Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

Explore the growing digital archive of deaf history in Australia

Education

Deaf People in Early Colonial Australia

Deaf People in Early Colonial Australia

Relevant Artefacts

General Introduction to the Convict System
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Trial of John Fitzgerald, 1818

Old Baily trial record 1818

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John Fitzgerald’s petition to the Governor

1822 attempt to plead for freedom

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Ticket of Leave, 1843

1843 ticket of leave

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Conditional Pardon, 1848

1848 conditional pardon

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Running away, 1831

1831 John Fitzgerald ran away

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Further Readings

Borrow, T. (1946). The Hallett family. Adelaide: Pioneers’ Association of South Australia

Branson, J. & Miller, D. (1995). The story of Betty Steel, Deaf convict and pioneer. Petersham: Deafness Resources Australia, Ltd

Carty, B. (2000). John Carmichael: Australian Deaf pioneer. Deaf History Journal, 3 (3), 24-36.

Power, D. (2013). Australian Aboriginal Deaf People and Aboriginal Sign Language. Sign Language Studies, 13(2), 264-277

Welcome to the Deaf History Collections

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of Country throughout Australia and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors to our site, recognising the long, rich, complex and unjustly disregarded histories of First Nations peoples in Australia.
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