Mauritian Convicts at Limestone

Perhaps the most well known of the convicts transported to Tasmania and then to Moreton Bay via Sydney was Benedictum Vanguer. He was born in Madagascar but moved to Mauritius where he worked as a house servant. Convicted of stealing a waist coat, he was one of eighteen convicts from Mauritius who were transported to Australia. Fourteen of the men were sent to Moreton Bay and possibly ten of the Mauritians were assigned to "Limestone" under the supervision of George Thorn who was the overseer.

The move to Queensland and the warmer climate would have been more suited to the men from Mauritius. The temperatures in Tasmania and Sydney must have been quite a shock to these men who were used to much milder tropical weather.

The Convicts from Mauritius, Moreton Bay and More provides a valuable insight into the convicts from Mauritius, including those who were assigned to what became Ipswich.