Toowoomba Prison facts for kids

The Toowoomba Gaol was a historic prison in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. It was a place where people who broke the law were held. Today, it is no longer a prison but a site with a long history.

The Story of Toowoomba Prison

The Toowoomba Gaol first opened its doors in 1864. Its first leader, called the Governor, was a man named William Murphy. He had served in a big war called the Crimean War before coming to Toowoomba.

In 1870, women prisoners were moved from a prison in Brisbane to Toowoomba Gaol. Later, a special building for women was built nearby in 1883-84. This was a "reformatory" where women could learn new skills. In 1898, the prison became a place only for female prisoners.

The prison closed in 1903. All the prisoners were moved to another prison called Boggo Road Gaol. After it closed, the old Toowoomba Gaol buildings were taken down. Some of the bricks from the prison were special. They were made by hand using clay from pits in Queens Park. These bricks were later used to build a memorial gateway. This gateway is called the Boer Wall Memorial Gateway. You can find it near the Mother's Memorial in East Creek Park.

After the prison closed, the site was used for different things. From 1930 to 1959, it was a guest house called Rutlands Guest House. In 1960, a group called the DeMolay Order bought it. They renamed it DeMolay House.

Many people say they have seen or heard ghosts at the old prison site. This includes the original area and some modern buildings nearby. One of the old "dark cells" is still in the basement of a building. Some people believe they can see the ghost of a former female prisoner in the attic at night.

Finding the Historic Plaque

There is a special plaque that marks where the old Toowoomba Gaol used to be. You can find it at the eastern end of Stirling Street, near Burstow Street. This area is part of a historic neighborhood called the Caledonian Estate. The only parts left of the old prison are its basalt foundations. These strong stone foundations once held up the red brick walls. In 1869, these walls held 52 prisoners inside.

Modern Buildings on the Site

Some new buildings stand where the old prison once was. The Park Motor Inn, located at 88 Margaret Street, was built on the northeast part of the old prison grounds.

The original hospital for the women's prison was at 92 Margaret Street. Today, a place called the Park House Cafe is located on that very spot.

The Austral Hall Story

A famous poet from Toowoomba, George Essex Evans, helped start a group called The Austral Society. This group bought part of the old prison grounds. In 1904, they decided to put a roof over part of the prison yard. This is where the Austral Hall was built.

After George Essex Evans passed away in 1909, The Austral Society stopped in 1911. The Austral Hall building was later taken down. Today, a block of townhouses stands partly where the hall used to be.