Mothers of australia

Mothers of Australia:convict women’s experiences in early colonial times

Catalogue for solo exhibition of paintings at Gallery Lane Cove by Megan Jones in September 2015

www.gallerylanecove.com.au

This series focuses on the situations and experiences of the mostly young working class girls who were transported to Australia- generally for minor misdemeanours- to ‘civilize’ and help to populate the new colony which Britain was establishing on the other side of the world.

Once in Australia women were assigned to men (or the government) as domestic servants or, especially in the early days, allocated to men as ‘wives’. Until a Female Factory was built in 1821 there was little formal accommodation for them. Factories served as a holding depot for newly transported women (or those between assignments), and as a hospital, nursery and gaol, and continued the government’s intrusion into their lives. This included removing children from their care and into Orphan Schools at age three ( the first Orphan School being established in 1801.

Life for women could be precarious. Marriage (formal and informal) provided the potential for economic security and personal protection, but was somewhat of a lottery- particularly as husbands could die or disappear, and women tended to have many children in those days.

Health services were limited, and many children died from disease and poverty. Unsurprisingly, under these stressful conditions, alcoholism and mental illness claimed the lives of some women. Some also spent considerable time in gaol.But other women managed, or even flourished, demonstrating that, given the opportunity to lead a traditionally moral and upright life, they were no different from those who came from easier circumstances.

This series is an attempt to imagine how life must have been for them, and how they tried to cope with their situation and respond with agency. These imagined personal stories are both intimate and universal.

15 is a most dangerous age for the female sex

Oil on canvas201476 cms x 61 cms

The good with the bad Oil on polycotton 2015 70cms x 105 cms

Disembarking the women Oil on polycotton 2014 91.5 cms x 122 cms

Some to choose servants, some to choose wives Oil on polycotton 2015100 cms x 125 cms

Dreaming of home Oil on polycotton 2015 70 cms x 185 cms

Sydney birds I and II Oil on canvas 2014 Each 50 cms x 40 cms

Sydney birds III

Oil on polycotton 2014

100 cms x 70 cms

A lack of servants

Oil on polycotton2015

100 cms x 100 cms

Memento I


70 cms x 70 cms

Memento II


70 cms x 70 cms

Memento III


70 cms x 70 cms

Memento IV


70 cms x 70 cms

Female, married Oil on polycotton 2015 80 cms x 100 cms

Useless being pregnant Oil on polycotton 2015 80 cms x 100 cms

Children no impediment


100 cms x 80 cms

Lost futures


105 cms x 70 cms

Rebellious hussy


80 cms x 80 cms

We had hoped Oil on polycotton 2015 80 cms x 100 cms

You may see very clearly what an opportunity there is for well conducted persons


130 cms x 100 cms

Documents

Mothers of australia