Final answer:
Australia was proposed as a prison colony by the British in 1777 due to prison overcrowding and the loss of the American colonies. Prior to this, European colonial ventures, such as those by Puritans and Quakers, were often driven by economic and religious motives, suggesting that Australia may also have been initially considered for similar reasons.
Step-by-step explanation:
While planning for colonization, Australia was originally considered for various purposes by European powers. However, by 1777, Australia was specifically proposed as a prison colony by the British. Prior to that, other established colonies such as Jamestown and those founded by Puritans and Quakers in North America were largely driven by goals related to economic ventures and religious freedom. The Puritans, for instance, were motivated by the desire to build economic wealth and saw their flourishing colony as evidence of God's favor. Due to overcrowded prisons in England and a loss of the American colonies following the American Revolution, the British turned to Australia as a solution to their prison overcrowding by sending prisoners there. The first fleet of convict ships arrived at Botany Bay in 1788, signaling the beginning of penal colonization in Australia. Prior to this, the land known as 'New Holland' had been charted by James Cook and claimed for Britain. Although it is not explicitly detailed that Australia was targeted for economic purposes before the penal colony proposal, it fits the pattern of colonial motivations.