What happened to the convicts when their sentence was over in Australia?

A sentence for a convict sent to Australia could be many years in length. Because of reasons such as good behaviour, some convicts were given a "ticket of leave". These individuals were still watched however, as some convicts had a tendency to reoffend. They were required to report in regularly to the authorities.

While on their ticket-of-leave, they were permitted to work for a living in a trade. After a further period of good behaviour, these convicts were given a "free pardon", meaning they could start their own trade, business, or take up land which may have been allocated to them and use it for farming or crops. Some even became Constables for the colony (for example John Smith).

Some of Australia's convicts became great pioneers in their field. Francis Greenway, for example, had trained as an architect prior to his sentence, and his work can be seen in some of the old, gracious buildings still standing in Sydney today. George Howe had a background in printing; he published Australia's first regular newspaper.

Convicts rarely, if ever, returned to England, as Australia held much better opportunities for them.