40 Violent Realities in the Making of the British Empire

11. New South Wales became a successful colony in the 19^th century.

Starting with the first arrival of transport ships in 1788, New South Wales grew rapidly. Sheep (and later gold) became its main source of income, and Great Britain continued to transport felons to the colony through the first four decades of the 19^th century. Other colonies on the Australian continent, as well as New Zealand and Tasmania, continued to receive felons until the late 1860s. The colony of Victoria experienced several gold rushes which fueled its growth and made its capital, Melbourne, the second largest city of the British Empire for a time, second only to London. As Australia grew, Great Britain continued to expand the territory it controlled around the world.