Between the 18th and 19th Century extreme poverty was prevalent in all corners of British society and the government came up with a plan to reduce the population of the poor, according to a historian. Mr Tonge added decommissioned ships were moored on the River Medway to detain prisoners destined to be banished Down Under.
"Unaccompanied children, as young as eight, were also sent to Australia," the historian said.
