Old Dubbo Gaol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Dubbo Gaol |
|
|---|---|
Main entrance to the former gaol
|
|
| Location | 90 Macquarie Street, Dubbo, Dubbo Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1847–1945 |
| Original use | Prison |
| Current use | Tourism attraction |
| Architect | Colonial Architect's Office |
| Official name: Old Dubbo Gaol; Dubbo Jail; Dubbo Gaol | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 26 March 2004 |
| Reference no. | 1689 |
| Type | Gaol/Lock-up |
| Category | Law Enforcement |
| Builders |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Old Dubbo Gaol is a special old prison building in Dubbo, Australia. Today, it's not a prison anymore! Instead, it's a popular museum and tourist spot where you can learn about its past.
This historic place was designed by the NSW Colonial Architect's Office. It was built over many years, starting in 1847 and having additions until 1945. The Old Dubbo Gaol is so important that it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2004. It was actually the second prison in Dubbo, taking the place of earlier lock-ups.
When the gaol closed in 1966, the government planned to knock it down. But people in Dubbo, including the local council and history groups, protested! They wanted to save this important building. Because of their efforts, the plans were stopped. In 1973, the building was given to the city council. Their goal was to fix it up and turn it into the amazing tourist attraction it is today.
Contents
History of the Old Dubbo Gaol
The Dubbo Gaol was built where the town's first courthouse used to be. It's thought to have officially opened in 1887, but many parts of it were already there before then. Over the years, many changes were made, and new buildings were added. Even the big wall around it changed shape!
After closing as a working prison in 1966, the whole place reopened as a tourist attraction in 1974. It quickly became a popular spot. In 2015, the Old Dubbo Gaol won a silver award for cultural tourism. It was even inducted into the Tourism Hall of Fame, which is a big deal! In August 2016, the gaol closed for a while to get some important restoration and renovation work done.
What the Old Dubbo Gaol Looks Like
The Old Dubbo Gaol is a small, compact prison right in the middle of Dubbo. It has a very tall and long wall made of red-brown bricks. This wall kept prisoners inside and protected the gaol.
Above one corner of the wall, there's a watchtower with a wide roof. Guards used to stand here to keep an eye on everything. Inside the gaol walls, you'll find several buildings:
- The main male cell block had 12 regular cells. It also had special cells, like two for solitary confinement (where prisoners were kept alone), a padded cell, and a cell for prisoners waiting for a very serious punishment.
- The female cell block had two cells, a bathroom, and a yard for exercise.
- There was an infirmary (a small hospital) and a kitchen block. This block also had a library, more bathrooms, storage rooms, and offices.
- You can also see exercise yards, a laundry building, and other facilities.
Most of the buildings are made of sandstone with corrugated iron roofs. The entrance, watchtower, and women's cell block are made of brick. Some areas, like the infirmary and the male exercise yard, have simple wooden supports for their verandahs. The gallows, which were used for executions, have also been put back up for visitors to see.
Condition of the Buildings
The buildings at Old Dubbo Gaol are generally in good shape. However, some areas have problems with "rising damp," which is when moisture from the ground soaks into the walls. Some fences also have "dry rot," which damages the wood. The re-erected gallows are showing signs of wear and tear.
The area where the gaol stands has a long history. The first two public buildings in Dubbo, a police house and a courthouse/lockup, were built here. Before the current buildings, there were two prisons and two courthouses on this site. This means there's a good chance archaeologists could find interesting things buried underground!
Changes Over Time
The Old Dubbo Gaol has changed a lot since it was first built. Here are some of the main modifications:
- 1847–48: The first police house and courthouse/lockup were built.
- 1862–63: A new courthouse and watch house were constructed.
- 1871: A new stone watch house, or lockup, was built, marking the start of the Dubbo Gaol we know today.
- 1873–74: An extension added five more cells to the cell block.
- 1877–80: Major additions included a hospital and kitchen block, the large perimeter wall, and two watchtowers.
- 1886–87: More big changes happened, like new homes for the gaoler, a new entrance, and cells for women.
- 1895–98: The gaol wall was extended, one watchtower was removed, and new yards and offices were added.
- 1928–29: Extensive renovations and additions took place, including a new home for the gaoler.
- 1934: The gaol was connected to the sewerage system, and bathrooms were updated.
- 1945: Two trial yards were made larger.
Why Old Dubbo Gaol is Important
The Old Dubbo Gaol is very important to the history of New South Wales, the Dubbo region, and the local community. It reminds us that Dubbo started as a place for law and order before it became a busy city for business and living. Even though it's not a working prison anymore, it served the area for 95 years as part of the justice system. It's also a rare example of a specific type of country prison, as many others like it have been torn down or changed a lot.
The Old Dubbo Gaol is also important to people today because it's a major tourist attraction. It was saved from demolition by local citizens in 1974, showing how much the community cared about it. The gaol also has a connection to former prisoners and their families, including both European and Aboriginal people.
It's also a beautiful place! The well-built buildings and green lawns inside the brick walls create a peaceful spot in the middle of a busy modern city.
A Look at History
The Old Dubbo Gaol helps us understand the history of New South Wales. It was one of many country prisons built in the 1800s as more people moved west. The buildings for justice were among the first in the new settlement of Dubbo, so the gaol's story goes right back to the city's beginnings. It also has strong links to the history of Aboriginal people in the area.
Famous Connections
While the Dubbo Gaol was mostly a local prison, it does have some interesting connections. One notorious criminal, Jackie Underwood, was held here and was involved in the "Breelong Incident" near Gilgandra. He was executed at the gaol in 1901. The gaol is also connected to the impressive Dubbo Court House next door. A famous writer named Rolf Boldrewood worked as a clerk at the Dubbo Court House and wrote his classic Australian novel, Robbery under Arms, during that time.
A Peaceful Place
The Old Dubbo Gaol, with its high walls, sits on the main street of Dubbo. While the buildings themselves might not seem super fancy, their location and the calm feeling inside the walls create a lovely, peaceful spot in the busy city center. It's also very close to the beautiful Dubbo Court House and its gardens, which adds to the nice setting.
Community Connections
The Old Dubbo Gaol has connections to many different people. It was a place where people from "under-classes," like rural workers and travelers, were sometimes held. It also held a surprising number of prisoners from diverse backgrounds, including Chinese, Aboriginal, and Danish people.
Learning from the Past
Historians have already learned a lot about the gaol's past. However, archaeological digs might still uncover interesting information or remains. A large number of Aboriginal people from the region were imprisoned here, and future research could reveal more about the interactions between different cultures during the early days of white settlement.
A Rare Survivor
The Old Dubbo Gaol is special because it's so complete. It's probably one of the most complete country prisons listed on the National Estate Register for New South Wales. Many other old country prisons have been removed, destroyed, or changed so much that it's hard to understand what they were like originally. This makes the Old Dubbo Gaol very important for understanding the history of prisons in the state. The free-standing scaffold, which could be taken apart and moved, is also probably unique in Australia.
A Classic Prison Style
The Old Dubbo Gaol is a great example of a specific type of country prison known as the "Hay" style. It shows the main features of this kind of prison design. Even though the original gaoler's cottages are no longer there, the gaol is still remarkably well-preserved and gives us a clear picture of what prisons were like in the past.
See also
- Punishment in Australia
