Hobart was settled primarily as a convict prison for Great Britain.  Women convicts were housed in separate barracks called "female factories" until they were found gainful employment or marriage.  Hobart's Female Factory in the cascades valley on the western edge of the city closed long ago, but is open to the public for tours daily.  Although little but walls remain today, the fascinating story of female convict history is brought to life in the short play "Her Story" which is enacted each day at 11 am.  Heritage tours of the site at 9:30 and 2 pm also provide detailed history of female convict life.

The Female Factory Historic Site was added to the World Heritage list in 2010, one of eleven historic places around Australia that are part of the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage property.

Five of the eleven sites are in Tasmania, an indication of the impact of convict transportation on Tasmania's history.

 More details are available at the Female Factory website here.