From ‘Lloyd’s Weekly News’ dated 12 Jan. 1908. Convict dress explained.
The above drawings show the distinctive dress of various classes of convicts. All the clothing up to number 6 is yellow. Reading from left to right the clothing indicates: (1) First stage (first twelve months) : (2) second stage (two years), black strip on cuffs : (3) third stage (three years), yellow stripes on cuffs : (4) fourth stage, intermediate man, blue stripes on cuff, chevron on cap and arms : (5) star man, blue stripes on cuffs, star on each arm and on cap: (6) grey dress worn by long sentence men who earn 2s. 6d, a month and spend 1s. 3d. on comforts : (7) blue dress for good character; (8) black parti-coloured dress worn as punishment for striking an officer : (3) yellow parti-coloured dress, the penalty for running away : (10) canvas dress for those who destroy the ordinary clothing of their class.