Mothers, Matrons and Lady Superintendents

Mothers, Matrons and Lady Superintendents:

Women Working in NSW Prisons, 1788-1969

Darlinghurst Gaol, 1891 / watercolour by H. L. Bertrand (Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW)

By the end of the 19th century, female staff were thought to be more appropriate to manage institutions housing women and children. However, the status, everyday experience and career prospects for women in these senior appointments was often difficult and within the NSW prison service remained discomforting for male colleagues and problematic for the authorities.

Noeline Kyle says she wanted to find the details, the stories and the complexity which surely must have been part of their lives, their character, and their careers. In this talk for the City of Sydney Historical Association, Noeline Kyle AM will discuss the result of her research into the lost and largely forgotten stories of senior women working in NSW prisons.

Speaker: Noeline Kyle AM.
When: Saturday, 8 March at 2 pm.
Where: Henry Carmichael Theatre, Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt St, Sydney.
Admission: Members $5. Visitors $10. No bookings required.

For more information, visit the City of Sydney Historical Association website.