Stuart Town Gaol facts for kids

The Stuart Town Gaol in Alice Springs, Australia, is an old prison building that was built in 1907. It was one of the very first permanent buildings constructed in the town, and the first government building there. A skilled builder called Jack Williams used local materials to construct the gaol, which has a simple design.

Why Was the Stuart Town Gaol Built?

Before the Stuart Town Gaol was built, from 1863 to 1910, the Northern Territory was managed by South Australia. If someone was arrested in Alice Springs (which was then called Stuart), they had to be taken all the way to Port Augusta for their trial and to be held in prison.

This journey was about 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) long. Many of the prisoners were Aboriginal people, and they were often made to walk this long distance while chained together. This was a very difficult and harsh experience for them. The authorities at the time didn't seem to worry much about how hard this was for the prisoners. Instead, they were more concerned that it took too much time and too many people to transport the prisoners. Building a local gaol would solve this problem.

What Was the Gaol Like Inside?

The new gaol had two main cells. There was a very small cell, which was used for white prisoners. There was also a larger cell, which was used for Aboriginal prisoners. At the back of the gaol, there was an open exercise yard.

Inside the larger cell, you can still see iron rings cemented into the floor. It is believed these were used to hold prisoners who were difficult to manage.

John Dow, who was the first person in charge of the gaol, said in 1929 that the gaol met all the needs at the time. He mentioned that it was first meant to be a police lock-up, where people were held briefly before being sent to bigger prisons in Darwin or Port Augusta. However, the government later started using it as a full prison for people with sentences up to five years.

For many Aboriginal prisoners, being in the gaol was their first time meeting Europeans. Most of them were arrested for taking things like cattle, food, or other supplies. Records from the gaol show that when there were long dry periods (droughts), more people were arrested for these kinds of actions.

The Gaol's Later Years

The Stuart Town Gaol was used until 1938. By then, it had become too crowded. Also, its location right in the middle of the town was no longer considered suitable for a prison.

In the 1970s, there were plans to knock down the old gaol building. However, the National Trust of Australia, led by a person named Doreen Braitling, worked hard to save it. Thanks to their efforts, the building was preserved.

The former gaol has been recognized as an important historical site. In 1985, it was listed on the Register of the National Estate, which is now no longer active. Later, in 1994, it was added to the Northern Territory Heritage Register.