Female Orphan Institution, Rydalmere.

In 1813 Governor Macquarie laid the foundation stone for the new Female Orphan Institution, a grand, purpose-built building on the northern bank of the Parramatta River. It was opened to pupils in 1818.

                               Went with Les and Lori to see the display of Old Sydney photos.

More different photos can be seen on my Rust, Relics & Ruins  blog.

Click on photos to enlarge.

The Whitlam Institute where the photos were on display.
The foundation for the Female Orphan School was laid by Governor Macquarie in September 1813. The building was modelled on Mrs Elizabeth Macquarie’s family home ‘Airds’ in Scotland.

View of the Female Orphan School, near Parramatta by Joseph Lycett, 1825  (State Library of Victoria)

Ventilation plate.

Was an old fireplace.

Lori and Les viewing the old photos in the Margaret Whitlam Galleries.

The photos were a great insight to early Sydney.

Two of the photos on display.

(from bottom left clockwise)  1/4 Plate SLR Camera, c.1900,
 Lancaster Wooden Plate Camera, c.1888 - 1908 and  Midg No.0 Camera, c.1905.

Original fireplace.

Hand painted wall murals.

Hand painted wall murals and layers of old paint.

Hand basins.

The Jacaranda's were a feature of the centre.

"Wasn't me"

The old school (cream building), originally featuring polychrome brick work and clerestory windows, was built in 1870.
The Jacaranda's would have provided welcome shade in the summer.

The Drill Master's House, left. (slightly altered photo)

The Drill Master's House.

Bars on the windows could be from the asylum days.

Ornate window cover.

The River Cottage, built in 1895, was the residence for the hospital’s chief attendant.

Medical Superintedent's House  (slightly altered photo)

Medical Superintedent's House. A residence was built for the ‘Master of the Orphanage’ around 1868–1870.

The old chimney and boiler house, circa 1894 – once part of the site’s steam laundry and engine room.

Modern junk spoils the look.

Boiler sculpture.

Old machinery on display.

Elizabeth Macquarie’s portrait, made up of 100's of minature photos.

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Camera:  Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

Riot Day, Parramatta Female Factory Tour.

Took the opportunity to take a tour of the Parramatta Female Factory with the 'Parramatta Female Factory Friends' before this place could be turned into a multi-story housing development.

This rape and destruction is due to the short-sighted and money hungry State Coalition Government. As one woman on the tour said, "if this was in England it would all be protected". 

More information can be found at these links:

Parramatta Female Factory Precinct

Wixxyleaks: Protecting Our History

Parramatta Female Factory Friends

Save Parramatta Female Factory and Precinct

Save Parramatta Female Factory

North Parramatta Residents Action Group

Sign the Petition

Click on photos to enlarge.

Matron's quarters and the Hospital (on right), Parramatta Female Factory.

'Parramatta Female Factory'  'Roman Catholic Orphanage'  Parramatta Lunatic Asylum'

There were several groups being shown around.

The 3rd Class Womens Dormitory built in 1818.

Asylum toilet / shower / laundry block????

Gateway to the river, where the washing was first done, now filled in.

This was once a lawn bowls green for the Asylum.

Derilict asylum building.

Part of the old Parramatta Lunatic Asylum.

A toilet block in a derelict asylum building.

A toilet block in a derelict asylum building.

The Master  -  Shoe Finishing Machine No.2.   Manufactured By Esto Products.
In one of the asylum workshops.

One of the fallen.

There was once a 3 story, 72 single cell, Female Factory building here.

Looking towards the orphanage.

Old Asylum building.

Looking towards the Matron's quarters.

The 'Dead' house (morgue), Parramatta Female Factory.

The 'Dead' house (morgue) old Lunatic Asylum and bowling green.

The 'Dead' house (morgue) old Lunatic Asylum and bowling green.

Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

The Roman Catholic Orphan School was vacated in August 1886 and in April 1887 the premises were proclaimed as an Industrial School for Girls (Parra Girls Home).

Part of the Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

Part of the Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

Roman Catholic Orphanage Hospital, built 1862.

Roman Catholic Orphanage Hospital, built 1862.

Roman Catholic Orphanage Hospital, built 1862.

Roman Catholic Orphanage Hospital, built 1862.

Roman Catholic Orphanage Hospital, built 1862.

Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

An old doorway in a wall of the old Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

Part of the Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.
(See next photo to see what's behind the door)

Looking through the glass panel in the door.

Sign next to doorway.
 TRAINED DRUG DETECTOR DOGS ARE OPERATIONAL IN THIS GAOL.  
 Any person who without lawful authority brings or attempts by any means whatever to
 introduce into any prison any spirituous or fermented liquor or any drug shall be liable
to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a penalty not exceeding
 two hundred dollars or to both such imprisonment and penalty.

Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

Screens are not for keeping the flies out.  Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

Part of the Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

Part of the Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

Part of the Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

Part of the Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

Part of the Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

Part of the Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

Part of the Parramatta Catholic Orphanage.

Part of the old quarry (opposite main Fleet St entrance) where stone was removed
 to build the Parramatta Female factory.

Part of the old quarry (opposite main Fleet St entrance) where stone was removed
 to build the Parramatta Female factory.

The following photos were taken here on previous visits.

Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage.

Thwaites and Reed turret clock which was first installed in the Greenway’s original ‘female factory’

Camera:  Canon PowerShot SX60 HS