The Female Fact-Tree

Female Fact-Tree (2026) is a printed collage work that explores my ancestral ties to the Cascades Female Factory in Hobart, Tasmania (1828-56). The ghost-like transfers place light on the girls and women who experienced displacement, forced migration and consequent suffering and loss not only inside but beyond the prison walls. By extension, it poignantly addresses infant mortality. The imagery extends to acknowledge the often-untold stories of women and children, including my Mother’s family line, across subsequent generations. This work is deeply personal with images sourced from self-captured photographs and family archives - ranging c.mid 1800’s – 2026. As I transferred the images, I was fascinated to observe that some faces appeared forthright whilst others preferred to stay hidden to time.

This work is a finalist in the 2026 The Alice Prize and is currently exhibited at the Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs, NT. Install image courtesy of Luke Scholes.