Richmond Gaol facts for kids
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| Location | Richmond, Tasmania |
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| Coordinates | 42°44′11″S 147°26′20″E / 42.7364°S 147.4389°E |
| Status | Historic Site |
| Security class | Maximum Security |
| Opened | 1825 |
| Closed | 1945 |
| Managed by | Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service |
The Richmond Gaol is a very old building in Richmond, Tasmania, Australia. It was built during the time when convicts were sent from Britain to Australia. This gaol (which is another word for prison) is the oldest one still standing in Australia.
Building the gaol started in 1825. This was even before the famous Port Arthur penal colony was set up in 1833. Convicts held at Richmond Gaol helped build important structures. One of their big jobs was building the Richmond Bridge.
Most of the gaol buildings look much like they did when convicts lived there. You can see a special cell for women that was used for solitary confinement. This small cell is about 2 metres long and 1 metre wide.
The gaol also has rooms where groups of convicts slept. There is a yard where punishments happened, a kitchen, and holding rooms. Inside, you can see old items and documents from the past.
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Why Richmond Gaol Was Built
Long ago, settlers from Hobart Town started moving to find more land for farming. The area of Sorell was growing, and people were expanding into what became Richmond. At this time, convicts were used to build many things. They helped create roads, bridges, and public buildings.
The area of Richmond officially became a township in 1824. A court house was needed to serve the police district there. So, in 1825, the court house was built, and this was the beginning of the gaol building.
How the Gaol Grew Over Time
By the 1830s, the gaol became very crowded. It was quite small, only about 19 square metres. Prisoners sometimes had to sleep in the hallways because there wasn't enough space.
To fix this, a new two-storey building began construction in 1832. It was finished in 1833. The top floor was where the Gaoler (the person in charge of the prison) lived. The bottom floor was used for storage.
In 1835, two more sections, called the Eastern and Western wings, were added. The Western Wing is still the main entrance today. These new parts helped keep male and female prisoners in separate areas. The women's section also got a new kitchen and a bake oven.
To stop prisoners from trying to escape, a strong stone wall was built around the gaol. This wall was completed in 1840.
The Gaol's Later Years and Rescue
By the mid-1850s, the gaol was not used as much. This was because Britain stopped sending convicts to Australia. In 1861, local police took control of the gaol. Later, when police services became more central in Hobart, the gaol was mostly just used for temporary holding cells.
By the late 1920s, the gaol was left empty. It was no longer used.
However, in 1945, the gaol was saved! It became a State Reserve. Then, in the 1970s, new laws put it under the care of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. This meant the gaol was officially recognized as an historic site and protected.
Solitary Confinement Cells
Richmond Gaol had special cells for solitary cells. The idea of solitary confinement was to place a person in a completely dark and silent room. This could last from 24 hours up to thirty days. The length of time depended on what the person was accused of doing.
The Punishment Yard
While no hangings ever happened at Richmond Gaol, other punishments did. These included whippings. A person would be tied to a wooden pyramid-shaped frame. Lashes were given out based on their sentence.
Sometimes, a special belt was used to protect a person's kidneys during whippings in other places. However, pictures from Richmond Gaol suggest this belt was not used there.
In Hobart Town, some people were sentenced to as many as 500 lashes. At Richmond, the numbers were usually lower, starting at 25. Sometimes, it would go up to 75 or 100 lashes. After the whipping, salt was sometimes rubbed into the wounds. This sounds painful, but it was actually done to help prevent infection.
During whippings at Richmond Gaol, a medical officer was always present. Their job was to check if the person's life was in danger. If a person became too unwell, they would be taken down. However, once they were healthy enough, they would be brought back to finish their sentence.
Ghost Stories
Like many old places, Richmond Gaol has its own ghost stories. People say that the third cell in the Men's Block is a very strange place. Visitors claim to hear moaning sounds and deep sighs there. Some people even say they feel a cold shiver when they get close to it.
