I.Australia as a Penal Colony Family Life in the Convict Colony For the first few decades after 1788,the colonial workforce was based largely on convict labour.Men vastly outnumbered women. Many wives of convicts made desperate efforts to be brought out to live with their husbands.The majority of requests were denied.For these wives,being left behind in the UK often meant deprivation,even death,for them and their children. However,a few wives were allowed to sail with their convict husbands.I. Australia as a Penal Colony Family Life in the Convict Colony • For the first few decades after 1788, the colonial workforce was based largely on convict labour. Men vastly outnumbered women. • Many wives of convicts made desperate efforts to be brought out to live with their husbands. The majority of requests were denied. For these wives, being left behind in the UK often meant deprivation, even death, for them and their children. However, a few wives were allowed to sail with their convict husbands