Cascades Female Factory

Cascades Female Factory
Cascades Female Factory, circa 1914–41
Interactive map of Cascades Female Factory
Location
StatusUNESCO World Heritage Site
Security classFormer female factory, penal colony
Opened1828
Closed1856
Managed byPort Arthur Historic Site Management Authority
Websitewww.femalefactory.org.au
TypeCultural
Criteriaiv, vi
Designated2010 (34th session)
Part ofAustralian Convict Sites
Reference no.1306
Region
Asia-Pacific
Place ID
10,851

The Cascades Female Factory (also known as Cascades, or CFF) is a former female factory and workhouse for female convicts in the former British penal colony of Van Diemen's Land. It is located in present-day South Hobart, Tasmania.

Between 1828 and 1853, more than half of the female convicts transported to Australia were sent to Van Diemen’s Land, and most spent some time at the Cascades Female Factory. As Hobart Town was the colony’s capital and principal port, the factory functioned as the central institution for the reception, assignment, punishment and confinement of convict women. The factory operated from 1828 until 1856 as a female factory, and continued in use as a gaol until 1877.

The site is one of 11 heritage sites that together comprise the Australian Convict Sites, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010. The Australian Convict Sites collectively illustrate the forced migration of convicts and the global development of penal systems based on punishment and reform. Cascades is recognised in particular for representing the female convict experience and the role of penal transportation in British colonial expansion.

Now operated as a museum and tourist attraction, the Cascades Female Factory Historic Site is managed by the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority. It preserves three of the original five yards and is open daily except Christmas Day, offering guided tours and exhibitions.

History

Penal usage

Some rooms in the Macquarie Street Gaol served as a temporary Hobart "Female Factory" in the mid-1820s. The Cascades Female Factory was purpose-built in 1828 and operated as a convict facility until 1856. It was intended to remove women convicts from the negative influences and temptations of Hobart, and also to protect society from what was seen as their immorality and corrupting influence. The Factory was located, however, in an area of damp swamp land, and with overcrowding, poor sanitation and inadequate food and clothes, there was a high rate of disease and mortality among its inmates.

History and Interpretation Centre development

The Cascades Female Factory is the only remaining female factory with extant remains which give a sense of what female factories were like. It is included on the Australian National Heritage List. It was inscribed on the World Heritage list in July 2010, along with ten other Australian convict sites.

Between 2018 and 2019, almost 35,000 people visited the site. A design competition for a new History and Interpretation Centre was won by an international team composed of Tasmanian practice Liminal Studio, international firm Snøhetta and Melbourne landscape architecture practice Rush Wright Associates in 2018. In 2020, the State Government committed $3 million towards the new $5 million Visitor and Interpretation Centre to enhance the storytelling experience and increase visitation. The Federal Government contributed the remaining $2 million.

The Cascades Female Factory Historic Site was re-opened in March 2022 with the launch of the new History and Interpretation Centre, with Honourable Madeleine Ogilvie MP and Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce delivering keynote speeches.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Permanent and Provisional Registrations as at 22 Jan 2021" (PDF). Tasmanian Heritage Register. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Australian Convict Sites". World Heritage Centre. UNESCO. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  3. ↑ Frost, Lucy (2006). "The Companion to Tasmanian History - Female Factories". The Companion to Tasmanian History. University of Tasmania. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "Cascades Female Factory". National heritage places. Commonwealth of Australia: Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. 15 May 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  5. ↑ Whiteley, Cameron (5 June 2020). "$5M new visitor centre for Cascades Female Factory". themercury.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "Liminal, Snøhetta and Rush Wright project at Hobart's Cascades Female Factory progresses". ArchitectureAU. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  7. ↑ Whiteley, Cameron (5 June 2020). "$5M new visitor centre for Cascades Female Factory". themercury.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  8. ↑ Ogilvie, Madeleine (25 March 2022). "Improving the visitor experience at Hobart's Cascade Female Factory". Premier of Tasmania. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  9. ↑ J. Jones, Callum (25 March 2022). "Re-Opening of the Cascades Female Factory". tasmaniantimes.com. Retrieved 27 April 2022.