Banished women: convict hardship in colonial NSW
March 14 @ 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM AEST
Fascinated to discover her 2x great grandparents, Sarah and Thomas Bell, had been matron and keeper at the Parramatta Female Factory, Sue Bell decided to research their lives. Her ancestors had arrived in Sydney from Ireland in 1832 and four years later were appointed to the factory.
Using records, newspaper reports and the stories of individual convicts from the period, Sue reconstructed their story in her book, Academy for Young Ladies, which reveals what happened as the number of female convicts in the factory grew and the Bells were buffeted by events beyond their control as well as their serious misjudgements.
In her presentation, Sue will provide a background to female factories in colonial NSW and Tasmania and in particular the Parramatta Female Factory, highlight stories of the Bells and the convicts and staff who were in the factory during their administration and then outline the ongoing work of the Parramatta Female Factory Friends which includes seeking world heritage listing after becoming a national heritage site.
Presenter:
Sue Bell
Sue Bell was a librarian, and policy advisor in the Queensland Government. She majored in history when studying for her BA at University of Queensland and has become interested in family history over the last 15 years. She has written articles for the Society of Australian Genealogists’s magazine Descent, GSQ’s Generation, and is a regular contributor to the GSQ blog. She has also contributed to the Parramatta Female Factory Friends’ publication Her Story Series Vol 1, and the regular PFFF newsletter.
Tickets will close at 8am Saturday 14 March 2026
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