The Cascades Female Factory is Australia’s most significant historic site associated with female convicts. It is located in the shadow of Mount Wellington, a short distance from Hobart’s city centre. It was as a self-contained, purpose-built institution intended to reform female convicts. Thousands of women and children were imprisoned at the site and many never left.
Visiting this World Heritage site can be both emotional and rewarding, creating a connection with the stories of female convicts in Australia and their children – the stories are often tragic, but also inspire hope and resilience. All Admission tickets include self-guided audio, access to the exhibition space and historic site, and additional tours chosen as options.
• The 45 min Convict Women's Tour is the essential tour for first-time visitors, introducing the site's history, the women, and the convict system. Discover what life was like for women who were transported to Van Diemen's Land.
• The 60 min Notorious Strumpets storytelling experience delves into the lives of seven remarkable convict women who defied adversity. Discover their resilience, the societal challenges they faced, and how some managed to triumph against all odds.
The self-guided audio allows you to experience the site at your own pace. Listen to true tales of the courage, resourcefulness and resilience of the women who lived worked and aspired to a better life outside the female factory walls.
