Wentworth Gaol facts for kids
The gatehouse of the Wentworth Gaol (1881 – 1927)
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 Location in New South Wales
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| Location | 112 Beverley Street, Wentworth, New South Wales |
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| Coordinates | 34°06′09″S 141°54′48″E / 34.1026°S 141.9134°E |
| Status |
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| Opened | 1881 |
| Closed | 1 July 1928 |
| Managed by |
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| Official name | Old Wentworth Gaol; Wentworth Gaol (former) |
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) |
| Designated | 21 October 2016 |
| Reference no. | 1982 |
| Type | Gaol/Lock-up |
| Category | Law Enforcement |
| Builders | Whitcombe Brothers, Hay |
The Wentworth Gaol is a historic former prison building in Wentworth, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by James Barnet and built between 1879 and 1881. Today, the main gaol building is a museum, and the old gaoler's residence is a shop. It is also known as the Old Wentworth Gaol and is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.
Contents
Old Wentworth Gaol: A Historic Prison
Early Days and Challenges
First People and European Arrival
The land where the Murray River and Darling River meet has long been home to the Paakantyi and Maraura peoples. They have lived here for thousands of years, leaving behind a rich history.
In 1829, Charles Sturt was the first European explorer to travel through this area. He met many Aboriginal people, and his journey was mostly peaceful. Later expeditions, like the one led by Major Thomas Mitchell in 1836, sometimes had conflicts.
As more Europeans arrived, especially "overlanders" who moved cattle, tensions grew. These new settlers often used and changed the traditional lands of the Paakantyi and Maraura peoples. This led to difficult times and conflicts.
From Tree Trunk to Gaol
In the 1840s, settlers began to establish large farms, called stations, along the rivers. Moorna Station became an important center for government in the area. The town of Wentworth was officially named in 1859, after politician William Wentworth.
At first, prisoners in Wentworth were held in very simple ways. One early "lockup" was just a huge tree trunk with a chain! Later, a small hut was used. By the 1860s, this hut was too small and crowded. People called it a "disgrace" and the "Wentworth Black Hole" because conditions were so bad.
Building the Gaol
Because of the overcrowding, a new, proper gaol was needed. In 1877, plans were made for a new prison. The famous colonial architect James Barnet designed it. He also designed many other important public buildings in New South Wales.
The gaol was built between 1879 and 1881 by Whitcombe Brothers. Bricks were made locally, and special blue-grey stone from Victoria was brought in. The gaol was built with a main cell block, a kitchen, a hospital area, and even a library for prisoners. It had two observation towers and a home for the gaol warden.
Life and Closure
The Wentworth Gaol had three warders (guards) and could hold up to 18 prisoners at a time. It was one of the first gaols in Australia designed by an Australian architect. Other gaols built around the same time include Hay Gaol and Old Dubbo Gaol.
Over time, more gaols were built in bigger towns like Broken Hill and Goulburn. This meant Wentworth Gaol was no longer as necessary. It closed its doors in 1928, and the last prisoners were moved to Broken Hill.
After closing as a prison, the building found new uses. In 1935, the hospital section was changed into classrooms for Wentworth Central School. Over 100 students learned there! In the 1950s, people started visiting the old gaol as a tourist attraction. The students moved out in 1963 when a new school was built. The gaol was even briefly used again in 1962 during a riot in Mildura.
Today, the Old Wentworth Gaol is a popular place for visitors. It's open for tours, letting people see what a prison was like long ago. The old gaoler's house now serves as a shop.
What the Gaol Looks Like
The Wentworth Gaol is a single-story brick building with special blue-grey stone details. It was designed by James Barnet. It sits on the edge of Wentworth town, surrounded by open land.
Design and Features
The gaol is surrounded by a tall, 4-meter-high brick wall. You enter through a fancy gate with decorative stone work. Just inside the gate, there are two small offices for guards. The gaoler's house is attached to the south side of the entrance.
At each corner of the compound walls, there's a watch tower with a short walkway. Inside the walls, there are two main buildings: a rectangular block with 10 cells for men and 2 for women, and an L-shaped building that was the hospital wing. The buildings are made of strong local bricks, with stone foundations and details around doors and windows. All the roofs are covered with slate tiles.
Inside, the floors and ceilings are made of painted Murray pine wood. There's a well in the central courtyard that used to collect rainwater from the roofs. The gaol also has six fireplaces with black marble decorations.
Keeping the Gaol in Good Shape
The Old Wentworth Gaol is in excellent condition today. Over the last 20 years, a lot of work has been done to restore and maintain it. This includes fixing the slate roofs, adding new gutters, and painting the buildings inside and out.
In 2012, a big project helped fix the brickwork and improve drainage around the gaol. All these efforts have helped keep this important historic building looking great for visitors.
Why This Place is Special
The Old Wentworth Gaol is very important to the history of New South Wales. It's one of the old country gaols built in the 1800s as more people moved into the state. It shows how crime and punishment were handled back then.
It's also special because it's a rare and mostly untouched example of James Barnet's "Hay-type" gaol design. Barnet was a very important architect who designed many public buildings across New South Wales, like the General Post Office in Sydney. The gaol still has a quiet, serious feel, reminding us of its past as a place of detention.
The gaol is also valuable for learning about the past. By studying its buildings and history, we can understand more about prisons and society in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
