Trial Bay Gaol facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Trial Bay Gaol
Location	Cardwell Street, Arakoon, Kempsey Shire, New South Wales, Australia
Owner	Office of Environment and Heritage
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Trial Bay Gaol, Breakwater and Environs; Trial Bay Jail
Type	state heritage (complex/group)
Designated	14 May 2010
Reference no.	1825
Type	Gaol/Lock-up
Category	Law Enforcement
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Trial Bay Gaol is a historic former prison and camp located in Arakoon, Australia. It sits on the coast in Kempsey Shire, New South Wales. Today, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service looks after this important site. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2010 because of its special history.

A Look Back in Time

Early Days at Trial Bay

Long before Europeans arrived, the Dunghutti people lived in the area now known as Arakoon National Park. They moved through the Macleay Valley, finding food like fish, shellfish, and plants. This area was also important for their cultural and spiritual life. Sacred stories and rituals were connected to places near the gaol.

One of the first meetings between Europeans and the Dunghutti people happened in 1816. A ship called the "Trial" was shipwrecked in what became known as Trial Bay. Convicts had taken over the ship, trying to escape. Local Aboriginal people told Europeans about the wreck. Some survivors tried to get back to settled areas but didn't make it. One female convict reportedly lived with an Aboriginal man and had two children.

European settlement grew after 1836. This meant the Aboriginal people lost their land and their traditional ways of life. By the 1860s, many depended on food from the government or settlers. Later, Reserves were set up for Aboriginal people. However, laws like the Aborigines Protection Board Act of 1909 took away their rights. This law even allowed children to be removed from their families.

John Oxley, an explorer, noticed Trial Bay was a good sheltered spot for ships. But it wasn't safe in all strong winds. So, in 1861, a plan began to build a breakwater (a wall to protect the harbour). In 1877, money was set aside for the breakwater and a gaol. The gaol would house prisoners who would build the breakwater.

Building the Gaol

The design of Trial Bay Gaol was overseen by Harold Maclean, who wanted to make prisons better. He believed prisoners should have strong stone cells, not just temporary barracks. He also thought long-term prisoners should work on public projects. This would teach them skills and give them more freedom before release.

Construction of the gaol started in 1877. It took many years due to money problems. By 1882, one cell block with 64 single cells was ready. Other prisoners stayed in wooden barracks. A dining hall, kitchen, and hospital were also built. By 1884, the outer walls, watchtowers, and gatehouse were finished. More building happened between 1899 and 1900, adding another cell block, a kitchen, and even electric lights.

Work on the breakwater began in 1889. Prisoners cut granite from a nearby quarry. They used steam cranes and horse trams to move the heavy stones. The prisoners were supervised by warders, a governor, a surgeon, and other staff.

Most prisoners at Trial Bay were called "Licensees." They had some freedoms, like fishing, swimming, or playing sports when not working. They didn't have to wear prison uniforms and were paid a wage. They worked about 36.5 hours a week and learned useful skills.

However, this kinder approach changed after Sheriff Maclean died in 1890. The new head of prisons, George Miller, cut wages and brought back strict rules. Prisoners had to share cells, and working hours became longer. Later, in 1895, Captain Frederick Neitenstein took over. He brought back the idea of one prisoner per cell.

Building the breakwater was difficult. Storms often washed away the work. By 1903, less than 20% of the planned breakwater was finished, costing a huge amount of money. Also, the harbour was silting up (getting filled with sand), and new ways of transport were available. So, the project was stopped in 1903, and the prison closed. Many buildings were sold and moved away.

A Camp for Internees

The gaol was empty until 1915, when World War I began. The Australian government took over the gaol to use it as an internment camp. This was for German prisoners and "enemy aliens" (people from enemy countries living in Australia). Trial Bay was special because it held Germans of high social standing, like important businessmen and professionals. It was also the only camp to house internees from other countries.

The first internees arrived on August 1, 1915. They marched to the gaol from their landing point. At first, they lived in tents inside the gaol walls. Later, they helped build furniture and clean cells, which became their new homes. Officers and consuls lived in special barracks outside the gaol walls.

Life in the camp followed strict rules, but internees had some freedom during the day. They could swim and fish in the bay. They also played tennis on courts they built themselves. Many internees worked in private businesses they set up, like welding or shoemaking. Others helped with camp jobs like cooking or gardening.

Food was prepared in the gaol's kitchen. Internees received rations of meat, bread, milk, and vegetables. They also grew their own fruits and vegetables. The camp even had a fancy restaurant called "The Duck Coup" and a cafe on the beach called "The Artists Den."

To pass the time, internees formed clubs for sports like boxing and chess. They also had a newspaper that reported on world events and camp activities. A lively theatre company put on a new play every week. There was also a popular orchestra. These activities helped the internees feel connected to their German culture.

The internment camp closed in July 1918. All internees were moved to another camp. Before leaving, they asked to build a memorial for five fellow internees who had died at Trial Bay. A stone monument was built on what is now called Monument Hill. Two of the deceased Germans were buried there. The monument was destroyed shortly after the internees left. In 1959, it was rebuilt with help from the West German Government and local groups.

A Place for Everyone

After the gaol closed, its fittings and timber buildings were sold off. By 1922, the gaol was mostly a ruin. But it became a popular spot for tourists and campers. People loved the views of the strong prison building and the breakwater.

Because so many people visited, the area was made a Reserve for Public Recreation in 1946. Later, in 1965, the Trial Bay Gaol Trust was formed to manage the ruins. Today, the National Parks and Wildlife Service looks after it.

What You Can See Today

Trial Bay Gaol is located on a rocky headland called Laggers Point. It's part of Arakoon National Park. The site includes the gaol ruins, parts of the breakwater, and the quarry where stones were cut. You can also find memorials and graves from the internment camp period.

Gaol Ruins

The gaol's outer walls are made of strong granite stone. They have square watchtowers at the corners. On the eastern side, you'll find the gatehouse, which was the main entrance. Some parts of the old telephone system are still there. This area now serves as the visitor entry, offices, and museum.

Inside the walls, the main building is the mess hall. It's made of granite and no longer has a roof. Three large arches in the back wall led to the cell blocks and kitchen.

• Cell Block A is a two-story granite building. It was meant for one prisoner per cell. During World War I, the German internees decorated the walls inside some cells, and you can still see parts of their artwork. This building also has no roof.

• Cell Block B was built later, between 1899 and 1900. It's made of concrete blocks. Its roof and stairs were sold off in the 1920s.

• Kitchen, Scullery, and Bakehouse are located behind the mess hall. This three-room building was built around 1900. You can still see the remains of four boilers and a large stove in the kitchen. The oven in the bakehouse is mostly intact. A modern roof has been added to protect this area.

• Silent Cells were five small cells made of granite. They were used for punishment and isolation. They had a special ventilation system to stop prisoners from talking to each other. They also had a way to signal a warder in an emergency.

Most of the prison's drainage system is still working. Many other early buildings, like temporary timber cells, a hospital, and workshops, are no longer standing. However, you can sometimes find their foundations or other traces.

Outside the Gaol Walls

Around the gaol, there were many houses and workshops for staff and other activities. Most of these buildings have been removed, but you can still find clues like leveled ground or old bricks. Some of these spots are now used for barbecues.

Some notable sites outside the gaol walls include:

• Governors Residence - where the prison governor lived.
• Warders Quarters - homes for the prison guards.
• Stables and Cart Shed - where horses and carts were kept.
• Harbours and Rivers Office and Store - buildings related to the breakwater project.
• Morgue - located overlooking the breakwater.
• German Monument - on Monument Hill, a granite monument for the five German internees who died at the camp. It was rebuilt in 1960.
• Well - built during the German internment period.
• Historic Roads and Tracks - old paths around the site.

Breakwater and Quarry

• Breakwater - part of the original 300-meter breakwater still extends into the bay.
• Wharf - only stumps of the old wharf piles remain next to the breakwater.
• Breakwater Quarry - this is where the granite for the breakwater was cut. You can still see remains of the rail tracks used for the quarry wagons. During the internment period, this area also had three tennis courts.

Little Bay and Dam

• Overshoot Dam and Pipeline - located above Little Bay, this was built to provide fresh water to the prison. You can see the original construction behind a newer concrete dam wall.

Things You Can Touch and See

The gaol has a collection of historic photographs, old documents, drawings, and other items. These help us learn about the prison, the internment camp, and how the site has been used over time.

Why Trial Bay Gaol is Special

Trial Bay Gaol, its breakwater, and the surrounding area are very important to the history of New South Wales.

• A Unique Prison: The gaol was built between 1877 and 1900 under Harold Maclean, a prison reformer. It's a special example of his ideas for improving prisons. Prisoners had individual cells and worked on public projects to learn skills.
• Building the Breakwater: The breakwater project shows an important time in coastal shipping in NSW. It was meant to create a safe harbour for ships.
• World War I Internment Camp: The gaol's use as an internment camp for Germans during WWI adds to its importance. It was one of only five such camps in NSW and the only one that held high-ranking Germans and those from other countries.

The gaol is also linked to important people like Harold Maclean and Edward Orpen Moriarty, who designed the breakwater.

The Dunghutti Aboriginal people still have a strong connection to the site. It is also important to the families of the German internees.

The gaol's design, with its high walls and cell blocks, shows advanced prison design for its time. Its location on the headland makes it a striking landmark.

Trial Bay Gaol is rare because it was a large prison built in a remote area specifically for a public works project (the breakwater). It also has the only two-story cell block in NSW made of precast concrete blocks.

The site offers a great chance to study old engineering projects and how human actions can change the landscape. There are also many archaeological remains that can teach us about the lives of prisoners, internees, and visitors.

The plants in the area also provide examples of "bush tucker" foods used by the local Aboriginal community.