Fannie Bay Gaol facts for kids
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| Location | Fannie Bay, Northern Territory |
|---|---|
| Status | Closed |
| Security class | Minimum and Maximum Security |
| Capacity | ? |
| Opened | 1883 |
| Closed | 1979 |
| Managed by | Northern Territory Department of Community Development, Sport & Cultural Affairs |
Fannie Bay Gaol was a historic gaol (which is another word for prison) located in Fannie Bay, Northern Territory, Australia. It served as a prison from September 20, 1883, until September 1, 1979.
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What Was Fannie Bay Gaol?
Fannie Bay Gaol was a place where people were held after being found guilty of crimes. It was known as Her Majesty's Gaol and Labour Prison. This means it was a prison for the Queen (Her Majesty) and also a place where prisoners had to do work.
Art from the Gaol
In 1888, an important event happened at the gaol. John George Knight, who was a Deputy Sheriff (a law enforcement officer) and later a Government Resident (a high-ranking government official), collected drawings. These drawings were made by Aboriginal prisoners.
The drawings were shown at a big event called the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition. They were titled "The Dawn of Art." A museum expert, Dr. Philip Jones, has called this the first-ever exhibition of Aboriginal art. This shows that even in a prison, art and culture could be created and shared.
Life at the Prison
The prison had different sections for minimum and maximum security prisoners. This means some prisoners were considered less dangerous, while others needed stricter supervision.
You can still see the gallows at the gaol today. Gallows were used for executions in the past. Visitors can even push the lever that used to operate the trapdoor. This helps people understand a difficult part of history.
In 1974, a very powerful storm called Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin. The prison, like many other buildings in the city, was damaged by the cyclone.
A Historic Landmark
Fannie Bay Gaol is an important historical site. It was listed on the Register of the National Estate in 1983. This register kept a list of places important to Australia's history and nature. It was also added to the Northern Territory Heritage Register in 1995. This means it's officially recognized as a special historical place in the Northern Territory.
Today, Fannie Bay Gaol is no longer a prison. Instead, it is a museum. This means you can visit it to learn about its history and what life was like inside its walls.
Images for kids
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An outside view of Fannie Bay Gaol.
