Hobart, September, 2023: Following the popular debut of the evocative storytelling experience  'Notorious Strumpets & Dangerous Girls' as part of the OFF Season winter campaign,  this deep-dive into history will now be a permanent offering at the Cascades Female Factory from Saturday 16 September. The experience brings to life the hardship of seven irrepressible convict women - or 'notorious strumpets' as they were described by the authorities of the time - and explores their courage and determination as they railed against a colonial system that was inherently designed to break them.  

Developed by the Interpretation and Experience team at the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (PAHSMA), Notorious Strumpets & Dangerous Girls pays homage to the historical accounts of the women who spent time behind the stone walls at The Cascades Female Factory.  The storytelling brings to life how the women were able to overcome the many hardships, prejudices and inequalities of the convict system and the wider colonial community at the time.

“Notorious Strumpets & Dangerous Girls began as a special limited-time experience as part of our winter campaign for Tasmania's OFF season.  We received a truly remarkable response from our visitors. The storytelling compliments our program of historical interpretative experiences at the site, as we continue to contribute to the broader discussion around the role convict women played in Australia,” said Emily Clarke, Director of Interpretation and Experience at PAHSMA.

One of 11 sites that together form the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property, the Cascades Female Factory is the only site that exclusively represents the female convict experience. Many of the women featured in Notorious Strumpets & Dangerous Girls committed petty crimes of survival and were transported to Australia under extremely harsh conditions before arriving at the Female Factory. This storytelling experience adds another dimension to the sharing of Australia's female convict history.

Notorious Strumpets & Dangerous Girls will now be offered every Saturday from 2.30pm to 3.30pm from 16 September. Tickets can be booked online and start at $40 per adult and includes access to the site, interpretation gallery and a self-guided audio experience. 

Other features at the Cascades Female Factory include the Convict Women's Tour, The Proud and the Punished - a 40 minute one-woman dramatic performance, the poignant Wall of Names which honours the children that were born and died within the walls of the Female Factory and the newly-reopened original building of the Matron's Quarters.  

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For further information:

Images of the Cascades Female Factory are available via dropbox here

Contacts

Diane Glasson, Publicity Director, The Mint Partners, M: +61 428 487 585, E: diane@themintpartners.com.au

Jennifer Bett, Marketing and Communications Manager, Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority: M: +61 408 343 986, E: jennifer.bett@portarthur.org.au

BACKGROUND

The Cascades Female Factory

The Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (PAHSMA) is responsible for preserving and maintaining three important historical sites in Tasmania: The Port Arthur Historic Site on the Tasman Peninsula - one of Australia's most important heritage sites and major tourism destinations; The Coal Mines Historic Site, located near Saltwater River and the Cascades Female Factory in South Hobart. All three sites, including the Cascades Female Factory Historic Site, are part of the 11 convict sites that together form the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property. As inscribed in 2010, the series of heritage sites across the country collectively represent the global phenomenon of convictism and its association with worldwide developments in the punishment of crime in the modern era. The site is an excellent example of heritage tourism through the expression of the forced migration of convicts and global developments associated with punishment and reform.

The 'Wall of Names' - a roll to honour and pay homage to the some 2000 babies born within the walls of the Cascades Female Factory between 1828 and 1856, of which so very few survived beyond infancy. Their names, date of birth, date of passing and ages are thoughtfully engraved into a slate plaque, in the footprint of what was the nursery.  The 'Wall of Babies Names' serves as an important place for visitors to trace their ancestry and reflect on those children who survived beyond infancy and pay their respects to the very many children born that never left. 

The Matron's Quarters - a single-story brick residence with its original four rooms featuring many of the original artefacts that have been preserved. Newly reopened to the public, with interpretation of the Matron's view of the site, the convict women and children under her care. Including the very first Australian Cookbook.

The Cascades Female Factory Historic Site aims to foster a greater understanding and appreciation for the largely untold story of female convicts sent to Australia; in particular, honouring their pain and loss, courage and perseverance. Permanent features of the site include:

• The History and Interpretation Centre opened in March 2022 and provides purpose-built visitor facilities including a welcome space and tour assembly area, interpretation gallery, audio experience and gift shop.
• The Convict Women's Tour provides visitors with a comprehensive introduction to the site and the women who were imprisoned there.
• Notorious Strumpets and Dangerous Girls- a story-telling experience exploring the attitude towards convict women, the challenges they faced and resilience they demonstrated.
• Further information and pricing for the site tours are available via the Cascades Female Factory Website. 

Visitor Information

The Cascades Female Factory is open seven days a week from 10:00am – 4:00pm, offering regular tours throughout the day.

Entry prices: Site Entry (including audio guide experience): Adult $25.00; Child (7 to 17 years, under 6 years free) $10.00; Concession $15.00; Family (2 adults and up to 6 children) $60.00.