Planning a visit to the historic Parramatta Female Factory?
Discover Australia’s remarkable female convict history through guided walking tours, exhibitions, research and special events at the National Heritage-listed Parramatta Female Factory in North Parramatta.
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions to help you plan your visit.
Visiting the Parramatta Female Factory
1. Where is the Parramatta Female Factory?
The Parramatta Female Factory is located at 5 Fleet Street, North Parramatta NSW 2151, within the historic Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct.
Guided walking tours meet at the Bicentenary Commemorative Wall, near the original Matron’s Quarters and Administration Building. Please arrive at least five minutes before your confirmed tour time.
View directions and transport information.
2. When is the Parramatta Female Factory open to visitors?
Guided walking tours are generally available on Fridays at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, subject to booking confirmation.
Group tours are generally arranged from Monday to Thursday and can also book Fridays, if requested.
Private and specialised tours may also be available by arrangement.
The Friends’ rooms, exhibitions and Research Centre is open every Friday, however, they can open for appointments by booking at research@parramattafemalefactoryfriends.com.au.
Please contact us before making a special journey.
3. Can I visit without booking a guided tour?
You can visit without making a booking as it is open to the public. However, the Parramatta Female Factory forms part of a heritage precinct with operational and conservation requirements. Access to buildings and certain areas may be restricted. We recommend booking in advance to ensure that a volunteer guide is available and we can confirm access arrangements to the heritage listed buildings.
If you would like to visit independently, please contact the Friends beforehand to establish what is available.
4. What will I see on a guided walking tour?
Our guided tours explore the fascinating and often confronting history of the Parramatta Female Factory, which opened in 1821.
Visitors learn about convict women, their working lives, the three-class system, the Lying-in Hospital, punishment, imprisonment, resistance, family separation and the lives women established after leaving the Factory.
Tours also introduce surviving convict-era buildings and explain the precinct’s later institutional history and its significance to Australian heritage.
Access to individual buildings may vary.
5. How long does a guided tour take?
Most guided walking tours last approximately 90 minutes and involve walking and standing outdoors across the historic precinct, some seating is available and there are some shaded areas.
Your volunteer guide will explain significant buildings, features and historical events along the route.
Bookings, Tickets and Groups
6. How much does a guided walking tour cost?
The standard guided walking tour costs $20 per person, including adults, pensioners and school-aged children.
Weekend and private tours are available by arrangement, with a published fee of $50 per person and a minimum of two participants.
Specialised research or professional bespoke tours may have different charges. Please confirm fees when booking.
7. How do I book a guided walking tour?
Email contact@parramattafemalefactoryfriends.com.au with your name, contact number, preferred date and time, number of visitors and any accessibility requirements.
Our Tour Coordinator will advise availability, confirm arrangements and provide payment instructions.
Please do not make payment until you receive a booking confirmation number.
Read more about our guided walking tours.
8. Can schools, community groups and coach tours visit?
Yes. We welcome school excursions both primary and high schools, universities from undergraduate to post graduate studies, historical societies, seniors’ groups, Probus clubs, community organisations, family history groups and other organised visitors.
Larger groups can be divided among several volunteer guides to provide a better visitor experience.
Please enquire at least four weeks in advance for school, large group and specialised bookings.
9. Do you offer private or specialised tours?
Yes. Subject to volunteer availability, specialised tours can be arranged for descendants, historians, researchers, universities, heritage groups, writers and other visitors.
Tours may focus on female convict experiences, surviving heritage buildings, punishment and resistance, family history, the 1827 riot or other areas of historical interest.
Contact the Tour Coordinator with your requirements.
10. What happens if I need to cancel my booking?
Please contact the Tour Coordinator as soon as possible.
Cancellation and refund conditions depend on the notice provided and the circumstances of the booking. Generally, cancellations made less than 48 hours before a tour are not refundable.
If PFFF cancels a tour because of unsuitable weather, visitors may request a refund or arrange another date.
Please review the full booking conditions when making your reservation.
Transport, Accessibility and Facilities
11. How do I get to the Parramatta Female Factory by public transport?
The easiest public transport option is the Parramatta Light Rail.
Travel to Parramatta Railway Station, walk to the Parramatta Square light rail stop, and take the light rail to Ngara. The Female Factory is approximately 100 metres from the stop.
Visitors can also use the light rail connection from Westmead.
12. Is parking available?
There is no general visitor parking within the historic site.
Visitors travelling by car may use available parking in Fleet Street or the paid O’Connell Street car park, subject to local parking restrictions and availability.
For booked tours only, you can park at Parramatta Leagues Club for free.
Allow additional time to park and walk to the tour meeting point.
13. Is the Parramatta Female Factory wheelchair accessible?
Many areas of the tour route can be accessed by visitors using wheelchairs, walking frames or other mobility aids.
However, the historic precinct contains different ground surfaces, minor level changes and areas with limited seating. Access to some buildings may vary.
Please advise the Tour Coordinator of your mobility or accessibility requirements before booking so suitable arrangements can be discussed.
14. Are guided tours suitable for children?
Yes. Families and school-aged children are welcome.
The tours introduce important aspects of Australian history, including the experiences of convict women and children. Some topics involve punishment, imprisonment, separation of families and difficult historical experiences.
Parents and teachers should consider the suitability of these subjects for younger children. School groups can discuss educational requirements when booking.
15. What should I wear or bring?
We recommend comfortable enclosed walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, drinking water and clothing appropriate for the weather.
Much of the tour takes place outdoors, and some historic surfaces may be uneven.
Bring an umbrella or rain jacket when showers are forecast.
16. What happens if it rains or the weather is very hot?
Tours may proceed in light rain, provided conditions remain safe.
Tours may be cancelled during extreme weather, including dangerous winds or temperatures above 35°C.
The Tour Coordinator will determine whether a tour can proceed safely and advise affected visitors about alternative arrangements or refunds.
17. Are toilets, refreshments and food available?
Toilet facilities are available in the precinct, although availability and accessibility should be confirmed before your visit if you have particular requirements.
Havenstone Café is located nearby and offers refreshments. Catering or lunch arrangements may also be available through local venues for organised groups.
Parramatta Leagues Club offers group bookings a substantial discount when booking a tour for a three course lunch, please indicate this option when booking as we arrange the Club Catering to contact you.
Please discuss any group catering requirements when booking.
18. Can I take photographs during my visit?
Visitors should follow their guide’s directions and ask before photographing people, research material or restricted areas.
Professional filming, wedding photography and other organised photography activities are subject to site permissions and cannot be authorised by PFFF.
Contact the relevant precinct management authority for requests involving professional site use. Email: precinctdevelopment@dpie.nsw.gov.au
Research, History and Supporting PFFF
19. Can I research a female convict ancestor at the Parramatta Female Factory?
Yes. The Parramatta Female Factory Friends Research Centre assists visitors researching female convicts, family histories and people associated with the Factory.
The Centre contains historical books, archival research material, digital resources, microfilm, microfiche and the Babette Smith Collection.
Research appointments and assistance can be arranged by emailing research@parramattafemalefactoryfriends.com.au.
20. Why is the Parramatta Female Factory historically significant?
Opened in 1821, the Parramatta Female Factory was a major institution in colonial New South Wales. It served multiple functions, including a labour depot, cloth factory, colonial laundry, place of assignment, hospital, marriage bureau, refuge and institution of confinement and punishment.
It preserves rare surviving evidence of the female convict system and the experiences of thousands of women and children.
The broader Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct is recognised on Australia’s National Heritage List.
It is an important place for understanding convict transportation, women’s history, institutional life, resilience and the development of Australian society.
21. How can I support the Parramatta Female Factory Friends?
Parramatta Female Factory Friends is a volunteer, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to research, education, conservation, interpretation and protection of this nationally significant historic precinct.
You can support our work by becoming a member, volunteering, attending events, joining a guided tour, donating or helping promote the Factory’s history.
Your support assists us in preserving and sharing these important stories for future generations.
Contact Us and Plan Your Visit
Parramatta Female Factory Friends
5 Fleet Street, North Parramatta NSW 2151
Guided Tour Enquiries: 0456 787 252
General Enquiries: 0451 332 823
Email: contact@parramattafemalefactoryfriends.com.au
Book or enquire about a walking tour
Parramatta Female Factory Friends Inc.
Protecting the past. Researching the women. Sharing the stories.