Journey back in time to Brisbane’s colonial past and discover what life was like for inhabitants of the Moreton Bay Penal Colony and the Aboriginal peoples on whose land it was established.
Brisbane Convict Stories draws on historical content from MoB’s award-winning Life in Irons exhibition. Students will engage with research material by Brisbane historians Dr Ray Kerkhove and Dr Jennifer Harrison, including a map of inner Brisbane prior to the first British Colony, and respond to historically significant maps and documents from the Queensland State Archives.
These elements, combined with a creative map-making activity, will allow students to gain a deeper understanding of the landscape, the nature of the penal colony and its impact on local Aboriginal people.
Workshop (1 hour)
Students will investigate maps and documents from the British colony supplied by Queensland State Archives as well as objects related to that time period to uncover what life was like for the inhabitants of the penal settlement.
Map Making Workshop (1 hour)
Design your own Brisbane convict location using original maps and documents sourced from the Queensland State Archives. This workshop also includes the opportunity to examine the contemporary Map of inner Brisbane c1820, based on the research of Dr Ray Kerkhove.
City Hall Tour (1 hour – excursion only)
Discover the history and significance of the heritage-listed City Hall on a tour of the ‘People’s Place’. Students will gain an understanding of the people and events that have impacted the city of Brisbane.
