Episode Three

EPISODE THREE

THE PEOPLE ARE REVOLTING

OVERVIEW Getting started Certiﬁcate of Freedom. He was then free to become a settler or to return ‘Australia started as a social experiment.’ One of the primary reasons for the home. Convicts that misbehaved, – Tony Robinson British settlement of Australia was the however, were often sent to a place establishment of a penal colony. Trans- of secondary punishment where they sAny convicts in your family? portation to Australia was a common would suffer additional punishment punishment handed out for both major and solitary conﬁnement. sThe website of the Australian Gov- and petty crimes. At the time it was ernment provides a comprehensive seen as a more humane alternative to ‘The People are Revolting’ examines account of this period in Australia’s execution. Between 1787 and 1868, the enforcement of law and order in history and provides links to other over 162,000 British and Irish convicts the colony of New South Wales. As the online resources. Explore . convict could be given a ticket of dom began. The authority of the penal leave, and at the end of the convict’s government was questioned more and s‘He got convicted for stealing a tea sentence, seven years in most more by the convicts and even by the set.’ – Tony Robinson cases, the convict was issued with a soldiers themselves. What was the Bloody Code?

Research transportation to Australia at .

As a class debate the contention, ‘That the punishment should ﬁt the crime’.

sWhat do you think would have been the worst aspect of being a convict

SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 19 in Australia? Share your answer with the class. Can you think of any ad- vantages of being transported to the colonies?

PINCHGUT ISLAND

Pinchgut Island, or as it is now known, Fort Denison, is a former penal site and defensive facility occupying a small island located north of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales.

Prior to European settlement, the island was known as Mat-te-wan-ye. It was initially named Rock Island but came by the name Pinchgut in 1788, after a convict named Thomas Hill was Discuss s How does the newsreel portray Fort sentenced to a week on bread and water Denison? in irons there. Have you ever visited Fort Denison? If you have, share your memories of the s What did you notice about the By 1796, a gibbet had been installed on visit with others in the class. production values of the newsreel? Pinchgut. The ﬁrst convict to be hanged from the gibbet was probably Francis Morgan. Student activity THE 1804 BATTLE OF

s What other functions has Fort VINEGAR HILL Student activity: Denison served? Use print and electronic texts to research the ‘Death or liberty.’ s What is a gibbet? history of Fort Denison. When you have completed your research, think In March 1798, Ireland was declared to s What crimes did Francis Morgan of a way to present the information be in a state of insurrection. Under the commit? to the class. You could construct a Insurrection Act, Magistrates and Military timeline, make a PowerPoint, draw a Officers were empowered to arrest and s Why was Pinchgut Island Francis comic, write a fictional story, assume punish, by death or otherwise, according Morgan’s place of execution? the persona of a tour guide or make to their discretion, people committing a series of postcards. treasonable acts or even suspected of Francis Morgan’s convict record is treason. Many thousands were, without registered online at An Australia Today newsreel dating from The first Battle of Vinegar Hill occurred Fort Denison is now a museum, tourist 1939 provides a nostalgic look at the his- on 21 June 1798, when over 15,000 attraction and a popular location for tory of Fort Denison. You can watch two British soldiers launched an attack wedding receptions and corporate clips from the newsreel on the Australian on Vinegar Hill outside Enniscorthy in events. Screen website at . Rebellion of 1798, as it was the last attempt by the rebels to hold and defend A newsreel was a form of short docu- ground against the British military. mentary film that was popular in the first half of the twentieth century. It was Extensive information about the uprising a source of news, current affairs and can be found on the website of Ireland’s entertainment for millions of moviego- National 1798 Visitor Centre at . 1950s. Newsreels are now considered significant historical documents. Australia’s very own Battle of Vinegar

SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 20 Hill occurred in the colony of New South Teachers should use this resource to The penal station was established in Wales in 1804. locate relevant primary and secondary 1830 as a timber-getting camp, produc- sources. ing sawn logs for government projects. The sending of Irish political prisoners After 1833, Port Arthur became a jail for to Australia changed the colony of New Primary accounts of the Battle of Vinegar repeat offenders, and by 1840, it held South Wales. The Irish convicts did not Hill are found in the Historical Records of over 2000 convicts. In 1848, the first see English authority as legitimate in Ire- NSW a shift in punishment philosophy from conspired to be free of the brutal tedium on pp.353–8. physical to mental subjugation. of convict life and the harshness of convict discipline. Their ultimate goal was to Convicts at Port Arthur were subjected escape from the penal colony by ship. Student activity to a range of punishments including loss of privileges, hard labour, head shaving, The leaders of the 4 March 1804 rebel- sLearn more about the Battle of the treadmill, shackles, leg irons and lion were Phillip Cunningham and William Vinegar Hill online at: flogging. With the opening of the Sepa- Johnston. Phillip Cunningham was a rate Prison, solitary confinement became veteran of the 1798 conflict in Ireland - http://about.nsw.gov.au/ the preferred method of punishment. and the mutiny of the convict transport encyclopedia/article/battle-of ship Ann. William Johnston was another -vinegar-hill-5-march/ Transportation to Van Diemen’s Land Irish convict. ended in 1853 and Port Arthur became - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ a place to send convicts who were too The plan involved torching John Macar- Castle_Hill_convict_rebellion physically or mentally disabled to look thur’s property at Elizabeth Farm in order after themselves. The penal settlement to draw the Parramatta garrison out of - http://www.dictionaryofsydney. finally closed in 1877. Many of the set- the town. Once this was done the rebels org/entry/castle_hill_convict_ tlement’s buildings were pulled down or in Parramatta would rise up and set fire rebellion_1804 gutted by fire. Others were sold to pri- to the town as a signal. The Castle Hill vate settlers and gradually a small town, rebels would gather at Constitution Hill - http://www.hawkesburyhistory. named Carnarvon, was established. and then raid the barracks for more arms org.au/articles/Battle_of_Vinegar. and ammunition. From there the rebels html The Port Arthur Historic Site Manage- would march to Windsor and join up ment Authority is now responsible for with the rebels in the Hawkesbury before sWrite an account of the Battle of the site’s management and conservation marching on Sydney. Vinegar Hill that may have been as a place of international significance. published in the Sydney Gazette at Port Arthur is Tasmania’s premier tourist Major George Johnston led the group the time. attraction. of New South Wales Corps soldiers and members of the Active Defence militia Or The official website for Port Arthur who pursued the rebels. Governor Philip is a useful resource for teachers and Gidley King’s retribution for the rebellion Write an account of the Battle of students wanting to learn more about was swift. King believed that punishing Vinegar Hill that may have been Australia’s convict past . who had followed them. the time.

The location of the Battle of Vinegar Hill Discuss is in Castlebrook Cemetery, Rouse Hill PORT ARTHUR and is marked by a memorial. sHave you visited Port Arthur? Share your recollections of the time that A comprehensive index of references to ‘How do you punish someone who’s al- you spent there with the class. the Battle of Vinegar Hill can be found at ready being punished in a penal colony?’ . – Tony Robinson Student Activity The peninsula on which Port Arthur is located was deemed suitable for a penal sWhy does Tony Robinson tell the station. It was a naturally secure site story of the bushranger James given it was surrounded by water that at Carrot? the time was rumoured to be shark in- fested. The narrow isthmus of Eaglehawk s‘… he put on a kangaroo skin and Neck that was the only connection to the bounded out of Port Arthur.’ mainland was fenced and guarded by – Tony Robinson soldiers, traps and half-starved dogs.

SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 21 Why does Tony Robinson tell the excerpts from the novel and use an arthur. Camden Park is one of Australia’s story of Billy Hunt? Internet search engine to find video most historically important farms. clips from the film adaptations. s How does Tony Robinson fare as he s How does this episode portray John puts himself through the paces of Macarthur? being a convict at Port Arthur? THE RUM CORPS Learn more about John Macarthur at s The narrative emphasises the . sympathetic view of their time spent convicts except for their red coats, they at Port Arthur. Why do you think this soon became known as the Rum Corps, s Read John Macarthur’s letter re- is the case? the most powerful and unscrupulous questing a land grant on pp.446–7 group in the colony by far.’ of the Historical Records of NSW at The Panopticon is a type of prison build- – Tony Robinson . observer to observe all prisoners with- regiment to relieve the marines who had out the incarcerated being able to tell accompanied the First Fleet to Australia. s Why was John Macarthur featured on whether they are being watched. Due to the remoteness and unpopularity Australia’s $2 note? An image of the of the posting, the Corps was composed $2 note can be found at . important? When the colony was short of currency, rum soon became the medium of trade. Lachlan Macquarie Extension The officers of the Corps were able to use their position and wealth to buy Lachlan Macquarie was installed as For the Term of His Natural Life , writ- imported rum and then exchange it for governor of the colony of New South ten by Marcus Clarke, was published goods and labour at very favourable Wales on 1 January 1810. in the Australian Journal between 1870 rates, thus earning the Corps the nick- and 1872, before appearing as a novel name The Rum Corps. Macquarie saw the colony of New South in 1874. The novel is regarded as an Wales as a settled community as well Australian classic. The story follows the Governor William Bligh’s attempt to es- as a penal settlement. Upon his arrival fortunes of Rufus Dawes, a young man tablish order in the Corps and stop their he established order amongst the Rum transported for a murder that he did not trading in rum led to the Rum Rebellion. Corps. Given emancipists outnumbered commit. Clarke portrays the harsh and free settlers, Macquarie insisted that they inhumane conditions of Port Arthur penal be treated equally. He appointed eman- settlement. Student activity

The novel was adapted to ﬁlm in 1908 s Make a list of the reasons why using and 1927 and for television in 1983. The rum for currency isn’t a wise idea. 1918 Australian ﬁlm His Convict Bride or For the Term of Her Natural Life also s What role did Governor Arthur Philip, alluded to Clarke’s novel. John Macarthur and William Bligh play in the Rum Rebellion? s Spend time as a class reading JOHN MACARTHUR AND WILLIAM PARROT

‘Yep, a gunﬁght and six runaway cows helped start the Australian wool industry.’ – Tony Robinson

Tony Robinson visits Camden Park, the former home of John and Elizabeth Mac-

SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 22 Draw on the evidence contained in this episode of Tony Robinson Explores Australia, print texts and information found online to support your position.

Some useful starting points include:

- http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/ biogs/A020162b.htm

- http://www.lib.mq.edu.au/digital/ lema/

- http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/ discover_collections/history_ nation/macquarie/governor/city. html cipists to government positions and James Church; the Macquarie Street established land grants for these former precinct; the Macquarie Obelisk in Discuss convicts. Macquarie was the greatest Macquarie Place; the Domain and the sponsor of exploration the colony had Botanic Gardens; Mrs Macquarie’s Chair; s If Lachlan Macquarie arrived in yet seen. and the restored Female Orphan School Sydney today, what projects do you at the Parramatta campus of the Univer- think he would initiate? The origin of the name Australia is sity of Western Sydney are all part of the closely associated with Macquarie. While Lachlan Macquarie story. Matthew Flinders had suggested the Extension name, Macquarie was the first to use the Have you ever visited any of these name in official despatches. suburbs and places? The office of Governor is the oldest constitutional office in Australia. His vision, by 1821, was shown in a Macquarie encouraged the creation of public building and town-planning the colony’s first bank, the Bank of New s What is the role of a Governor? program that had established a solid South Wales, in 1817 and he was the infrastructure for the colony. Exploration first patron of New South Wales’ Be- s Why don’t Australia’s territories have had reached deep into the inland, and nevolent Society, established to support a governor? settlement and agriculture were follow- ill, disabled and homeless convicts. Mrs ing, north and south along the coastline Macquarie led the establishment of the s Who is the governor of your home and inland beyond Bathurst. Bible Society. These two organisations state? Find out something about the still exist today. The Macquaries also es- person’s life prior to becoming gov- The suburbs of Windsor, Richmond, tablished the first asylum for the mentally ernor? What contribution have they Wilberforce, Pitt Town and Castlereagh ill at Castle Hill. made to the state during their time as in northwest Sydney are the ‘Macquarie governor? Towns’ - settlements that Governor Macquarie designated and named in Student Activity 1810. Liverpool and Campbelltown are both named for his wife Mrs Elizabeth s Why is Governor Lachlan Macquarie Macquarie. often referred to as the ‘Father of the Nation’? Places such as Old Government House, Parramatta; Hyde Park Barracks; St s Make a list of the different groups of people living in the colony of New South Wales during the time of Gov- ernor Lachlan Macquarie.

Would the view of Governor Lachlan Macquarie have varied from group to group?

s From your perspective, what type of leader was Governor Lachlan Macquarie?

What makes a good script?

Discuss

sWhich scenes worked the best for you as a viewer? Why?

sWhich production elements in the episode appealed to you?

Robinson injects humour into the script.

Student activity

sIdentify some comic moments.

sDid you ﬁnd these moments amusing?

sIs the humour appropriate? sDo you think that the position of Student activity governor is necessary? USING A PRESENTER sWhat role do these experts play in the telling of Australia’s story in this The experts episode of Tony Robinson Explores Tony Robinson is the presenter and Australia? narrator of Tony Robinson Explores Tony Robinson consults experts as he Australia. researches law and order in the colonies of new South Wales and Van Diemen’s PRODUCTION VALUES Land. They are: Student activity RECREATING HISTORY !" Binowee Bayles – sTo what extent, does the effective- Aboriginal educator Tony Robinson Explores Australia recre- ness of the episode rely on Tony ates scenes from history in different Robinson’s skills as a presenter and !" Lynette Ramsay-Silver – ways. a narrator? Historical investigator

!" Hamish Maxwell-Stuart – Discuss THE SOUNDTRACK Historian sWorking as a class, make a list of the !" Paul Brunton – Author and historian ways this episode recreates historical A ﬁlm’s soundtrack is made up of sounds events. and music, with composer and sound !" Warren Brown - Cartoonist designer working closely to achieve the sHow effective are the recreations of mood that best ﬁts the subject. It’s worth !" Ted Higginbotham – Archeologist historical events? closing your eyes at certain points in the episode to fully understand the many layers of the soundtrack. Student activity

sReview the subjects that you have Student activity researched for this episode. Choose a story that interests you and make sDescribe the way sound is used in a three-minute documentary. Before one sequence of the episode. you begin shooting, write an inten- tion that provides a description of the subject, your purpose and your audience and compile a storyboard.