Whether you love history and ancestry or not, us Aussies sure do have an interesting story when it comes to where we came from. In this post, we will share 5 interesting facts of Australian genealogy that you probably didn’t know about. If there is one thing that you can scratch off before we get started, it is probably the fact that the majority of people sent to Australia in the early 1800s were convicts. If you didn’t know that, you should definitely continue reading!
A Bunch of She-Devils
Did you know that at least 20% of convicts sent to Australia were women? Back in the day female convicts and those looking for a job were sent to what was called ‘female factories’ where they slaved their days away.
Respect Thy Veteran
Did you know that the majority of Australians will have an ancestor with ties to the first and second world wars? This is also in relation to other countries.
It’s a Man’s World
Of all the convicts sent to Australia, 85% were males of about 22 years old. This, of course, adds to the interesting statistic of 44% of Australians having a family member with a less than the reputable background and possibly a criminal record.
A Lump of Sugar in your Tea?
Yes, contrary to what the majority of Australians may think, we were predominantly tea drinkers. This was due to the fact that Australia was a British colony, but also because the first coffee beans did not survive the harsh Australian climate. It was only after World War II that coffee really took off in Oz.
Penny for Your Thoughts
Did you know that convicts awaiting their transport day to Australia engraved coins with messages or their names and the date? These tiny tokens were then given to those they left behind as a parting gift.
We hope you found some of these facts interesting and fresh! Do you have any fun facts not featured here? Share them in the comment section below.
