1. Conditions of the First Fleet
The weather was hot and humid.
Conditions were overcrowded and cramped.
Rats, bedbugs and fleas made life uncomfortable.
Hygiene was poor and many convicts died from disease.

2. Daily Routine of Convicts on the First Fleet

3. 4:30am
Convict cooks assemble on deck and commence their duties.

4. 5:30am
Convicts pack up beds and hammocks and store them away.

5. 6:00am
All convicts assemble on deck. A bucket of water is thrown over each convict.
All convicts are to be shaved (once a week) Captain’s see this order is carried out.

6. 6:30am
Daily allowance of water and bread is issued.

7. 7:00am
Convict cleaners commence cleaning water closets and the deck.

8. 7:30am
Doctor visits the sick convicts.

9. 8:00am Breakfast is served.
One convict from each area must wash the utensils immediately after breakfast.

10. 10:00am
One half of prisoners are sent to the deck for exercise, the other half attend school.
School is suspended on Saturday’s.

11. 12:00pm
Dinner is served.
One convict from each area must wash the utensils immediately after dinner.

12. 1:20pm
The deck is swept.

13. 1:30pm
Half of the convicts are assembled on deck, and the other half return to school.
Convicts on deck commence washing clothes.

14. 4:00pm
Convicts set up their beds and hammocks and return to the deck.

15. 4:30pm
Supper is served.
One convict from each area must wash the utensils immediately after supper.

16. 8:00pm
All in bed.
No more talking or noise will be permitted in the prison during the night.

17. Dear diary, We have been travelling on this ship for five months now, at least that’s what the Captain tells us. I didn’t get much sleep last night because the hammocks are so overcrowded and I could hear the rats running along the floor. Once it was daylight I walked sleepily up to the deck and waited for our daily wash. After all of the convicts were clean, we sat down for breakfast. As I turned to talk to my friend James, a criminal snuck up behind me and tried to steal my breakfast!