X-Nico

unusual facts about penal colony



1786 in Great Britain

August - British Cabinet approves the establishment of a penal colony at Botany Bay to serve as "a remedy for the evils likely to result from the late alarming and numerous increase of felons in this country and more particularly in the metropolis" (London).

Cat o' nine tails

Especially harsh floggings were given with it in secondary penal colonies of early colonial Australia, particularly at such places as Norfolk Island (apparently this has 9 leather thongs, each with a lead weight, meant as the ultimate deterrent for hardened life-convicts), Port Arthur and Moreton Bay (now Brisbane).

Island of Exiles

The story follows Sugawara Akitada, who is assigned by two shadowy officials to investigate the fatal poisoning on penal colony on Sado Island of the exiled and disgraced Prince Okisada.

North Quay, Brisbane

The location has a historical record in Queensland because it was a landing point during the first European exploration of the river in 1823 and later in 1825, the Moreton Bay penal colony at Redcliffe relocated here, establishing the first permanent European settlement in what was to become the state of Queensland.

Nowy Łupków

A penal colony was built here after the Second World War, in which a number of Solidarność representatives were imprisoned during the Martial law in Poland period in 1981 and 1982.

Tom Paris

Tried and convicted of treason for aiding the Maquis Rebellion, Paris was sentenced to serve time in the Federation Penal Settlement near Auckland, New Zealand.

Wool, Dorset

It has a stone halfway along it stating that those who deface or damage the bridge will be transported (sent to Australia or another penal colony) for the rest of their lives.


see also

Assault on Dome 4

Intergalactic extremist Alex Windham (Bruce Campbell) has seized control of Dome 4, a scientific outpost on another planet, after escaping from a penal colony on Mars.

Floyd Britton

On October 11, 1968, a military coup took power bringing General Omar Torrijos to power, and within hours Britton was abducted by the National Guard and sent to the Coiba penal colony.

Grevillea

The timber from which the veneer was made, referred to as 'beef wood', was sent from Port Jackson by Surgeon-General John White, who arrived in the new penal colony of Australia with the First Fleet.

In the Penal Colony

Ian Curtis of the band Joy Division was inspired by "In the Penal Colony" to write the song "Colony" from the album Closer.

Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm

Governor Luke Wright authorized the establishment of a penal colony in the province of Palawan on November 16, 1904.

Michael Hafftka

In the Penal Colony, a short story by Franz Kafka illustrated by Michael Hafftka, Limited Editions Club 1987, ASIN B003Y7OW8W

Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?

"Devils Island" expresses the thoughts of a prisoner about to be executed in the notorious former French penal colony on Devil's Island.

Port Blair

In 1789 the government of Bengal established a penal colony on Chatham Island in the southeast bay of Great Andaman, named Port Blair to honor Lieutenant Archibald Blair of the British East India Company.