Perth Gaol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Perth Gaol |
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Perth Gaol in about 1865 with exterior yards and walls visible
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| General information | |
| Type | Heritage listed building |
| Location | Perth, Western Australia |
| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 614: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 16 October 1992 |
| Part of | Art Gallery & Museum Buildings (1962) |
| Reference no. | 1965 |
The Perth Gaol (often called the Old Perth Gaol) was a prison built in Perth, the main city of Western Australia. It was constructed between 1854 and 1856 to hold prisoners, including those who were sent to Australia as part of the convict system. You can find it just west of Beaufort Street in Perth.
This prison was used until March 1888. At that time, the last prisoner was moved to Fremantle Prison. Today, the main building of the old gaol still stands next to the Western Australian Museum in Perth. It's a historic landmark that tells a story about the early days of the city.
Contents
The Story of Perth Gaol
Why a New Prison Was Needed
Before the Perth Gaol was built, the Swan River Colony (which is what Western Australia was called back then) had only a few places to keep prisoners. These included the Round House in Fremantle and a small six-cell lock-up in Perth. There was also the Fremantle Prison, which was still being built.
As the city of Perth grew, people decided the old lock-up in the city center was not a good place for a prison. It was taken down in 1855. A new spot was chosen by important officials like the Colonial Secretary, Charles Piesse, and the Surveyor-General, John Septimus Roe. They picked a raised area near what is now the corner of Beaufort and Francis Streets.
Building the Gaol
The population was growing, and many convicts were sent to Western Australia starting in 1850. These convicts provided labor for public projects. With more people and more convicts, there was a clear need for a larger prison near Perth.
In December 1853, a plan for a new prison was given to Governor Charles Fitzgerald. The plan showed a two-story building with a basement. The project was approved, but building it took longer than expected. Many changes were made to the original design as construction went on. The finished building had a cross shape, with cells, a chapel, rooms for the gaolers, and yards for the prisoners.
The prison was designed by architect Richard Roach Jewell. He had just arrived in the colony and later designed other important buildings in Perth, like the Barracks Arch and the Perth Town Hall. Convicts helped by cutting stone from limestone cliffs near Fremantle. This stone was then floated up the Swan River on barges to the building site. The first part of the construction cost about £2,220.
Life and Changes at the Gaol
When the Perth Gaol first opened, it mainly held local prisoners. However, in 1858, control of the prison was taken over by the Imperial Convict Establishment. This group managed the convicts, and the local prisoners were moved to Fremantle Prison.
The system of sending convicts to Australia ended in 1868. In 1875, the Perth Gaol was given back to the local government. By 1886, the prison was very crowded, sometimes holding up to 150 prisoners. Later that year, the Convict Establishment was closed down. This meant the Perth Gaol would soon close too. The last prisoner was moved to Fremantle around 1888, and the building stopped being used as a prison.
For a short time, the building was used as the Perth courthouse. Later, it was occasionally used by the police and other government departments.
Perth Museum and Its New Purpose
In 1891, the old gaol building was given a new name: the Geological Museum. It was used to store a collection of rocks and minerals. A year later, in 1892, it became the Perth Museum. It housed collections from the Swan River Mechanics' Institute and Aboriginal artifacts from the Police Department.
Around this time, the building was changed quite a bit. The roof was lowered, and the entire central cell block was removed. A new northern section was added in 1895.
Construction of the nearby Jubilee Building began in 1897 and finished in 1899. This new building became the main home for the museum. The old gaol building, however, continued to be used as an annex for museum displays and storage, which it still does today.
From 1968 to about 1976, major repairs and updates were done to the gaol. The roof was even raised back to its original height. Since there weren't many original plans, they couldn't make it exactly like it was before. However, the outside of the building looks much like it did when it was first built. New fire doors and better access for visitors were also added.
Today, the Perth Gaol building is an important part of the Perth Cultural Centre. This center also includes the Western Australian Museum, the Art Gallery, the J S Battye Library, and the State Library of Western Australia. It's a place where history and culture come together.
See also
- Comptroller General of Convicts (Western Australia)
