Hi Listers
To add a little to the subject.. Here in the Colony of New South Wales convict labour was utilised to establish the first Government coal mines in Newcastle and Hobart and when the former were let to private ownership (via the AA Coy) convicts were allocated to the firm.
They however soon found them to be inefficient and before long were assisting the immigration of a skilled workforce from Britain.
I have not heard of convicts being employed in metal mines in any of the Australian colonies.
Regards
John
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