In January 1826 Arthur finally ordered an investigation into the conditions at the Hobart Town Female Factory.  Conditions were very unsatisfactory.  Fifty-five people were crammed into two sleeping rooms which were not only cramped and crowded but were also unventilated.  There was only one yard for the use of the Factory, consequently no possibility of classification or keeping some women separate from others.  The yard was in full view of executions in the gaol next door.  Communication through and over the walls, both to the gaol and to the streets outside, was absurdly easy.  The crowded conditions and lack of separate rooms and other areas meant there was no space that could be used for work.  The superintendent Mr Drabble and his family lived in an apartment that was not separated from the rest of the factory and were subject to constant abuse from the inmates.

Rayner, Female Factory Female Convicts, p.117

Late on Monday evening as Dr. Westbrook was passing the Female Factory, he observed two women creeping through a hole which had been made in the wall, and the constable standing unconcernedly looking on.  He immediately disarmed this man, the ladies as suddenly drawing back; and at the same time Mr. Drabble discovered that 7 prisoners had escaped from the upper bedroom.  Six of the number have already been apprehended and sentenced to have their hair cut close off to the head, to be confined in a cell, fed on bread and water, and to wear an iron collar for a week.  We have not yet heard what punishment has been inflicted on the constable who so gallantly contributed to the freedom of the fair sex.

Last week Martha Slater made a bold attempt to escape from durance in the Female Factory, by mounting the lofty wall which surrounds it.  Having gained the summit, she surveyed the awful depth below, when two constables coming past so increased her trepidation, that she fell suddenly to the ground and bruised her limbs.  Some months ago, the said Martha Slater was one of seven, who, our Readers will recollect, escaped through a hole made in the wall, and it was said the attractions of a gentleman named “Hopping Tom” had a powerful influence in drawing her through.  The attraction on the female side was afterwards considerably weakened by an operation much more serious than that recorded by Mr. Pope, in the “Rape of the Lock,” namely, by the local abscission of every auburn charm.  Two other damsels having however escaped before, and some suspicion entering the breast of Martha, that one of them might hop in the direction of her Tom, the green-eyed monster promoted her to the dangerous attempt which has thus so painfully miscarried.

Last week, no less than 22 of the women confined in the Female Factory were sentenced to various punishments of solitary confinement, and being fed on bread and water, some of whom had been guilty of disorderly conduct, uttering insolent and abominable expressions, escaping from the cells, over and through the outer wall, and of other conduct highly unbecoming the female character.  They were fortunately prevented from escaping through a large hole which they made in the wall, and some of the punishments were inflicted for the ill treatment the workmen received in mending it up.