Belonging to Bad: Ambiguity, Parramatta Girls and the Parramatta Girls Home

From 1887 to 1974, ‘corrupt’ adolescent girls were incarcerated in P arramatta G irls H ome, a N ew S outh W ales state government facility charged with their ‘care and protection’. This paper examines the experiences of former inmates of P arramatta G irls H ome ( PGH ) and explores their ongoing connections to the H ome. Using the narratives of former inmates and submissions to public inquiries, the relationship that these women have with the Home and each other is explored. There is a strong thread of connection to place amongst former inmates, with their identity as ‘ P arra girls’ shaping aspects of their post‐incarceration lives. For those women who were incarcerated at PGH , the connection to people and place focuses on the Home and is a powerful influence on their subsequent experiences of security and belonging.