A Preliminary Report on Archaeological Investigations at Two Western Australian Regional Convict Depots

Archaeological excavations at two Western Australian regional convict depots, York and Toodyay, revealed significant insights into the structural diversity and construction techniques of 19th-century convict-era buildings. The study uncovered four structures in York, including a previously unknown privy, and seven in Toodyay, such as barracks, a hospital, and the Superintendent’s quarters. These findings highlight the variability in construction styles, attributed to limited supervision and fluctuating skill levels among the convict workforce. Despite the challenges in confidently attributing deposits to the convict era—with less than 30% of contexts and only about 10% of deposits definitively linked—the research provides a rare glimpse into the material culture and lifeways of convict depots, offering new perspectives on the regional characteristics of Australia’s convict system.

Winter, S. (2011). A Preliminary Report on Archaeological Investigations at Two Western Australian Regional Convict Depots. Australian Archaeology, 73(1), 65–68. https://doi.org/10.1080/03122417.2011.11961926