28/05/2026
Parramatta Female Factory & Institutions Precinct (PFF&IP) for World Heritage
👉 SIGN THE PETITION: https://bit.ly/PFFIP4WorldHeritage
Her Story is Our Story — Honour the Women of Australia
The PFF&IP is one of Australia’s most significant places of memory, conscience and survival. It tells the story of convict women, children, Aboriginal experience, survivors, Forgotten Australians, families, patients and communities whose lives helped shape the nation.
The Precinct is already on Australia’s National Heritage List, but that must not be treated as the final chapter. The NSW and Australian Governments began the World Heritage journey. Now they must finish it.
We call on both Governments to:
1. Continue the World Heritage pathway with a focus on the Parramatta Female Factory. This is to include an updated, reframed submission as part of the current World Heritage application preliminary assessment; an expert-led review of the Outstanding Universal Value case; proper international comparative analysis and expert community and academic contribution and review. As a part of the pathway establish proper planning protections for the site, buffer zone, sightlines, heritage landscape, curtilage and surrounding setting.
2. Prepare a stronger, expert-led World Heritage strategy
Work transparently with community organizations working directly wit the PFF&IP - Parramatta Female Factory Friends, Parragirls, survivor groups, Forgotten Australians, relevant Aboriginal organizations, heritage experts, museum specialists and the wider community.
3. As acknowledged through National Heritage listing, commit to the implementation of site custodianship with the New South Wales Government for the long-term, ongoing management and funding for site protection, conservation, heritage buffer zones, access, interpretation, public programming and visitor/education infrastructure.
4. For proper management and respect, the site to be managed by a museum and heritage specialist government organization and with a board/trust to oversee the management made up of heritage, museum, community and financial expertise, such as Museums of History NSW. The museum to be the inaugural Museum of Australian Identity, for all Australians now and into the future, focusing on the Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct history as the central theme. As part of this provide immediate and long-term funding for conservation, education, interpretation, research, public programs, visitor infrastructure and accessible storytelling - work that community volunteers have carried for too long without adequate government support.
For more than 200 years, this landscape has held stories of punishment, separation, labour, institutionalisation, resilience, reform and survival. It is sacred ground for many descendants and survivors, and a national inheritance for all Australians.
Early advice from the World Heritage process should not be used as an excuse to walk away. It should be used to fix the nomination, strengthen protections and complete the work already begun.
Australia has rightly honoured places connected with colonial administration, military history and male convict labour. The women and children of Parramatta deserve no less respect.
This is not a partisan issue. It is a national responsibility.
Let us honour the women, children, survivors and descendants of the Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct — and secure World Heritage recognition for future generations.
Go to our website for the full petition: https://www.parramattafemalefactoryfriends.com.au
