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.

Historical overview

Major sources for records

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.

Record series

• NRS-371 Returns of work done at the Female Factory, Jul 1822-Nov 1828 (gaps)
  • 20 Jul 1822–21 Dec 1823 [2/855, 8], Reel 2801
  • 10 Nov 1823–29 May 1824 [2/857, 19], Reel 2801
  • 30 May–30 Oct 1824 [2/858, 71]
  • 1 Jan–30 Nov 1828 [2/858, 83]
• NRS-897, NRS-905 Reports of the Board for the management of the Female Factory and hospital, Apr 1826-Dec 1829 (gaps)
  • 12 Apr 1826 [4/1791 pp.255-65], Reel 702
  • 4 Oct 1826 [4/1791 p.266], Reel 702
  • 2 Jan, 30 Jun 1828 [4/2011.1], Reel 2801
  • 30 Jun, 31 Dec 1829 [4/2094] , Reel 2801-2802
• NRS-897 Main series of letters received [Colonial Secretary]
  • Weekly medical reports of the Female Factory Hospital, Apr–Oct 1826 [4/1791.6], Reel 2801
  • List of married women in the Factory, 29 Mar 1826 [4/1791 p.253], Reel 702
  • List of women received into the Factory, 12 Aug–3 Oct 1826 [4/1791 p.268], Reel 702
  • List of women assigned to service, 12 Aug–3 Oct 1826 [4/1791 p.270], Reel 702
  • Report of punishments, 12 Aug–3 Oct 1826 [4/1791 p.271], Reel 702
• NRS-905 Main series of letters received [Colonial Secretary]
  • Letters received relating to the Female Factory, 1833–1848
  • List of females in the Factory, 1830 [4/2082, Letter 30/7047]
• NRS-1091 Regulations for dress at the Female Factory, 1824
  • [4/1708], Reel 2082
• NRS-1273-1-[4/1238.1]-2 1828 Census: Householders' returns - District of Parramatta Government Factory
• NRS-906 Special bundles [Colonial Secretary]
  • List of 15 female convicts returned to the 1st Class in the Female Factory, 1 Nov–10 Dec 1827 [2/8319 p.271], Reel 702
  • Returns 1829, 1831, 1833-1835, 1837–1848 [4/7327], Reel 702
  • Monthly reports on the state of the factory by the Visiting Justice, Jan 1845–Feb 1848 [4/7199], Reel 2801
  • Returns of punishments, 1 Jul 1827–30 Jun 1828 [2/8211], Reel 2278

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. 

• NRS-12228 Record of females discharged [Female Factory, Parramatta], Oct 1846–Apr 1848
• NRS-12229 Medical Case Book [Female Factory, Parramatta], 1846–Mar 1848
• NRS-1095 Parramatta – Female Factory Hospital, General Hospital, Convict Hospital: Stores accounts, Aug 1838–Feb 1844
• NRS-3297 Minutes of proceedings of the Bench [Parramatta Bench of Magistrates], Oct 1820–Mar 1822
• NRS-970 Copies of letters sent to Establishments, 4 Dec 1826-12 Mar 1839, 1 Apr 1841–27 May 1856
• NRS-5727 Letters, petitions and statistical returns received by Mr Justice Burton, 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/