Eagle Farm Women's Prison and Factory Site, Heritage archaeological site in Eagle Farm, Australia.
Eagle Farm Women's Prison and Factory Site was a penal complex with multiple timber structures including a superintendent's residence, kitchen, classrooms, medical ward, and cell blocks designed to house female inmates. The complex also functioned as a working farm where prisoners grew crops for the settlement's food supply.
Operating from 1829 to 1839 within the Moreton Bay penal settlement, the facility held female convicts who had received secondary convictions and were considered harder to manage. Its creation marked a turning point in how the colony organized and housed its incarcerated population.
The site reflects early colonial efforts to separate male and female prisoners while relying on women's labor for food production and settlement survival. This approach shaped how the penal colony functioned and what roles were assigned to incarcerated women.
The location sits within an industrial development area along Lamington Avenue in Brisbane's trade zone and remains partially accessible to visitors. When visiting, be aware that surrounding industrial operations may be active, so plan your visit during daylight hours for safety and comfort.
Female inmates cultivated a very large area of land and grew maize and potatoes while struggling with illnesses caused by the surrounding swampy environment. These harsh conditions transformed agricultural work from simple punishment into a test of survival itself.
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