Analysing the sources

Student activity
Task No. 1

Analysing the sources

 In July 1790, at the age of 13, Mary was sentenced to be transported to Australia for taking a ‘joyride’ on a neighbour’s pony. Soon after arriving in Sydney two years later, Mary wrote this letter to her aunt in England.
Mary Reibey - land grant, 1812-1884
Mrs Celia Wills daughter of Mary Reibey
Mrs Jane Penelope Atkinson daughter of Mrs Mary Reibey
Mary Reibey journal, 1820-1821 - Title page
Mary Reibey journal, 1820-1821 - page
Mary Reibey, baptised Molly Haydock, was born in Bury, Lancashire, England. Convicted of horse-stealing at the age of 13, Mary was sentenced to 7 years transportation to the Colony of New South Wales.

Analyse Sources 1 to 9 on the life of Mary Reibey and answer the questions below, transcripts of sources 1, 2 and 7 are available in the downloadable resource.

  1. Identify three facts in Source 1.
  2. Identify two facts in Source 2.
  3. Why did Governor Macquarie give Mary Reibey a grant of land? Why was this significant?
  4. Mary Reibey's houses in Sydney (Source 3) and in Newtown (Source 9) have both been demolished. In your opinion should her houses have been preserved or demolished to make ways for development? Give reasons for your point of view.
Task No. 2

Research the life of Mary Reibey

  1. Use the table in the downloadable resource to help you develop research questions.
  2. Use Sources 1 to 9 and the results of your research to explain the impact of the convict experience on the life of Mary Reibey (600 words)