Confinement by isolation: convict mechanics and labour at Fort Dundas, Melville Island
In 1824 a military station, Fort Dundas, was formed on Melville Island in northern Australia. This represented the first attempt to establish a British presence in the northern part of the continent. Despite initial high hopes that it would become a permanent base, Fort Dundas lasted less than five...
| Veröffentlicht in: | Australasian Historical Archaeology. - The Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology. - 19(2001) vom: Jan., Seite 48-59 |
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| 1. Verfasser: | |
| Format: | Online-Aufsatz |
| Sprache: | English |
| Veröffentlicht: |
2001
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| Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk: | Australasian Historical Archaeology |
| Schlagworte: | Applied sciences Social sciences Physical sciences Economics Biological sciences Business |
| Zusammenfassung: | In 1824 a military station, Fort Dundas, was formed on Melville Island in northern Australia. This represented the first attempt to establish a British presence in the northern part of the continent. Despite initial high hopes that it would become a permanent base, Fort Dundas lasted less than five years. For the duration of its brief existence this small and isolated military outpost relied on convict workers for the development and maintenance of basic infrastructure. This paper examines convict labour in the context of isolation and physical depravation, and the resistance and social articulation that this engendered. The material manifestation of convict work is examined through evidence obtained by archaeological excavation of the site of the settlement's commissariat store. The proficiency of convict work at the store site is assessed by integrating archaeological and archival information. Comment is made on what the evidence may tell us of the level of convict craftsmanship, the competency of the control and organisation of work, and the nature of convict resistance and associated societal transformation. |
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| ISSN: | 13229214 |