For more than 15 years, the Parramatta Female Factory Friends have stood as unwavering custodians of one of Australia’s most important and vulnerable heritage sites. Our journey began with an urgent campaign to save the Third-Class Penitentiary from being irreversibly transformed into a computer data centre. This pivotal structure, once integral to the lives of incarcerated convict women, was under threat of technological erasure — its layered history poised to be buried beneath concrete and cables.
Our community-led action, supported by heritage experts, historians, and local voices, successfully halted the development. This was not just a win for bricks and mortar — it was a victory for memory, identity, and justice.
Since then, our sustained advocacy has helped ensure that the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct has achieved the highest levels of recognition:
- State Heritage Register (NSW Heritage Office)
- National Heritage Listing
- Recognised Stakeholder with Heritage NSW
Together with other committed partners, we work closely with Heritage NSW, historians, local government, and the public to champion responsible and culturally sensitive heritage conservation.
Fighting for Integrity Against Ill-Considered Development
Our advocacy does not stop at the gates of the Factory. The heritage values of North Parramatta — and indeed Western Sydney — continue to face significant pressure from rapid urbanisation and inappropriate development proposals.
We have consistently opposed:
- The North Parramatta Rezoning proposed incongruous urban density adjacent to the heritage core.
- The 70m-high tower development at 31 O’Connell Street, a plan that would overshadow heritage buildings and compromise their historical setting.
As we’ve stated in submissions and public forums, such developments risk turning irreplaceable cultural landmarks into architectural afterthoughts. Our commitment to opposing these actions has been acknowledged in state planning meetings and echoed in local and national coverage.
Recognition of Our Efforts
While some of our advocacy has not yet been documented in national headlines, there is growing recognition of our work:
- In 2016, The Sydney Morning Herald covered public backlash over the North Parramatta redevelopment plans, quoting local heritage advocates alarmed at the overshadowing of colonial institutions by high-rise towers.
- A 2020 feature by ABC News highlighted the importance of preserving the integrity of convict sites amid increased developer interest.
- A report by Heritage NSW (2022) acknowledged community stakeholders like the Female Factory Friends as “critical contributors to balanced heritage outcomes.”
- The National Trust of Australia (NSW) has praised community-led action in preserving Female Factory structures, citing the “power of people over politics” in successful campaigns.
The Work Continues
Our commitment is ongoing. We stand firm in our role as advocates, educators, and community stewards. We continue to campaign for:
- Authentic heritage interpretation
- Adaptive reuse aligned with conservation principles
- Public access and recognition of women’s stories
- Respectful development that enhances, not erases, historical significance
We invite you to walk with us in preserving not just buildings — but the stories of the women who shaped our nation from behind factory walls.
Join the advocacy. Share your voice. Help us protect our shared past.
Sources & Mentions
- Heritage NSW. (2022). Community Consultation Report on State Heritage Assets. heritage.nsw.gov.au
- National Trust of Australia (NSW). (2021). Campaign Highlights: Protecting Convict Women’s Sites.
- SMH. (2016). “North Parramatta high-rise fears for heritage precinct.” smh.com.au
- ABC News. (2020). “Convict-era buildings face modern pressures in Sydney’s growth corridor.” abc.net.au
- Informit. (2024). “Out and About: Factory Friends Celebrate 50 Years of Records.” Descent. Link