"Women Transported: Life in Australia's Convict Female Factories," whose national tour opens Aug. 2 at the Parramatta Heritage Centre. Between 1804 and the early 1850s, some 10,000 British women served in one of the 12 female work houses - known as factories - in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). Theirs is a tale of dislocation and suffering of which few Australians have more than the sketchiest knowledge, yet it's hardly stretching things to call these women the mothers of a nation, or to suggest that it was partly through their struggles that elements of the archetypal Australian character were forged. A common misconception is that most of the convict women were illiterate whores from the criminal class. Not so, according to documents of the time. Prostitution wasn't illegal in Britain in the early part of the 19th century, so it wasn't grounds for transportation. The convicts were no more likely to be illiterate than the Britons who were coming to Australia by choice, and more than 60% of them were transported for a first offence, usually theft. Between them, they brought some 180 trade skills. For the most part, in other words, these people were not horrible. But the conditions they faced often were. In Parramatta, by the 1840s, a Francis Greenway-designed factory built to accommodate 300 was holding 1,200 women, who worked from dawn to dusk on tasks that included stone breaking, spinning, needlework and laundry. Unlike their male counterparts, they were spared the lash. But they were not spared solitary confinement or the indignity of being gagged or having their head shaved for serious misconduct. Now, a new exhibition entitled 'Women Transported - Life in Australia's Convict Female Factories' will provide a unique insight into this part of our nation's history. "Following their arrival in Australia, most female convicts were assigned as household servants. However, if they were being punished for bad behaviour or were simply ill, injured, pregnant, or waiting for an assignment, they were sent to workhouses known as female factories," said Associate Professor Liston. "The conditions were harsh and the women were forced to undertake physically hard domestic chores such as laundering for the military, sewing clothes for convicts, and making the yarn that was to be woven into the woollen and linen cloth that was used for the clothing. "In six months, the women sewed on 50,000 buttons; their work as spinners assisted the development of the wool industry; and many women went on to do the myriad of occupations that kept the country going, such as running farms and businesses and raising families." Women Transported - Life in Australia's Convict Female Factories' will be opened by the Governor on 7 August at Parramatta Heritage Centre, Church Street, Parramatta. >From November 2008, the exhibition will travel to the ACT, Tasmania and Queensland as part of a national tour.

It is with great interest I read the above article, & look forward to visiting the exhibition. One point I wish to comment on "Unlike their male counterparts, they were spared the lash." An ancestor , Elizabeth Hayward, arriving on the 'Lady Penryhn" with the First Fleet, a child of 13-14 yrs, sentenced 7years for theft, was assingned to The Reverend Richard Johnson & his wife, as a servant, on arrival. The chaplain charged her with insolence to his wife, & on 7th February 1789,she is sentenced to receive 30 lashes. I have a copy of the written entry recording this, but have never found any evidence that the sentence was carried out. Could the sentence be appealed, or reduced in any way? Any suggestions? Marie Head. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan Eade" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 9:42 PM Subject: [AUS-CON] Women Transported: Life in Australia's Convict FemaleFactories > "Women Transported: Life in Australia's Convict Female Factories," whose > national tour opens Aug. 2 at the Parramatta Heritage Centre. Between 1804 > and the early 1850s, some 10,000 British women served in one of the 12 > female work houses - known as factories - in New South Wales and Van > Diemen's Land (Tasmania). Theirs is a tale of dislocation and suffering of > which few Australians have more than the sketchiest knowledge, yet it's > hardly stretching things to call these women the mothers of a nation, or > to suggest that it was partly through their struggles that elements of the > archetypal Australian character were forged. > A common misconception is that most of the convict women were illiterate > whores from the criminal class. Not so, according to documents of the > time. Prostitution wasn't illegal in Britain in the early part of the 19th > century, so it wasn't grounds for transportation. The convicts were no > more likely to be illiterate than the Britons who were coming to Australia > by choice, and more than 60% of them were transported for a first offence, > usually theft. Between them, they brought some 180 trade skills. > For the most part, in other words, these people were not horrible. But the > conditions they faced often were. In Parramatta, by the 1840s, a Francis > Greenway-designed factory built to accommodate 300 was holding 1,200 > women, who worked from dawn to dusk on tasks that included stone breaking, > spinning, needlework and laundry. Unlike their male counterparts, they > were spared the lash. But they were not spared solitary confinement or the > indignity of being gagged or having their head shaved for serious > misconduct. > > Now, a new exhibition entitled 'Women Transported - Life in Australia's > Convict Female Factories' will provide a unique insight into this part of > our nation's history. > "Following their arrival in Australia, most female convicts were assigned > as household servants. However, if they were being punished for bad > behaviour or were simply ill, injured, pregnant, or waiting for an > assignment, they were sent to workhouses known as female factories," said > Associate Professor Liston. "The conditions were harsh and the women were > forced to undertake physically hard domestic chores such as laundering for > the military, sewing clothes for convicts, and making the yarn that was to > be woven into the woollen and linen cloth that was used for the clothing. > "In six months, the women sewed on 50,000 buttons; their work as spinners > assisted the development of the wool industry; and many women went on to > do the myriad of occupations that kept the country going, such as running > farms and businesses and raising families." > Women Transported - Life in Australia's Convict Female Factories' will be > opened by the Governor on 7 August at Parramatta Heritage Centre, Church > Street, Parramatta. > >>From November 2008, the exhibition will travel to the ACT, Tasmania and >>Queensland as part of a national tour. > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >