Time Line

The Female Factory Historic Site has been the site of various government institutions, and some private enterprises, since it was first purchased in 1827.

1827	Colonial Government purchases site from Lowes Rum Distillery	Yard 1 - image by Chris Downes
1828	Cascades Female Factory opens in Yard 1
1830	Governor Arthur authorises construction of Yard 2
1832	Yard 2 opens
1838	Nursery moves from Yard 1 to house in Liverpool St
1842	Governor Franklin approves plans for Yard 3
1845	Yard 3 opens
1850	Yard 4 opens Nursery returns to Cascades Female convicts on probation transferred to Cascades from Anson	Yard 2 - image by Chris Downes
1852	Nursery transferred from Cascades to New Town Farm
1853	Yard 5 opens
1854	Nursery returns to Cascades
1855	Nursery transferred from Cascades to Brickfields	Yard 3 - image by Chris Downes
1856	Cascades Female Factory proclaimed a House of Correction (Gaol) for Females to be administered by local authorities
1867	Male and Female Invalids transferred to Cascades Addition of a 'dead house' and a day room for males
1869	Boys' Reformatory and Training School opens	Yard 4 - image by Chris Downes
1874	Female Invalids (and children) transferred to New Town
1877	Cascades Gaol closes, female prisoners (and children) transferred to Campbell St Gaol Male Invalids and Imperial Lunatics from Port Arthur transferred to Cascades
1879	Male Invalids transferred to New Town Contagious Diseases Hospital ('The Lock') opens in Yard 2 Boys' Reformatory and Training School removed to Hobart Gaol	Yard 5 - image by Chris Downes
1884	Boys' Reformatory and Training School reopens
1888	Lying-in Hospital opens
1890	Imperial Lunatics transferred to New Norfolk Asylum or Gaol Home of Mercy takes over running of the Contagious Diseases Hospital
1891	Contagious Diseases Hospital (Home of Mercy) relocates to Yard 4
1895	Contagious Diseases Hospital (Home of Mercy) relocates to outside Cascades
1896	Boys' Reformatory and Training School and Lying-in Hospital transferred to New Town
1904	Site closes