I lived in Australia early 70s ($10 pommie) ohh and i loved that country, bugs, reptiles and the fishing and beachs(lived in Cremorne Tasmania) but the schools --there was like 40+ kids to a class, some needed to sit on the floor, fist fights between teachers and students were common, i remember teachers running out of the classroom just in tears.
It was mayhem, first we lived in Risdonvale, i think my parents got a free house ,anyways it was an immigrant townsite.
Anyways my point is Australia was not exactly getting the "cream of the crop" more a lot of people running from their problems. John Chardon was from that time or earlier, alot of very very rough and ready peoples.
I wish we had stayed, we were there close to 3 yrs, transiants for the last year. Our car broke on the nullabar plains-once the car was fixed, we left very very early in the morning , skipped the bill.
Between the original convicts and the $10 pommies, Australia has matured well, still alot of old rough around thou. jmo