 Roses from the Heart - an iconic memorial project conceived by Tasmania based artist Christina Henri, Roses from the Heart uses BONNETS as a symbolic representation of the 25,566 convict women transported to Australia. Join in - Christina invites you to sew a bonnet and be part of history more information here. Other Female Factories Newcastle c1818-48; Moreton Bay 1829-39; Port Macquarie c1831-42; Bathurst 1833-46; George Town c1824-35;Launceston 1834-46; Old Hobart 1822-28; Cascades 1828-51; Anson Hilk 1843-49; Brickfields, Argyle St Hobart 1842?; Ross 1848 -54. Old Stone JugThe Female Factory was sometimes referred to as the ‘old stone jug' or the ‘Nunnery' or ‘Gordonville' after Anne Gordon who was appointed Matron in 1827, the Factory was also the place where the Sisters of Charity commenced their missionary work in Australia in 1839. Female Factory MatronsElizabeth Fulloon (Raine)
Sarah Bell
Julia Leach
Mrs Rogers
Lucy Smyth
Elizabeth Statham Bells of Ireland Listen to a song recorded by Muiris (Mossie) O'Scanlain. Inspired by a true story from the Female Factory. Historical AccountsAn Historical account 1837 - When female convicts are returned to Government by the families to which they have been assigned ...here..Reminiscences of thirty years in NSW. R. Therry - Violence of female convicts — Outbreak at the Parramatta Factory — Female more troublesome than male convicts ...here.. Reports from Committees - 1831 - These, upon their arrival, are invariably assigned to the service of private individuals, as far as the demand for their services will allow ; the remainder are sent to the Female Factory at Parramatta. ...more... Sessional papers...1845 - The cloth called Parramatta cloth, which was found most suitable for convicts, is made for 1*. ... regulations introduced into the female factory here, by Sir George Gipps, allowing the women a portion of their earnings in tea, sugar, ...more.. Parliamentary Papers ...1826..That the back part of the gaol, occupied by the male convicts attached to the factory, remains in the same insecure and dilapidated state as when last presented. The Grand Jurors next visited the Female Factory ...more... The Felony of NSW...Mundy, J. 1837...No female convict should be allowed to marry from the factory, but only with the consent of an assigned master ... Not only, however, is the factory at Parramatta not a place ot punishment...more... The Babbler...1822 About one-half of the female prisoners were disposed of in Sydney and its ... women to Parramatta, a water passage of ahout twenty miles, where I took occasion to visit them at the Factory...more.. A Report on the Female Factory 1821 J.T.Bigge
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Parramatta Female Factory was the destination of all unassigned convict women and their children transported to the colony of NSW from 1821 until 1840.Today its remnant buildings and structures are located within the grounds of Cumberland Hospital, Fleet St, Parramatta NSW. HistoryBuilt on the riverside lands of the Parramatta River a short distance from the settlement of Parramatta the Female Factory was commissioned by Governor Macquarie and designed by Francis Greenway and was intended to replace an earlier establishment known as the Factory above the Gaol. The foundation stone was laid in 1818 with building work completed in early 1821. DescriptionThe Female Factory was a complex of sandstone buildings enclosed within 11ft (later heightened to 16ft) perimeter walls which together, combined the elements of a refuge, a prison and a manufactory. At the centre stood the main 3 storey barrack/sleeping quarters with a number of smaller buildings located to the front and rear and four paired isolation cells to one side.
Additions
In 1838 work commenced on a 3rd class penitentiary range which contained 36 dark cells on the ground floor and 18 cells on each of the upper two floors. Around 1841 the 'dark cells' (solitary confinement cells) were altered to allow in more light and air with the addition of small barred windows set high in the walls.
Female Factory 3rd class penitentiary photo courtesy of SAG: J.K.S Houison collection ref:SAG6404 Convict WomenThe Factory's population was made up of newly arrived convict women, or those returned to the Factory for re-assignment, or for punishment as re-offenders, destitute or invalid women, nursing mothers, foundling infants, and children usually under the age of four years of convict mothers as well as officers, staff and their families. In most cases unassigned women usually stayed for months rather than years and this also applied to convict women serving sentences for offences committed in the colony. Women would often return to the Factory; either because of 'unsatisfactory' assignment, pregnancy, offences committed or for health reasons. As a result turnover was high especially after the 1830's with the arrival of 'free' emigrant women whose labour was more keenly sought after than that of convicts. From the mid 1830's onwards the Factory's annual turnover averaged three to four thousand women.Though designed to accommodate 300 women, it was always overcrowded with the maximum number of occupants recorded in 1842 (1203 women and 263 children). The women were viewed as 'beyond redemption' belonging to a 'criminal class' yet this is not reflected in the crimes for which they were transported with 91.2% charged and sentenced for theft. Nor can a case be made in identifying them as a criminal class with 65.3% having no prior convictions. Their major crime was poverty which was considered a reflection of their immoral character. Assignment & the Class systemClassification was a means of control used to manage and segregate the women. Initially a two class system operated but was extended to a three class system by the mid 1820s. First class women were available for assignment whereas second and third (penal) class were not. Women's WorkThe women were put to work in either preparing wool and flax for weaving; needlework, oakum picking, washing and other tasks associated with the Factory's operations such as cooks, washerwomen, sweepers, messengers, midwives, monitress and school mistress'. Third class women were put to hard labour breaking rocks which was used for road base. Riots and PunishmentsThe first riot occurred in 1827 followed by others in 1831,1833,1836 and 1843. Most were attributed to overcrowding and poor conditions. Secondary punishments applied to women who rioted, absconded, were absent, insolent or disorderly, or for offences such as theft, stabbing, forgery, found 'in carnal knowledge', drunk, vagrant, pregant or of 'bad character'. Punishment included head shaving, hard labour and solitary confinement on bread and water, or exile to Moreton Bay or Coal River (Newcastle). Factory ChildrenChildren remained with their mothers at the Factory until the age of four at which time they were placed in Orphan Schools. In 1836 an Infant School was established at the Factory and this was managed by the the Sisters of Charity from 1839 until 1846. Marriage Factory StyleSettlers and emancipated convicts could obtain wives from the Factory. This was an activity encouraged by the authorities and for which the women were granted a Ticket of Leave. (See AN ACT to compel Married Men to withdraw their Wives from the Female Factory at Parramatta, or to maintain them after the Expiration of their Sentence here) Last DaysConvict transportation to the colony of NSW officially came to an end in 1840, however the Factory continued to be used for convict women until 1847 at which time it was proclaimed a Convict Lunatic and Invalid Establishment a legacy which continues today in the form of Cumberland Hospital. What remains?Many structures and features of the Female Factory remain including enclosure perimeter walls the Matrons' & Storekeepers apartments, Dispensary, Lying in Hospital,Penitentiary sleeping quarters and theFactory Clock and Bell.
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