The British government empowered the first governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip, to grant land to emancipists and, later, to free settlers, to the disadvantage of Australia’s Indigenous people. An emancipated convict was entitled to 30 acres (12 hectares) if he was single, 50 acres (20 hectares) if he was married, with an additional 10 acres (4 hectares) per child. Grants of up to 100 acres were available to free settlers. By 1810, just under 100,000 acres of land had been granted.

This system was still in place during Macquarie’s time as governor, although shortly after he arrived in the colony he cancelled all the land grants made since the overthrow of Governor Bligh. Upon review, he reinstated the majority of these grants.

The land grants digitised here are from the National Museum of Australia’s collections. The 50-acre grants for Edward Risby, an emancipated convict, and James Williams, the son of a convict, were given in place of their original grants on Norfolk Island, after the government had decided to close the settlement there.

The grants awarded to George Cox, Gregory Blaxland and Hannibal Macarthur, all of whom were free settlers, were substantially bigger. The three men owned 2160 acres (874 hectares) between them.