'It's almost sacrilegious': Descendants of convict women fight to save legacy of Parramatta factory
Two hundred years ago, the Parramatta Female Factory was the destination for thousands of unmarried convict women sent to the faraway land of NSW.
It was known as the female factory because the women manufactured cloth, linen and spun wool, as well as sewing and knitting and plaiting straw.
Those were the lucky ones - the third class convicts had their babies taken away, they were treated as slaves, forced to break rocks and were fed very little food.
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As developers circle the historic western Sydney site with plans for 370 apartments next door, there are fears that title could be under threat. A Current Affair
From the 1820s, 6000 women passed through the sandstone gates of the factory.
It is estimated one in seven Australians are related to someone who lived here.
The slice of history is so special it's being considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
But as developers circle the historic western Sydney site with plans for 370 apartments next door, there are fears that title could be under threat.
It was known as the female factory because the women manufactured cloth, linen and spun wool, as well as sewing and knitting and plaiting straw. A Current Affair
"The risk is that over-development would compromise the World Heritage values this site so richly deserves," former Parramatta councillor Phil Bradley said.
The Friends of the Female Factory, many of them descendants of the women who once worked there, are campaigning for a buffer zone around the site to protect it.
"As an historian and as a human being, it's almost sacrilegious to me," historian Gay Henriksen said.
The state government says the proposal from the developer is before an independent planning panel, which is not subject to the planning minister's direction.
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It is estimated one in seven Australians are related to someone who lived here. A Current Affair
FULL NSW GOVERNMENT STATEMENT
What is the heritage significance of the Parramatta Female Factory?
The Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct is a significant historic site, being the first female factory in Australia for convict women and one of the first all-female places of detention in the world.
For over 200 years, the Precinct housed various institutions for women and children, which were often places of mistreatment and trauma, including for Aboriginal women.
What does being on the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Listing mean for the site (28 Sept 2023)?
In September 2023 this place was accepted as a Tentative World Heritage Site, signalling Australia's intention to continue with the nomination for a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
A detailed process is underway, with a milestone for acceptance expected in 2027.
What are the risks that any development could pose to the Female Factory's bid for UNESCO World Heritage status, and what can the Government/Department do to mitigate these risks?
The proposed detail of the World Heritage listing is still under consideration.
The listing and its status will consider the context of the site currently and in the future.
The proposal by private developer Peterose Pty Ltd is currently before an independent planning panel that is not subject to the Planning Minister's direction.
How are the competing needs to preserve heritage and building housing being balanced by the NSW Government, and what does it mean for the future of the city?
The NSW Government is committed to ensuring heritage sites are protected while also accommodating the growing demand for housing close to transport links by encouraging sustainable development practices.
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