Tony Robinson Explores Australia

The People Are Revolting (1x3)

Air date: May 17, 2011

As the early settlers began to sink their roots deeper into the soils of the new colony, the first rumblings of liberty and freedom began. The authority of the penal government is questioned more and more by the convicts and by the soldiers themselves. Early attempts to escape betrayed a complete ignorance about where they were in the world. Tony visits Port Arthur, and subjects himself to solitary confinement to find out first hand what it was like for the wretched souls who were incarcerated there. He also recounts the story of Australia’s daftest escapologist, a convict who tried to escape disguised as a kangaroo. But later the lone voices of dissent became a chorus. And on at least one occasion the fledgling country faced its destiny: remain loyal to mother Britain? Or break away like America into the uncertain waters of Republicanism. Tony finds out just how close Australia came to choosing the latter.