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Detail of 1814 plan of Parramatta showing the land set aside for the Gaol and the Factory by the Parramatta River

By
Lachlan Macquarie
From the collections of the
State Library of New South Wales
[M2 811.1301/1814/1]
(Detail of 'Plan of the Township of Parramatta in New South Wales 1814') (Mitchell Library)

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Factory Above the Gaol
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Macquarie, Lachlan

State Library of New South Wales

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.

Prisons

Women's prisons

Maps

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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