The Tasmania Founded 1803-1853 Medal - Cessation of Transportation Medal - 58mm
Mint: Royal, London
Other Details: This medal was struck to commemorate the end of transportation of convicts to Tasmania in 1853. It also marked fifty years since European settlement in Tasmania. News of the British decision to send no more convicts first reached Tasmania via Melbourne. It came from London on the steamer Harbinger and transferred to Launceston on the Yarra Yarra. At celebrations in Tasmania, children were given a piece of Demonstration Cake and a ticket entitling them to a medal. Nine thousand white metal medals were struck and an additional 100 were produced in bronze for people who had rendered services to the anti-transportation cause. 4,000 of the white metal medals were distributed in Hobart, 3,000 in Launcenson, and the remainder to country districts. The medal was initially enclosed in a maroon morocco case. Transportation continued in Western Australia until 1868. When it finally ceased throughout Australia, around 162,000 convicts had been transported.

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