts, landscape and colonisation strategies in midwest Western Australia" (PDF). Australasian Historical Archaeology. 25: 57–69. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  7. Shire of Northampton (31 December 2016). "Lynton Convict Hiring Depot (Ruins)". State Heritage Office. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  8. Vivian, Geoff (18 July 2018). "Calls to protect historical Lynton Convict Depot site". The West Australian. Retrieved 21 September 2018.

Further reading

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