Harold Maclean (14 May 18286 November 1889) was an Australian civil servant.

Early life

Harold Maclean was born on 14 May 1828; his father was a

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

Career

Described as a "modest, humane and hard-working individual", Maclean was selected to serve as Inspector of Prisons for New South Wales. As sheriff of New South Wales, Maclean is credited with abolishing the

treadmill A treadmill is a device generally used for walking, running, or climbing while staying in the same place. Treadmills were introduced before the development of powered machines to harness the power of animals or humans to do work, often a type of ...

punishment once meted out at jails in the region. Despite being heavily lauded for his capabilities, Maclean worked on a low salary. Maclean supervised the design and construction of

Trial Bay Gaol Trial Bay Gaol is a heritage-listed former public works prison and internment camp at Cardwell Street, Arakoon, Kempsey Shire, New South Wales, Australia. The property is owned by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. It was added to th ...

. He advocated a number of principles of prison reform including the provision of substantial masonry accommodation rather than cheaply constructed barracks, the isolation of prisoners from each other (and hence bad influence and ideas) by the provision of a cell per prisoner. He was also a believer in the modern British penal model where long term prisoners reaching the last years of their sentence, were employed in the construction of public works projects. Here they could learn skills useful for future employment and enjoy new privileges and freedoms as they approached the time of their release from prison.

Death

Maclean died in 1889 at his

Potts Point Potts Point is a small and densely populated suburb in inner-city Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Potts Point is located east of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney. Potts Po ...

house. The cause of his death was

typhoid Typhoid fever, also known as typhoid, is a disease caused by '' Salmonella'' serotype Typhi bacteria. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several ...

. His funeral was held at Waverley Cemetery on 9 November 1889 and he was buried there. After his death, his office as Controller General of Prisons was closed.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maclean, Harold 1828 births 1889 deaths Deaths from typhoid fever 19th-century Australian public servants