Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, was first known as Moreton Bay, a place of secondary punishment. Who were the women convicts who were sent there? Were they part of a distinct criminal class? Could they control their own destinies in any way or were they victims of an uncompromising penal system? Were they irretrievably tied to their criminal past or did they develop new lives? This book identifies the women sent to Moreton Bay and brings to light their stories. --Back cover.