For the Term of His Natural Life (miniseries)

For the Term of His Natural Life is a 1983 Australian television miniseries adapted from Marcus Clarke's 1874 novel of the same name. The miniseries tells the story of Rufus Dawes, a man wrongly convicted of murder in England and transported to the penal colony of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania).

The miniseries follows Dawes's experiences in the brutal and dehumanizing convict system, including his time at the notorious Port Arthur penal settlement. It depicts the harsh conditions, the arbitrary punishments, and the psychological toll inflicted upon the convicts and those who oversaw them. The narrative explores themes of injustice, suffering, resilience, and the corrupting influence of power.

The miniseries was directed by Rob Stewart and starred Colin Friels as Rufus Dawes. It also featured Anthony Perkins as the sadistic Lieutenant Maurice Frere, and Patrick McGoohan as the stern and principled Major Vickers.

For the Term of His Natural Life was a critically acclaimed and commercially successful production. It is considered a landmark in Australian television history and is noted for its historically accurate depiction of the convict era, its strong performances, and its exploration of complex moral themes. The miniseries helped to bring renewed attention to Clarke's novel and the history of convict transportation to Australia.