Female factory

Female factories were based on British bridewells, prisons and workhouses.

They were for women convicts transported to the penal colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land.

An estimated 9,000 convict women were in the 13 female factories, in the colonies of NSW and Van Diemen's Land.

In the main factories other work was undertaken such as sewing, stocking knitting and straw plaiting.

Hard labour included rock breaking and oakum picking.