Female Factory, Asylum, Cumberland Hospital

Female Factory, Asylum, Cumberland Hospital

Female Factory, by Augustus Earle nla.pic-an2818460

Female Factory, by Augustus Earle  nla.pic-an2818460

What ever happened to the plans for an Arts and Heritage precinct in Parramatta?

The North Parramatta Government precinct covers 32 hectares of public land.  It includes buildings of immense cultural and historic significance such as the convict built Female Factory designed by Francis Greenway in 1818, fine examples of Federation and Arts and Crafts style buildings designed by Barnet and Vernon as well as 150 year old formal plantings by Charles Moore.

An estimated 1 in 7 Australians today is descended from the convict women of the Female Factory.

The State government says the land is “surplus” and plans to sell it for private residential development of 4000+ units in 30 storey towers.  And that’s before developers get to apply for extensions to those heights under the LEP.   North Parramatta Residents’ Action Group says NO and seeks support.  The video below gives an idea of just a small part of what is at stake: