Female Factory, Parramatta
The majority of women convicts were engaged in the manufacture of wool and linen at the Female Factory. A smaller number were employed as hospital nurses and midwives, as servants to officers, and in caring for orphans.
Overview
Housing for female convicts
In 1804 Governor King had additions made above the Parramatta Gaol to serve as a female factory to house women prisoners awaiting assignment and those who had been returned as unsatisfactory by employers. Here the women were to work and sleep in two small rooms with limited bedding and cooking facilities. The alternatives were to pay for accommodation or allow cohabitation/prostitution with men. (Salt, Outcast Women, p.46). Over a twenty year period the Reverend Samuel Marsden lobbied the government to do something for 'these objects of vice and woe' - the convict women. (Kass et al, Parramatta, p.85).
New Female Factory built in 1818
Macquarie's program of public works made provision for a new female factory to relieve the situation in which 'accommodation was so short that an average of 200 women vied for sixty positions'. (Salt, Outcast Women, p.46). The new Female Factory was built on a site chosen at Parramatta in 1818. It was designed by Francis Greenway and enclosed by a high wall. The women convicts moved in during February 1821.
Division of convicts into classes
...the Women in the Female Factory at Parramatta, will be divided into Three distinct Classes as follows Viz.... The 1st Class to be considered as the asylum of Women received into the Factory on their first arrival from England, or subsequently under circumstances which they could not control, and for which no blame could be attached to them. The 2nd Class to be Probationary, and will be composed of Women who after they have been assigned are from the impropriety of their conduct, returned to Government - also of Women degraded from the 1st or advanced from the 3rd Class. The 3rd or Penitentiary Class is to be strictly Penal, and composed enclusively of Women sentences to be confined there, for any offence against the Laws, or transgression of the Regulations established for the Government of Female Prisoners ....
- M129 in 4/990, 16 August 1826
Clothing for Convicts
From 1821-1824 women in the Female Factory wore 'blue or brown serge, or stuff-fawn, and white apron, and straw bonnet for Sunday, a jacket and coarse apron for week days, with a common straw bonnet of a strong texture'. (Hirst, Convict Society, p.72). Following the division of women prisoners into three classes, distinctions in dress was introduced with the First class receiving special clothes for Sunday wear. The Third class wore 'a dress by which they could be clearly distinguished' and were further singled out by 'having their hair closely cropped'. (Hirst, Convict Society, p.93). Clothing appeared adequate on paper but was not always available and footwear was 'particularly deficient'. (Hirst, Convict Society, p.81).
Functions of the Female Factory
The Female Factory was also a 'workhouse, and labour bureau, marriage bureau, and regulator of morality, gaol and hospital and at the same time, (was) to relieve the financial burden on the administration of female convicts and their many children'. (NRS 909, M129 and 130, [4/990]). The Factory hospital was used by free and convict women lying in. Children with mothers in the Factory were sent to the Orphan School at 3 or 4 years of age. (NRS 909, M130, [4/990]).
Appointment of Matron
In 1824 Elizabeth Fullon was appointed the first Matron of the Female Factory. She was replaced by Anne Gordon in 1827 and Sarah Bell in 1836. (Kass et al, p.98).
Work at the Female Factory
At the factory women were employed in weaving, spinning, needlework, making clothes and taking in washing. (Salt, Outcast Women, pp.105-9). Those undergoing hard labour as secondary punishment were 'employed in breaking stones to pave the streets of Parramatta'. (Kass et al, Parramatta, p.98).
Numbers of convicts at the Factory
When Moreton Bay ceased to act as a penal establishment most of the female convicts were transferred to the Factory in 1837. (Salt, Outcast Women, p.53). Governor Gipps wrote in January 1843 that after
the discontinuance of assignment, the number of women in the factory increased rapidly from 800 to above 1200 but by the more extended issue of tickets of leave, which I have been enabled to make since immigration ceased, the number is now again reduced to 800. Whilst immigration was at its height, it was not easy for female ticket of leave holders to find employment.
(HRA vol. 22, p.458).
Closure of the Female Factory
The position of Matron was abolished in 1848 and the Female Factory ceased. The building was then used for the Convict, Lunatic and Invalid Establishment, Parramatta.
List of main record series
Unfortunately not many records have survived of the running of the Female Factory or its inmates.
Indexes
- Index to the Female Factory Parramatta, 1826-1848, Fiche 5290-5291 compiled by Norma M Tuck and Joan Reese
- Some women may be mentioned in the Colonial Secretary's Papers 1788-1825, which can be searched in the catalogue under the 'Parramatta, Female Factory' or by individual names
- Colonial Secretary: Index to convicts and others, 1826-1895, compiled by Joan Reese. Check using the term Female Factory or by individual names
It may also be possible to locate records relating to the children of the women in the Female Factory. Most of the factory women lost contact with their children over four years of age when they were sent to the orphan school. The Female Orphan School was established 1801 and marked the first initiative by the colonial government to care for destitute, abandoned or orphaned girls. In 1818 the Orphan School moved from its first premises in George Street to Parramatta. The first Male Orphan School was opened in 1819 on the site of the first Female Orphan School in George Street, Sydney. The Male Orphan School was moved to Cabramatta in 1823. With the increase of female immigrants the orphan school became too crowded so all the children over one year had to attend the Infant school within the Factory. Search the Child Care and Protection Index.
Child care and protection index 1817-1942
21,000+ entries from Mittagong Farm home for Boys, Randwick Asylum for Destitute Children, Orphan schools & Industrial schools
Record Series
Series | Title | Dates |
|---|---|---|
NRS-371 [2/855, 2/857], Reel 2801; [2/858] | Returns of work done at the Female Factory - 20 Jul 1822-21 Dec 1823 [2/855, 8] - 10 Nov 1823-29 May 1824 (2/857, 19] - 30 May-30 Oct 1824 [2/858, 71] - 1 Jan -30 Nov 1828 [2/858, 83] | Jul 1822-Nov 1828 (gaps) |
Reports of the Board for the management of the Female Factory and hospital - 12 Apr 1826 [4/1791 pp.255-65] - 4 Oct 1826 [4/1791 p.266] - 2 Jan, 30 Jun 1828 [4/2011.1] - 30 Jun, 31 Dec 1829 [4/2094] | Apr 1826-Dec 1829 (gaps) | |
NRS-1091 [4/1708], Reel 2082 | Regulations for dress at the Female Factory | 1824 |
NRS-897 [4/1791.6], Reel 2801 | Weekly medical reports of the Female Factory Hospital | Apr-Oct 1826 |
NRS-897 [4/1791 p.253], Reel 702 | List of married women in the Factory | 29 Mar 1826 |
NRS-897 [4/1791 p.268], Reel 702 | List of women received into the Factory | 12 Aug-3 Oct 1826 |
NRS-897 [4/1791 p.270], Reel 702 | List of women assigned to service | 12 Aug-3 Oct 1826 |
NRS-897 [4/1791 p.271], Reel 702 | Report of punishments | 12 Aug-3 Oct 1826 |
1828 Census: Householders' returns - District of Parramatta Government Factory | 1828 | |
NRS-906 [2/8319 p.271], Reel 702 | List of 15 female convicts returned to the 1st Class in the Female Factory | 1 Nov-10 Dec 1827 |
NRS-906 [2/8211], Reel 2278 | Returns of punishments The returns show: date of punishment, name, ship, class, offence, punishment, and by whose order.There are also Abstracts of Punishments recording number of punishments, extent of punishments (eg. "Not exceeding 24 hours in a cell on Bread and Water", "Degraded to 3rd Class"), general character o crimes and remarks. | 1 Jul 1827-30 Jun 1828 |
Letters received relating to the Female Factory | 1833-1848 | |
NRS-906 [4/7327], Reel 702 | Returns | 1829, 1831, 1833-1835, 1837-1848 |
NRS-906 [4/7199], Reel 2801 | Monthly reports on the state of the factory by the Visiting Justice | Jan 1845-Feb 1848 |
NRS-905 [4/2082, Letter 30/7047] | List of females in the Factory | 1830 |
NRS-12228 [6/5347 part], Reel 2802 | Record of females discharged [Female Factory, Parramatta] The information given: date, name, shiop, detailed inventory of clothing, money paid, signature or mark of person receiving, initial of person receiving | Oct 1846-Apr 1848 |
NRS-12229 [6/5350 part] | Medical Case Book [Female Factory, Parramatta] The first 28 folios record entries for women in the Female Factory (both lunatics and invalids) who remained on the premises after the Factory was closed and the buildings appropriated for the Convict Lunatic and Invalid Establishment. A number of the women had been physically and / or mentally ill for many years, with some having previously been inmates of the Castle Hill, Liverpool, Tarban Creek Lunatic Asylums. | 1846-Mar 1848 |
NRS-1095 [4/7071] | Parramatta - Female Factory Hospital, General Hospital, Convict Hospital: Stores accounts Accounts of Daily Expenditure on Articles of Diet and Extras; Memorandum of Provisions and other Articles Expended; Monthly returns of Attendants and Patients in the General and Convicts Hospitals supplied with Rations by the Contractor; Medical Comforts and Provisions received from the Contractor; Detailed daily account of Provisions expended including Attendants and Patients; and, Detailed daily account of Medical Comforts and Extras issued.The volume was cited in evidence in the case of Regina v. Hamilton and Hannan, which probably explains its survival. | Aug 1838-Feb 1844 |
Minutes of proceedings of the Bench [Parramatta Bench of Magistrates] The cases in these volumes deal with convicts brought before the Bench on such offences as disorderly conduct, assault, drunkenness, absence from the Female Factory and Road Gangs, stealing and bribery. - 19-28 Oct 1820, 28 Apr-5 May 1821 [4/7640], Reel 2801 - 12 May 1821-11 Mar 1822 [SZ1050], COD487) | Oct 1820-Mar 1822 | |
NRS-970 [4/3716-29], Reels 1055-1061 | Copies of letters sent to Establishments This series contains copies of letters to officials for whom separate books had not been opened and probably continues NRS 941. Most are addressed to the Superintendents of the various convict establishments, including the Female Factory but excluding the penal settlements; the Clerk of the Councils; from 1833 the Orphan Schools; from 1841 the Visiting Magistrates and Superintendents of the House of Correction and the various gaols and from 1836 of Cockatoo Island. The 1852-56 volume includes letters to Boards and to semi-governmental or public bodies also. | 4 Dec 1826-12 Mar 1839,1 Apr 1841-27 May 1856 |
NRS-5727 [5/4765] | Letters, petitions and statistical returns received by Mr Justice Burton The majority of letters received are from the Colonial Secretary, requesting reports on convicts sentenced in the Supreme Court, covering letters enclosing petitions for mitigation of sentences, acknowledging receipt of reports and notifying Governor's decisions, requesting legal opinions, notifying dates on which capital sentences were to be put into effect, and concerning remissions of sentences of prisoners on Norfolk Island. Petitions for mitigation of sentences and for alteration to bankruptcy legislation are also included. Included with letters received are a number of statistical returns (covering the period 1836-38). These include: tickets of leave granted and cancelled; assigned and runaway convicts apprehended; lists of prisoners confined at lockups and awaiting trial; Female Factory, Parramatta - statistics of inmates and officers employed; returns of stockades and detached iron'd gangs (October 1836); pardons and certificates of freedom granted; cancelled magistrates' appointments; and, the number and disposition of convicts in and out of irons on the public works. | 1834-1843 |
Female Factory, Newcastle
- Return of prisoners received and discharged, 11-17 Dec 1836 [4/6977C], Reel 2801
Related (external resources)
- Parramatta Female Factory Ordinary Women - Extraordinary Lives:
https://parramatta-female-factory-her-story-our-story.com/ - Parramatta Female Factory:
https://www.discoverparramatta.com/history-heritage/parramatta-female-factory - Parramatta Female Factory Friends:
http://www.parramattafemalefactoryfriends.com.au/ - Dictionary of Sydney: Parramatta Female Factory:
http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/parramatta_female_factory - The Female Factory Online:
https://femalefactoryonline.org - Parramatta Female Factory Precinct:
http://www.parragirls.org.au/
Convicts index 1791-1873
140,000+ entries of certificates of freedom, bank accounts, deaths, exemptions from Government Labor, pardons, tickets of leave & tickets of leave passports
Webinar: Parramatta Female Factory
Join social history curator and writer Gay Hendriksen and Emily Hanna for a conversation about the history of the Female Factory and the records that tell their stories
Cultivating a therapeutic landscape
Tracing the evolution of the Parramatta Female Factory to a hospital