“Double offenders” they were called. Here at Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory Site, female convicts faced harsh conditions. This place stands as a testament to a difficult chapter in Queensland’s history. Today we will delve into the story of Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory Site. It operated from 1829 to 1839 as part of the Moreton Bay penal settlement. The Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory Site is now an archaeological site.
Initially, female convicts were housed in Brisbane. Their proximity to male convicts led to unwanted interactions. Imagine the annoyance of Captain Foster Fyans, the penal colony’s Commandant. He was frustrated by forbidden relationships between the women and soldiers. Women caught fraternizing faced severe punishments. They were put in solitary confinement or had their heads shaved.
In September 1829, Commandant Patrick Logan established an agricultural site at Eagle Farm. It was about eight miles from Brisbane. One hundred and fifty men cleared the scrub. By 1832, about 680 acres were under cultivation. The convicts grew maize and potatoes. They also raised cattle and pigs. Working near the Eagle Farm swamp increased malaria among the convicts. Despite this, the farm was maintained. By 1836, 768 acres had been cleared.
Conflicting reports exist about when women started working here. Some say 1830. Others suggest 1834. By 1836, about 40 women were present. Quaker missionaries documented the conditions. Women worked in the fields and the prison. They did needlework, laundry, and even road construction. The prison consisted of timber slab buildings. There were quarters for the superintendent and matron. There was also a female factory, a store, a school, and a hospital. The prison itself had six cells surrounded by a tall stockade. The outer wall had 17-foot high poles with sharpened tops.
The location of Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory Site aimed to prevent fraternization. Soldiers were forbidden to cross the bridge at Breakfast Creek. Yet, assignations still occurred in the long grass around the farm.
Local Aborigines were present in the area. Dr Robertson described them as dangerous. Commandant Cotton, however, noted a good understanding between them and the settlers.
By 1837, all female prisoners in Brisbane were moved to Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory Site. By 1838, the decision was made to abandon the Moreton Bay penal settlement. Convict numbers declined.
In March 1839, the Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory Site included various buildings. There was a supervisor’s cottage and huts for male convicts and the matron. The female factory had accommodation buildings. There was also a store, a school, a hospital, and a workhouse. A building housed the cookhouse and needle room. The six cells were surrounded by a double fence. The outer stockade had sharp poles, 17 feet high.
In May 1839, the remaining 57 women were sent to Sydney. The penal settlement closed. In 1841, it became a government cattle station. Later, the land was surveyed and auctioned.
From the 1840s to the 1930s, the land was used for mixed farming. Aborigines raided farms for produce. The buildings were eventually demolished. The superintendent’s house may have survived until 1890.
In 1922, the Australian Government acquired the land for an aerodrome. It became Eagle Farm Airport. Aviation pioneers used the airport. In World War II, it became a major airbase. After the war, it was Brisbane’s main airport until 1988. The Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory Site then became an open grassed area.
Today, Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory Site is one of few surviving convict sites in Brisbane. It serves as a reminder of secondary punishment in Australia. It is a site specifically associated with female felons.
As we conclude our visit to Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory Site remember the women who lived and toiled here. Their stories remain etched in the land. The site has the potential to reveal information about Queensland’s history. It is a place of strong association with early historical figures.