Convict Era, Published 31 January 2026
Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory Site (Established 1829–1830)
We visited the site of the old Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory and learnt that hidden beneath the modern landscape of Eagle Farm lies one of Queensland’s oldest and most significant convict‑era sites. Established in 1829–1830, the Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory was created to isolate female convicts from the main Moreton Bay settlement and to control contact with soldiers and male prisoners.
Up to 40 women lived and worked here, performing harsh daily labour such as washing, sewing, agricultural work, and picking oakum - tasks essential to the survival of the penal colony. Though little remains above ground today, archaeological discoveries reveal the foundations of dormitories, workrooms, and farm buildings, offering rare insight into the lives of women whose stories were often overlooked.
The site closed when the penal settlement ended in 1839, but its legacy endures as a powerful reminder of resilience, punishment, and the early foundations of Brisbane. Today, the Eagle Farm Women’s Prison and Factory Site stands as a heritage‑listed place of national importance, preserving a chapter of history that shaped the city long before its modern transformation.
Old prison images AI generated from building plans held by the Queensland State Archives, Public Domain.
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