Toowoomba Gaol is a historic

prison A prison, also known as a jail, gaol (dated, standard English, Australian, and historically in Canada), penitentiary (American English and Canadian English), detention center (or detention centre outside the US), correction center, corre ...

site in Toowoomba,

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

, Australia.

History of site

The original Toowoomba Gaol opened in 1864. William Murphy (who served in the

Crimean War The Crimean War, , was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Piedmont-Sardinia. Geopolitical causes of the war included the ...

) became first Governor of the Toowoomba Gaol. Female prisoners were transferred from Central Gaol, Brisbane, to Toowoomba Gaol in 1870. A woman's reformatory with a well-patronised laundry was constructed in 1883-84 by Richard Godsall outside the prison walls and opened in 1869. On 14 Sep 1898 the prison was proclaimed a prison for females only. The gaol was closed in 1903 after the prisoners were transferred to

Boggo Road Gaol Boggo Road Gaol in Brisbane, Australia, was Queensland’s main jail from the 1880s to the 1980s, by which time it had become notorious for poor conditions and rioting. Located on Annerley Road in Dutton Park, an inner southern suburb of Brisbane ...

and demolition commenced. Some of the hand-made bricks (using clay dug from pits in Queens Park) from the demolished structure were used to build the Boer Wall Memorial Gateway at the Margaret Street end of East Creek Park near the Mother's Memorial, after being held in storage, as the plaque thereon states. After the prison closure in 1903, it was reused for several purposes before becoming Rutlands Guest House from 1930 to 1959. It was purchased by the DeMolay Order ( DeMolay International) for 6000 pounds in 1960 and renamed DeMolay House. The whole original site and surrounding modern buildings, including the Repertory Theatre, are the source of many ghost sightings/tales. One of the original "dark cells" is still part of the basement. At night the ghost of a reformatory inmate can be seen in the attic on the first floor of the building. One of the girls was so unhappy with her situation that she committed suicide by hanging herself there.

Historic Plaque

A plaque marking the site of the old Toowoomba Gaol is located at the eastern end of Stirling Street, off Burstow Street, in the Caledonian Estate heritage precinct. The basalt foundations on the site, are all that remain of the Toowoomba Gaol. The foundations supported the red brick wall which confined 52 prisoners in 1869.

Motel

Th
Park Motor Inn
at 88 Margaret Street was built on the northeast part of the old gaol grounds.

Women's Gaol Hospital

The original hospital site for the Women's Gaol at 92 Margaret Street is now the site of the Park House Cafe.

Austral Hall

The Toowoomba poet

George Essex Evans George Essex Evans (18 June 1863 – 10 November 1909) was an Australian poet. Biography Essex Evans was born in London on 18 June 1863, to Welsh parents. His father, John Evans Q.C., Treasurer of the Inner Temple and a member of the House of C ...

was influential in founding The Austral Society, which bought part of the grounds and let a tender to roof part of the prison yard in September 1904. The

Austral Hall The Austral Society was founded in 1903 because of the influence of The Toowoomba poet George Essex Evans to promote Australian Arts and Culture. The Society purchased part of the closed Toowoomba Gaol grounds and let a tender to roof part of t ...

was built on this site. After his death in 1909, the Austral Society ceased in 1911, and the building was later demolished, eventually being replaced in part by a townhouse block.

Notorious prisoners

Hangmen were brought up from Brisbane as needed. *Goff Leea Chinese cook, was hanged for murder in December 1869. *Andrew Ritchieconvicted of murder and robbery under arms, was the first to be hanged at the gaol, in August 1864. *John (Jacky) Whittonan Aborigine, was hung for child rape in December 1869.

References

External links

Toowoomba.org - Toowoomba Gaol
{{coord, 27, 33, S, 151, 57, E, type:city(113687)_region:AU-QLD, display=title Historical sites in Queensland Buildings and structures in Toowoomba Buildings and structures demolished in 1903 Defunct prisons in Queensland Demolished buildings and structures in Queensland 1864 establishments in Australia 1900 disestablishments in Australia Demolished prisons Women's prisons in Australia