THE BUS CANNOT REACH THE ACTUAL LOCATION BUT WE CAN SEE WHERE THE FEMALE HISTORIC SITE IS AND OUR GUIDE WILL TALK ABOUT IT

Tucked away in the residential streets of South Hobart is the Female Factory Historic Site, which was a workhouse for female convicts when Tasmania was known as Van Diemen's Land. It operated from 1828 to 1856 and is now part of the Australian Convict Sites, a collection of 11 sites recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage. 

The workhouse aimed to separate female convicts from the negative influences of Hobart and protect society from what was perceived as their immoral and corrupting influence. However, due to its location in a damp swamp area, overcrowding, poor sanitation and inadequate provisions, the factory had a high rate of disease and mortality among its inmates.

Today, the site is the only remaining female factory with surviving remnants and operates as a museum and tourist attraction. It comprises the original five yards and a new interpretive centre that introduces visitors to the lives of the female convicts and their children. During audio tours, guided visits and theatrical performances, their voices and stories evoke Hobart’s often harsh history.