Parramatta Female Factory Precinct

Exterior and Interior of of Building 105

Yesterday I attended a meeting of the Female Factory Precinct Action Group.

This is a community group that aims to have the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct returned to the people of Australia.

It was formed in response to the December 2010 proposal by the South West Area Health Service to seek approval for alterations to Building 105 in the Cumberland Hospital complex to install IT equipment, condensers and cooling fans.

This building is the 1823 convict Female Factory 3rd class penitentiary sleeping quarters and is part of the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct.

The aim of the Action Group is to gather at least 5000 petition entries so that there is a least one for each woman who went through the Parramatta Female Factory.

If you would like to sign the petition go to:

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/savethefemalefactory

If you are in interested in early Australian History or are researching a convict ancestor go to our website at:

http://www.historyservices.com.au/

Como Pleasure Grounds

On Saturday we had occasion to visit the Como Pleasure Grounds with an old photo in hand.

Como is a suburb in southern Sydney located some 27 kilometres south of the central business district in the Sutherland Shire.

It was named by one James Murphy in1888 because the scenery reminded him of Lake Como In Italy.

The Como Pleasure Grounds were established in 1895 to celebrate the rail line reaching southern Sydney. They provided entertainment to visitors who came in their droves by steam train.

The old photos is dated to the 1920's and shows my grandparents who obviously enjoyed a day's outing at Como.

I endeavored to match up the original site for the photograph as it now exists almost a century later. The Pleasure Grounds are still a perfect place for a picnic celebration or birthday party overlooking the beautiful Georges River.

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If you are in interested in early Australian History or are researching a convict ancestor go to our website at:

http://www.historyservices.com.au/