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Maitland Gaol
Source: Maitland Mercury, various dates
LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE MAITLAND GAOLOn the morning of the 16th February 1844 the foundation stone of the gaol was laid, near the north-west corner of the enclosure within the walls. The stone was laid by E.D. Day, Esq., assisted by Captain Day, W.M. Lewis, Esq., Colonial Architect, and a few other gentlemen. The Warden said it was evident by the very few persons present, partly because of the showery morning, but more to the hurried notice received by the authorities here of the intention to lay the stone on that day: Mr Lewis having only come up on the preceding day, and no previous notice having been given in any way. Several coins of the reigns of George 111, George 1V, William 1V, and her present Majesty, together with an inscription were placed in a bottle, sealed up, and deposited within the stone.
ON THE 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY,
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
1844,
IN THE SEVENTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF
HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA
AND
IN THE SIXTH YEAR
OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
OF
NEW SOUTH WALES
BY
HIS EXCELLENCY SIR GEORGE GIPPS,
THE FIRST STONE OF THIS GAOL,
WAS LAID BY
EDWARD DENNY DAY, ESQUIRE,
POLICE MAGISTRATE OF
MAITLAND
MORTIMER WILLIAM LEWIS, ESQUIRE,
COLONIAL ARCHITECT
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
1844,
IN THE SEVENTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF
HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA
AND
IN THE SIXTH YEAR
OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
OF
NEW SOUTH WALES
BY
HIS EXCELLENCY SIR GEORGE GIPPS,
THE FIRST STONE OF THIS GAOL,
WAS LAID BY
EDWARD DENNY DAY, ESQUIRE,
POLICE MAGISTRATE OF
MAITLAND
MORTIMER WILLIAM LEWIS, ESQUIRE,
COLONIAL ARCHITECT
The gaol, built with the help of convicts, was of sandstone from the Rutherford Quarry, and completed in 1848, and on the 12th December 1848, 40 prisoners were then transferred from Newcastle Gaol. The gaol has served as a high security gaol for 150 years and has been home to the most dangerous prisoners to society in that time until it closed in 1998.
Prison Wing which housed Women & Children
The first execution took place on the 19th March 1849 of George Waters Ward, and the last was of Charles Hines (convicted of raping his stepdaughter),who was executed 20th May 1897. The last flogging was carried out on the 15th April, 1905, the unfortunate man being Henry Clark who received 10 lashes, the flogging of William Wooten was reported in the Maitland Mercury on the 20th March 1884.
External Ablution Block
The prisoners were kept busy doing Public Works such as building 8 wooden houses made in the gaol yard and sold in May 1850, In 1851, Mr J. Wallace was appointed gaoler and his wife, Margaret, Matron. In 1860 the prisoners built a large water tank holding 23,000 gallons.
In September 1862 construction of a 2nd wing under the supervision of Mr. Telfer began with stone supplied by Mr. George Sweetman and in 1866 the Watch Towers were erected.
In June 1867, Mr Thomas Stone, who formerly held the situation of schoolmaster in Maitland Gaol and has recently been visiting the district as collector for the Sydney Deaf & Dumb Institution has been appointed Government Clerk and schoolmaster to the gaol at Maitland to replace Mr Samuel Wallace, who had resigned.
The appointment of a schoolmaster to the gaol indicates the number of children who were incarcerated with their mother. During the period when Edward Denny Day was the Police Magistrate of the district, he displayed his concern for the children of the convicts and did all he could to improve conditions for them.
Another wing of the gaol
The photograph (below) of the cells includes the one in which Ivan Milat, the Backpacker murderer was incarcerated, Milat with another prisoner, George Savvas, a drug baron, attempted to escape from Maitland Gaol in May 1997, the failed attempt resulted in Savvas committing suicide at the gaol and Milat being transferred to Goulburn Gaol.
Interior of Cell Block
The Gaol Museum (below) was built in 1889 as the Police Barracks to accommodate mounted troopers until about 1920.
Police Barracks at the back of the gaol
© Patricia May [All Rights Reserved]