Australian Jewry commenced with the arrival of a dozen Jewish convicts in 1788 on the First Fleet – the beginnings of European settlement. Australia was the first modern state where Jews were present from its very beginning. There are many fascinating Jewish convict stories, some representing success, others further tragedy. Jewish convicts were not able to establish an organised Jewish community, which had to await the arrival of the first free British immigrants after the late 1820s.

The Jewish convicts

Transportation of the unwanted criminal elements from Great Britain, which started in 1788, ended in New South Wales in 1840 and in Tasmania in 1853. Of the 151 000 convicts transported to the eastern coast of Australia, it is estimated that about 800 Jewish convicts had arrived by 1845. Most of them came from London, were of working-class background and were male. Only 7 per cent of Jewish convicts were female, compared with 15 per cent of Christian convicts. This is because Jewish females were more sheltered within the stronger Jewish family structure. The average age of the Jewish convicts was twenty-five, but ranged from as young as eight to some elderly people.

The majority came from a European Ashkenazi background and were largely second and third generation. When the first generation arrived in England from Europe, they were impoverished but usually observant of Jewish law, kept the Sabbath and so did not work on Saturdays.