What is the Parramatta Female Factory?
Perhaps you have a female factory ancestor, you love history, have a social conscience, believe in preserving Australia’s heritage, feel that each of our stories are unique or that sharing our stories, past and present, is a part of what makes us who we are.
Whatever your connection is to the Parramatta Female Factory we welcome your involvement whether it is as a friend of the factory, sharing the stories about the Parramatta Female Factory or celebrating this part of our heritage at one of our tours or events.
Join us in bringing the Parramatta Female Factory to all Australians.
Friends Rooms and Activities
The Parramatta Female Factory Friends now have a home onsite located in the Matron’s Quarters and Administration Building and continue to meet every second month on the third Friday (February, April, June, August, October and December):
- 9:00 Research Rooms Open
- Herstory exhibition available during opening hours
- 1:00 Speaker Program
- 1.45 Afternoon Tea
- 2:15 General meeting
However, our Researchers are there on Fridays by appointment between 10am and 2pm, just email us if you would like some research on a family members (members receive an hour free).
About Us
The Parramatta Female Factory Friends have been around for over decade and we are a registered Not For Profit and Registered with ACNC as a Charity. We have a clear Vision of what we are about and we hope you agree with us that not only as a place of National Heritage, but the significance merits World Heritage. You will find our core Business Documents here.
You can become a Member and enjoy membership benefits here.
To find out what’s been happening in the News for the Parramatta Female Factory, please check out here.
We are supported by our amazing Patron’s and you can visit here.
Advocacy
The Parramatta Female Factory Friends have been involved in advocacy for the Parramatta Female Factory for over a decade. To look at what we are currently involved in and what we have been doing please visit here.
Education
The Parramatta Female Factory Friends have been involved in educating the public in the history of the Parramatta Female Factory. We have a static exhibition on display on boards and some archaelogocial relics in display cabinets. We continue to be involved in researching the History as well as writing short historical articles for the Friends Newsletter and our website includes Snippets of history of the Parramatta Female Factory here.
Parramatta Female Factory Friends Research Centre
Our Parramatta Female Factory Friends Research team are involved in researching female convicts and making connections for members of the public who find they have a convict past. The Research Centre holds the Babette Smith Collection as part of its Library which assists members and researchers and you can find more about the Research Centre here.
Shop
The Parramatta Female Factory Friends has a collection of items for sale which can be found here.
Tours
Without a doubt, the Tours of the Parramatta Female Factory by trained guides provide an amazing overview of what it was like for a female convict who was sent to the Factory and what they did. You can book a tour here.
What’s On
For the very latest on what is happening, please check our Facebook at
and our Instagram at