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Government Public Notice concerning Elizabeth Davis who absconded from the Female Factory at Parramatta August 1831

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National Library of Australia
[Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 31 August 1811, p4 (via Trove)]

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Factory Above the Gaol
Subjects
Advertising Convicts Women Women's prisons
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Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser
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Parramatta
Buildings
Parramatta Gaol 1802
Organisation
Female Factory

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National Library of Australia

Factory Above the Gaol

Australia's first female factory at Parramatta (known as the 'Factory Above the Gaol') was Governor King's attempt at finding a solution to the problem of accommodating the colony's abundance of unemployed convict women at the same time as protecting them, and the young colony, against corrupt influences. In its industrial capacity, the factory in excelled in its early years. As a refuge-cum-guardian of public morality, it fell considerably short with severe over-crowding and deteriorating buildings.

Convicts

Women

Women's prisons

Advertising

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser

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First newspaper published in Sydney, from 5 March 1803 until 20 October 1842. 

Originally printed in a lean-to shed at the back of Government House, the newspaper moved to different premises in Macquarie Place in 1808 and then to a building on lower George Street in December 1810. In 1824 the printery moved again to a larger two storey building further south on George Street on the corner of Charlotte Place. 

Parramatta

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Western suburb built on the land of the Burramattagal people. Sydney's second European settlement, it began as a government farm in 1788 and has many heritage listed sites. It is now the commercial hub of Greater Western Sydney.

Parramatta Gaol 1802

The second gaol on the site, it was constructed over two storeys with local sandstone. The upper rooms of 80 feet by 20 feet each held weaving looms and the convict women worked and slept amongst the wool bales. It quickly became overcrowded.

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Female Factory

Assignment depot which also operated as refuge, workhouse, prison and marriage bureau for unassigned convict women who were classified by a three class system which determined their level of employment or punishment.

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