澳洲建國的前80年是監禁英國罪犯的監獄。這些罪犯後來成為第一代澳洲的都市居民，並為澳洲的經濟和文化打下了基礎。因為這些罪犯本來就不太喜歡上流社會的人士，他們從戰士與走狗身上擷取靈感。於是街頭惡棍變成英雄，而負面的語言多帶有正面的意涵。

諷刺的是，雖然想要和他們的過去切割，這些澳洲人的行為卻再再顯現了與過去相關的淵源。就像監獄的典獄長，他們不覺得自己是澳洲人，同時卻又想要控制與批評當地的居民。

對於民族運動者來說，澳洲的罪犯歷史也相當有問題。民族運動者愛好歷史，但他們對於拿出曾銬過祖父的鐵球和手銬遊行以紀念開國先父的精神，完全沒有倫理上的共鳴，因此民族運動者的陣營在歷史上並沒有倫理的加持。這樣的情結在每年澳洲國慶慶祝第一批登陸的罪犯時都會上演，澳洲人不是一整天都在玩，就是爭論到底需不需要一個新的國慶紀念日。

為了幫助了解澳洲人民這份文化中的特殊性，Convict Creations的網站探索了澳洲建國故事中所遺漏的環節，它們被官方的教科書忽略，但是對於形塑今日獨特的澳洲，卻有著關鍵的影響。

For its first 80 years, Australia was a prison for British Convicts! These Convicts became the first urban Australians and they subsequentlylaid much of the country's economic and cultural foundations. Because the Convicts were never particularly fond of the upper classes, theygained their inspiration from the underdogs and the battlers. Consequently, larrikins (street criminals) became heroes, and negative wordsgained positive associations.

Ironically, despite wanting to distance themselves from their heritage, their behaviour shows a strong penal legacy. Just like the wardensof the penal colonies, they don't feel part of Australia, but still want to control it and criticise its inhabitants.

For nationalists, Convict history also seems to be problematic. As much as nationalists love history, there just isn't any moral resonancein pulling out grandpa's ball and chain for a street march that preserves the spirit of the founding fathers. As a consequence,nationalistic campaigns can't be anchored with the moral empowerment of history. This is seen every Australia Day, the anniversary of thelanding of the first fleet of criminals, where Australians either spend the day having fun or arguing the need for a new national day.

To help understand the cultural peculiarities of the Australia's concerned citizens and nationalists, as well as those Australians who don'tidentify with either, the Convict Creations web site explores those missing links in the Australian story that, although having asignificant influence in making Australians unique, have been ignored by the official textbooks.