The Fremantle Lunatic Asylum, during the nineteenth century, instituted moral management in their practices and therapies, including domestic work as rehabilitation for women. This form of rehabilitation was a reprogramming of conventional feminine behaviours needed to function as a domestic wife and mother in nineteenth century society. The association of women with domesticity ensured that they were employed in scrubbing, laundry, sewing, washing the dishes, and self-cleanliness, which was viewed as work; these tasks were training in the discipline of womanhood. Asylum staff placed an emphasis on willingness to work, as compliance was indicative of a healthy mind regardless of mental state or even violent tendencies. However, a reluctance to perform household tasks was punishable, often resulting in continued incarceration. Examples from the Fremantle Lunatic Asylum female patient records and case books reveals social and behavioural ideals that were acceptable and unacceptable for women in greater nineteenth century Australian society.