Historical Australian Towns

Old Balranald Gaol

The Malcolm Building Museum (former gaol) holds a collection of historic photographs and local artefacts.

Old Balranald Gaol was built in 1887, with the Police Station and house attached. The building known as the Watch-house or Lock-up was "declared and notified as a public gaol, prison and house of Correction", in the same year.

The gaol was used for prisoners with sentences of fourteen days and less. In 1887, there were 16 inmates in the gaol.

The Balranald Gaol ceased to be a prison on 1 August 1932.

The Australian handbook (incorporating New Zealand, Fiji, and New Guinea) and shippers' and importers' directory.(1892)

Ronald Ryan, the last man hanged in Australia in 1967, had been held in the lock up at Balranald after he was caught robbing a local bank at the age of 16.

The former gaol is located at Heritage Park in Balranald. It is part of the Balranald Discovery Centre, which comprises of three key buildings: the Interpretive Pavilion, the Visitor Information Centre and the Discovery Cafe.

The Malcolm Building Museum (former gaol) holds a collection of historic photographs and local artefacts. (The former gaol is located at Heritage Park in Balranald)

MALCOLM BUILDING MUSEUM, BALRANALD DISCOVERY CENTRE

Old Berrima Gaol

Berrima Gaol, NSW, 2024

The historic Berrima Gaol opened in 1839, not far from the Regency-style, Berrima Courthouse, built in the same year.

One of Australia’s first serial killers, John Lynch, also known as the Berrima axe murderer, was hanged in the prison, in 1842.

internment camp during World War I, where people of German heritage were detained by the Australian Army.

In 2001, it was renamed Berrima Correctional Centre, a women’s prison housing 59 inmates.

The NSW government has announced the former Berrima Gaol – a significant piece of convict history.

Berrima Gaol sold for $7 million to a Western Sydney property developer in May 2022.

Berrima Gaol, a former correctional facility in the Southern Highlands of NSW, is to be redeveloped into a hotel and entertainment precinct.

Building at the Berrima Gaol, New South Wales, 15 May 193, NLAUST

BERRIMA INTERNMENT CAMP, NSW, C.1915. THE MAIN ENTRANCE WITH LINE OF GUARDS ON EITHER SIDE OF DRIVEWAY UP TO GATES OF WHAT WAS FORMERLY THE GAOL. (ORIGINAL ALBUM HELD IN AWM ARCHIVE STORE). (DONOR: R.A. SANDS). AWM

There are many historic buildings to see and visit in Berrima, including the old courthouse built in 1839

Berrima Courthouse, built in 1839, NSW

Berrima Courthouse

Explore Berrima

Cockatoo Island Prison Barracks Precinct

Cockatoo Island Prison Barracks Precinct, NSW

Cockatoo Island was a convict prison in 1839, before becoming one of the country’s most important shipyards.

On 11 September,1863, Fred Ward (Capt Thunderbolt) successfully escaped from Cockatoo Island prison, with another prisoner (who drowned) making Fred the only prisoner to successfully escape from the prison.

In 1869, the penal settlement at Cockatoo Island ceased operating and its convicts were transferred to Darlinghurst Gaol in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

In 1871, the prison buildings were then repurposed for an industrial training school for girls and a separate reformatory for young women.

Cockatoo Island, Sydney, NSW, undated [pre 1864] Circa 1858-1859, shortly after the dock had come into use, the engine house and six bays of the workshops at Cockatoo Island had been completed. It seems likely that the original lumberyard was abandoned at this time to be replaced by the new workshops, as the dock became the main workplace.

Cockatoo Island Prison Barracks Precinct, NSW

Visit Cockatoo Island

Cooma Gaol

NSW Correctional Services Gaol Museum, Cooma, NSW

Cooma Gaol was built from 1870, from local granite and commenced operations on 1 November 1873, with 31 cells. In the 1930s, the old gaol was used as a sports hall and gymnasium. (1.)

Cooma, N.S.W. - circa 1908 Cooma jail in the foreground. https://www.flickr.com/photos/hwmobs/

The hanging platform from Bathurst Gaol, at NSW Correctional Services Gaol Museum, Cooma, NSW

Cooma Correctional Museum

Darlinghurst Gaol

Darlinghurst Gaol, NSW, became an art school in the 1920s

Architect Francis Greenway was commissioned to design a new gaol that loomed over Sydney, a warning of the life of crime.

When the building of Darlinghurst Gaol was began by convicts between 1822 and 1824, the location was a long way out of Sydney town, at a detention camp called Woolloomooloo Stockade.

The convicts who quarried and cut the stone were housed in the old gaol in Lower George street. After convicts had cut their quota, they could be assigned to a settler as a ticket-of-leave man.

In 1912, the gaol at Long Bay was completed, and the prisoners from Darlinghurst were relocated.

Description: Darlinghurst Gaol & Court House adjoining, Sydney, N.S.W.Location: Darlinghurst, Sydney, Australia Date: 1870

Darlinghurst Gaol re-opened for a period during WWI to intern enemy aliens. In 1921, the gaol was adapted for use as the East Sydney Technical College, and later became an arts school.

Darlinghurst Gaol, NSW, became an art school in the 1920s

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Old Darlinghurst Gaol

Old Dubbo Gaol

The Dubbo Gaol, NSW, was erected on the site of the original courthouse. It is believed to have been officially opened in 1887

The Old Dubbo Gaol began as a courthouse lock up in 1847. The slab-hut connected to the courthouse, had two cells and a guard room.

Construction of the second Dubbo courthouse and gaol, using stone, was completed in 1863.

In 1871, the third gaol in Dubbo was completed, on the site of the original courthouse.

The last execution in Dubbo Gaol was in 1904 when Ah Check was executed for murder.

In 1966, Dubbo Gaol officially closed and prisoners were transferred to Bathurst or Parramatta.

The Dubbo Gaol, NSW, was erected on the site of the original courthouse. It is believed to have been officially opened in 1887

Old Dubbo Gaol

Fort Denison

Fort Denison, or "Pinchgut," a historic feature of Port Jackson, Sydney, was commonly known as "Pinch-gut," because of the short rations upon which the "Government men" (convicts) were kept when the island was a place of detention.

Fort Denison, Sydney Harbour, NSW, undated [pre 1885], SLNSW
After the First Fleet arrived in 1788, Governor Phillip named the island, "Rock Island". A fortification was completed in 1857, due to fears of invasion. The Martello Tower, the only one of its kind in Australia, used 8,000 tonnes of sandstone.

From 1906 to 1942, the 1 o’clock cannon was fired each day from Fort Dension, to enable sailors to correctly set their ship’s chronometer to the local time.

On the night of 31 May – 1 June 1942, three Japanese midget submarines attacked Sydney Harbour. In 1942, the Martello tower was damaged by gunfire from the USS Chicago when it opened fire on the invading Japanese submarines.

Fort Dension is now a museum and tourist destination. Access to Fort Denison for tourists is via a ferry that departs Circular Quay every 45 minutes, 7 days a week.

Fort Denison, Sydney Harbour, NSW

The Old Gundagai Gaol

By 1852, there were 72 buildings in Gundagai, including a court house, a lock-up, a school and a flour mill.

After the destructive 1852 flood, the Gundagai lock-up needed to be rebuilt as a watch-house or gaol.

The Gaol consists of the residence of the gaoler, the kitchen block, the hospital (original gaol), the gaol including exercise yard, an outhouse, outbuilding, a well, and archaeological remains.

Gundagai Gaol is not operational but as one of the few remaining gaol compounds dating from 1859, it is well worth a visit.

Gundagai Gaol, NSW, is not operational but as one of the few remaining gaol compounds dating from 1859 it is well worth a visit.

The Old Gundagai Gaol

Foot Tour of Gundagai

Old Gundagai Gaol - Ghost Tour

Hay Gaol

Exterior of Hay Gaol, NSW, in the middle, Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 21 September 1895

The Hay Gaol has had a varied history. From 1880 to 1915, it was an adult prison and then from 1930 until 1940, a prisoner-of-war camp, during World War II.

Also, in 1921, Hay's Red Cross Society turned the Gaol into a maternity home.

From from 1961 to 1974, the gaol building became the Hay Institution for Girls. The girls were sent to Hay for three month sentences, with strict discipline and routine. There was also abuse, causing emotional, mental and physical harm.

In 1975, the gaol became a museum.

The Hay Gaol, NSW, was built in 1878

Aboriginal artifacts at Hay Gaol Museum, NSW

Visit Hay Gaol

Maitland Gaol

Maitland Gaol, NSW, 1940

Maitland Gaol opened in 1848, and closed in 1998.

The foundation stone of Maitland Gaol was laid in 1844, but the first prisoners arrived December 1848.

The most recent building of the complex at Maitland Gaol is 5-Wing, built in 1993, designed to be a high security area for inmates who had committed the most serious crimes. In fact, Serial killer Ivan Milat was sent to Maitland Gaol.

Maitland Gaol is Australia's longest continuously operating correctional facility (1844-1998).

Maitland Gaol, NSW, opened in 1848, and closed in 1998.

The Narrabri Old Gaol Heritage Museum

The Narrabri Old Gaol Heritage Museum was once a medium security prison. It now houses a range of artefacts of historical and cultural significance to the Narrabri Region.

Built in 1882, the Gaol closed in 1982, and after being restored in 1988, it has been operating as a Museum and Family History research centre.

The Narrabri Old Gaol was built 1882, NSW

Newcastle Lock-Up

Newcastle police station, Hunter St, Newcastle, NSW, [1893-1925], Special Collections

The Lock-Up, originally Newcastle’s police station with holding cells, was established in 1861.

Notable events to occur during the period of the station’s operation, include the Coal Strike of 1909 and the 1979 Star Hotel Riot.

Today, the Lock-Up is an art space.

The Lock-Up, originally Newcastle’s police station with holding cells, was established in 1861, NSW.

Newcastle Lock-Up

Parramatta Gaol

Parramatta Gaol, NSW

Parramatta Gaol operated between 1798 and 2011 and was initially called Parramatta Gaol until its name was changed to Parramatta Correctional Centre in 1992.

A gaol was first established in Parramatta in 1798, being "a strong logged gaol of 100 feet in length, with separate cells for the prisoners ... and paled around with very high fence", housing eight prisoners"

The current Parramatta Correctional Centre was the third gaol to be built in Parramatta and was completed in 1842.

The massive entrance gates to Parrametta Gaol. NSW, Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Thursday 20 October 1932

In 1927, the gaol clsoed and became a school.

In 2015, the gaol complex was handed over to Deerubin Local Aboriginal Lands Council.

The Gaol has "Ghost Hunts" and tours fortnightly.

Parrramatta Gaol, NSW

Parramatta Gaol, NSW

Parramatta Gaol Ghost Tour

The Wentworth Gaol Museum

Wentworth Gaol, NSW, built in 1881. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954) Sat 25 Apr 1931

In the 1850s, prisoners in Wentworth were chained to a huge tree trunk at the corner of Adelaide and Darling St., with a bullock chain and ring bolt, to which prisoners were handcuffed.

A lock-up, in the form of a slab hut was then constructed, located at the southern end of Darling Street, opposite the end of Darling St. This lock-up or the Wentworth police Watch-house, was proclaimed a prison in 1870.

Wentworth Gaol was built in 1879 and included a well-stocked library.

The former gaol is now a tourism attraction for the region, and is open for public tours, from 10:00am to 5:00pm

Wentworth Gaol, NSW, built in 1881.

Old Wentworth Gaol

Trial Bay Gaol

Trial bay Gaol, NSW, opened in 1886

Located in Arakoon National Park, Trial Bay Gaol opened in 1886. A quarry was opened with
the intention of building a breakwater and a harbour to connect the coast with Armidale and the western districts. However, after 30 years, the bay continued to silt up and the operation was abandoned.