Cascades Female Factory
We visited the site but sad to say, not much is left of what was here and they have tried by putting up mock walls to give so idea of the place .
We took the tour which helps fill some of the details and gives you a better history of the place other wise you are just left to walk about and that doe not give you a feel.
Such as the photo below shows the walls are only half the height as the level of soil has been raised up so the actual foundations hidden long way below.
We took the tour which helps fill some of the details and gives you a better history of the place other wise you are just left to walk about and that doe not give you a feel.
Such as the photo below shows the walls are only half the height as the level of soil has been raised up so the actual foundations hidden long way below.
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There were eventually 5 yards operating at Cascades Female Factory. The Factory opened with Yard 1 in 1828, Yard 2 opened in 1832, Yard 3 opened in 1845, Yard 4 opened in 1850, and Yard 5 opened in 1853, the last year of transportation.
Governor George Arthur purchased the site at Cascades for the female factory in 1827 from the owner of a failed distillery, TY Lowes. The factory's first intake of female prisoners was in December 1828, from the prisoners at Hobart Town Female Factory. It gradually expanded to hold 700 female convicts and their children, though at its peak it was even more overcrowded than usual, holding 1,200 women and children. Rules and regulations for the management of the Factory were published in 1829.
Governor George Arthur purchased the site at Cascades for the female factory in 1827 from the owner of a failed distillery, TY Lowes. The factory's first intake of female prisoners was in December 1828, from the prisoners at Hobart Town Female Factory. It gradually expanded to hold 700 female convicts and their children, though at its peak it was even more overcrowded than usual, holding 1,200 women and children. Rules and regulations for the management of the Factory were published in 1829.
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In OperationThe female convicts who arrived on the Harmony in January 1829 were the first to be sent directly from the ship to Cascades Female Factory for assignment. The following article appeared in the Hobart Town Courier on 7 February 1829 about the advantages of the new factory, including the provision of a nursery so that children can be separated from their mothers, allowing the women to be assigned.
The new House of Correction is likely to be attended with much advantage, an instance of which already sensibly appears in the disposal of the female prisoners by the Harmony. Many of the best servants, it is well known, were necessarily kept in the late Factory, owing to the children, which there was no means of disposing of, but by leaving them in the charge of the mother; for few, if any families could be expected to incur the expense and trouble of one or two little children for the sake of the small attendance. In the new establishment, however, this inconvenience is wisely provided for. Matrons, or proper persons are appointed in apartments for that purpose, to nurse and educate the children as soon as they can with propriety leave the mother, who is thus left at liberty to go to service. By this means a large proportion of the prisoners by the Harmony, who had children with them, and who on teh former system must have remained a charge on the public, have been assigned to service. This, however, is but a minor advantage compared to the improved discipline which this building enables the Superintendent to exercise. Farewell now to idleness and impudence, lover-letter writing, throwing of packets &c. over the wall, and all the concomitants of clandestine taking and receiving.
Of course, the new Factory did not solve all the discipline problems, though more discipline was imposed on the prisoners, as evidenced by the following extract from two Visiting Magistrates to the Factory in 1844 (AOT, GO 33/52 pp.172–194).
The Visiting Magistrates have great pleasure in bearing testimony to the good order, cleanliness & discipline of the Female Factory at the Cascade. The system & regularity observable in working this Establishment & the quiet behaviour of the prisoners generally reflect great credit upon the Superintendent thereof.
At this Establishment prayers are regularly read every morning at ½ past 7 & great attention appears to be paid by the prisoners to the service. It is the only House of Correction where Prayers are regularly read.
The new House of Correction is likely to be attended with much advantage, an instance of which already sensibly appears in the disposal of the female prisoners by the Harmony. Many of the best servants, it is well known, were necessarily kept in the late Factory, owing to the children, which there was no means of disposing of, but by leaving them in the charge of the mother; for few, if any families could be expected to incur the expense and trouble of one or two little children for the sake of the small attendance. In the new establishment, however, this inconvenience is wisely provided for. Matrons, or proper persons are appointed in apartments for that purpose, to nurse and educate the children as soon as they can with propriety leave the mother, who is thus left at liberty to go to service. By this means a large proportion of the prisoners by the Harmony, who had children with them, and who on teh former system must have remained a charge on the public, have been assigned to service. This, however, is but a minor advantage compared to the improved discipline which this building enables the Superintendent to exercise. Farewell now to idleness and impudence, lover-letter writing, throwing of packets &c. over the wall, and all the concomitants of clandestine taking and receiving.
Of course, the new Factory did not solve all the discipline problems, though more discipline was imposed on the prisoners, as evidenced by the following extract from two Visiting Magistrates to the Factory in 1844 (AOT, GO 33/52 pp.172–194).
The Visiting Magistrates have great pleasure in bearing testimony to the good order, cleanliness & discipline of the Female Factory at the Cascade. The system & regularity observable in working this Establishment & the quiet behaviour of the prisoners generally reflect great credit upon the Superintendent thereof.
At this Establishment prayers are regularly read every morning at ½ past 7 & great attention appears to be paid by the prisoners to the service. It is the only House of Correction where Prayers are regularly read.
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