Convicts at Ipswich - 1827 to 1842 Penal Colony Era

Very little is known of the convicts stationed at Limestone (Ipswich) during the period of time that the Moreton Bay Penal Colony was operated by the New South Wales Government.

The history that we have all read, is that five convicts and a convict overseer were sent to Limestone in 1827, where the men were tasked with quarrying limestone at a site now know as 'Limestone Hill'.

There were in fact, three convict sites in Ipswich. Redbank (Red Band) and Limestone Hills were the government sheep stations, and the Plough Station was the agricultural station.

Mauritian Convicts at Limestone

In 1840 a group of convicts from Mauritius were transported from Tasmania to Sydney and then on to Moreton Bay. It is possible that ten of these Mauritian convicts were then sent to Limestone to work under the supervision of George Thorn. Click on the link above to learn more.

In the lead up to the 200th anniversary of convicts at Limestone, research is being undertaken on the convicts and hopefully the stories of these people will emerge. If you are a descendant of a convict who was stationed in Ipswich please contact us to share your family history.