From the years of 1804-1856, female convicts were transported to female factories in NSW and Van Dieman's land, where they were forced to produce goods such as spun wool and flax or straw plaiting.
Female factories were based on British , prisons and workhouses. They were for women convicts transported to the penal colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land. An estimated 9,000 convict women were in the 13 female factories, in the colonies of NSW and Van Diemen's Land. This spanned a period of 52 years -1804 to 1856. The women produced spun wool and flax in all the factories. In the main factories other work was undertaken such as sewing, stocking knitting and straw plaiting. 
