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  2. parramatta female factory bicentenary 1821 2021

Parramatta Female Factory - Bicentenary 1821 - 2021

Parramatta Female Factory

Council is remembering the 109 convict women and 71 children that were transferred from their living spaces above the town gaol to the new Parramatta Female Factory on 21 February 1821. This Female Factory operated as an assignment depot, prison, place of industry and medical facility for approximately 5,000 women and children until its closure in 1848.

Work inside the female factory for all classes largely revolved around the making of cloth and linen (Salt 1984, pp. 102 –109). Other women worked on the operation of the factory itself, including cooking and washing, some of these services were extended to the public, including washing. In addition, women worked as needleworkers or hat-makers. The workers of the female factory were susceptible to the supply and demand of labour in the fledging colony and often went without work when the production costs were too high or their labour not in demand.

WOMEN TRANSPORTED - LIFE IN AUSTRALIA'S CONVICT FEMALE FACTORIES 

women transported

A publication associated with an exhibition developed by the Parramatta Heritage Centre during 2008 in collaboration with the University of Western Sydney. A project that told the story of these industrious women who are the foremothers of contemporary Australia. 

Access the Women Transported publication here

Visit the Parramatta Heritage Centre to view our latest display to commemorate the women of the Female Factory.  Just one of the items on display now is arguably one of the most significant items from our collections. Come and visit us between 9am and 4pm Monday to Saturday!

thread wheel display

HERITAGE SNAPSHOT

This is a Heritage Snapshot Summary prepared by Tanner Kibble Denton Architects, lead heritage consultants to UrbanGrowth (Department of Planning, Industry and Environment) NSW for the Parramatta North Urban Transformation Program. Detailed heritage information is available in the Parramatta North Historic Sites Conservation Management Plan. UrbanGrowth NSW acknowledges the information provided by people and organisations connected with the site including Health NSW, Parragirls and Parramatta Female Factory Friends. Access the Heritage Snapshot here

female factory

Ann Gordon was the Parramatta Female Factory’s longest serving Matron, holding the position from 1827 to 1836. She was the highest paid woman in the colony and one of the few to wield significant power.  As Matron of the Parramatta Female Factory, the decisions she made impacted the lives of a multitude of women, from whom it is estimated one in seven Australians is descended.  

This video focuses on Ann’s time at the Factory but also brings to light the lesser known aspects of her complex and fascinating life.

 

The Research and Collections Services Team have compiled our stories and interviews into an epub - view it online here or access each of them below

Read our stories and listen to interviews with local historian

Parramatta Female Factory - interviews with local historian

Parramatta Female Factory - interviews with local historian (transcripts)

Parramatta North, Mental Health Precinct: Timeline of European Settlement 1788-2018

North Parramatta, The First Land Grants

The First Female Factory, Prince Alfred Square, 1803 – 1821

The Second Female Factory: 1818-1848

The Fleet Street Quarry, Parramatta North

Parramatta Lunatic Asylum:1848-1878

Female Factory and the Thwaites and Reed turret clock

Lunatic Asylum Male and Female Wards 1848-1956

Restoration of the 1821 Female Factory tower clock in 2020

Parramatta Roman Catholic Orphan School Site

History of the “Parramatta Lunatic Asylum” 1848-1878

"Parramatta Hospital for the Insane", Destruction of 'Female Factory' Buildings and structures, Cumberland Hospital, 1878 -1983

Cumberland Hospital – Forgotten Garden Precinct

Overview of Cumberland Medical Precinct 1850 -1983

Recreational Facilities of the Male and Female Lunatic Asylum

A Description of the ‘Parramatta Lunatic Asylum’, 1871

Dr Sydney Evan Jones: Mental health pioneer

Then and Now Asylum and Female Factory Site North Parramatta

The Parramatta Female Factory and Midwives - a brief introduction.

Mary Jones - Female Factory Midwife

Elizabeth Scott - Female Factory Midwife

Mary Mumford - Female Factory Midwife

Mary Jackson - Female Factory Midwife

Elizabeth Donohoe - Female Factory Midwife

Mary Anne Neale - Female Factory Midwife

Margaret Murphy - Female Factory Midwife

Matron Ann Gordon

Listen to Parramatta tunes and Learn to make a hat!

Click on the link below to listen to our Parramatta tunes - taken from the 'The Convict Voice' - Songs of Transportation to Norfolk Island and NSW. ReCollected: Don and Sue Brian



And...... learn how to make your own hat - presented by our volunteers

The work of volunteers plays an important role in preserving and sharing the stories of Parramatta’s history and heritage, featured on this page are two separate works: learn how to make your own convict women's cap; and learn how to make a cabbage tree hat.

"Bigge’s report included recommendations for managing the factory, suggesting a married women rather than a married man would be a more appropriate manager and she could live in a house within view of the factory (but not within it). Separation of newly arrived women from those sent to the factory for punishment was essential and he recommended that a new range of sleeping rooms and work rooms be built. Sewing clothing and making straw hats should be added to the spinning and carding work to occupy their time (SHR listing Cumberland District Hospital). NSW Heritage Act - State Heritage Register: Cumberland District Hospital Group, SHR 00820, gazetted on 02/04/1999.

The Convict Voice - songs of transportation by Don Brian

Cabbage tree hat making - presented by Sue Brian

Bonnet making - designed and prepared by volunteers

Our Parramatta Female Factory image gallery
 

The City of Parramatta respectfully recognises the traditional owners of the land and waters of Parramatta, the Darug peoples.
Sensitivity notice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website may contain images and voices of deceased ancestors.

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