The original Toowoomba Gaol opened in 1864.[1] William Murphy (who served in the Crimean War) became first Governor of the Toowoomba Gaol.[2]
Female prisoners were transferred from Central Gaol, Brisbane, to Toowoomba Gaol in 1870.[3] 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.[4] On 14 Sep 1898 the prison was proclaimed a prison for females only.[1]
The gaol was closed in 1903 after the prisoners were transferred to Boggo Road Gaol[5] and demolition commenced. Some of the hand-made bricks (using clay dug from pits in Queens Park[3]) from the demolished structure were used to build the Boer Wall Memorial Gateway[4] at the Margaret Street end of East Creek Park near the Mother's Memorial,[4] after being held in storage, as the plaque thereon states.[4]
After the prison closure in 1903, it was reused for several purposes before becoming Rutlands Guest House from 1930 to 1959.[3][4] It was purchased by the DeMolay Order (DeMolay International) for 6000 pounds in 1960[6] and renamed DeMolay House.
The whole original site and surrounding modern buildings, including the Repertory Theatre, are the source of many ghost sightings/tales.[3][4] One of the original "dark cells" is still part of the basement.[4] 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.[6]
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.[7]
Motel
The 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.
The Toowoomba poet George Essex Evans 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 was built on this site.
After his death in 1909, the Austral Society ceased in 1911,[8] and the building was later demolished,[4] eventually being replaced in part by a townhouse block.
Notorious prisoners
Hangmen were brought up from Brisbane as needed.[4]
Goff Lee[3] – a Chinese cook, was hanged for murder in December 1869.
Andrew Ritchie – convicted of murder and robbery under arms, was the first to be hanged at the gaol, in August 1864.
John (Jacky) Whitton[3] – an Aborigine, was hung for child rape in December 1869.
toowoomba, prison, toowoomba, gaol, historic, prison, site, toowoomba, queensland, australia, toowoomba, gaollocationtoowoomba, queenslandstatusnon, operationalsecurity, classhistoric, siteopened1864closed1900managed, bysite, reused, contents, history, site, h. Toowoomba Gaol is a historic prison site in Toowoomba Queensland Australia 1 Toowoomba GaolLocationToowoomba QueenslandStatusNon operationalSecurity classHistoric SiteOpened1864Closed1900Managed bySite reused Contents 1 History of site 2 Historic Plaque 3 Motel 4 Women s Gaol Hospital 5 Austral Hall 6 Notorious prisoners 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External linksHistory of site EditThe original Toowoomba Gaol opened in 1864 1 William Murphy who served in the Crimean War became first Governor of the Toowoomba Gaol 2 Female prisoners were transferred from Central Gaol Brisbane to Toowoomba Gaol in 1870 3 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 4 On 14 Sep 1898 the prison was proclaimed a prison for females only 1 The gaol was closed in 1903 after the prisoners were transferred to Boggo Road Gaol 5 and demolition commenced Some of the hand made bricks using clay dug from pits in Queens Park 3 from the demolished structure were used to build the Boer Wall Memorial Gateway 4 at the Margaret Street end of East Creek Park near the Mother s Memorial 4 after being held in storage as the plaque thereon states 4 After the prison closure in 1903 it was reused for several purposes before becoming Rutlands Guest House from 1930 to 1959 3 4 It was purchased by the DeMolay Order DeMolay International for 6000 pounds in 1960 6 and renamed DeMolay House The whole original site and surrounding modern buildings including the Repertory Theatre are the source of many ghost sightings tales 3 4 One of the original dark cells is still part of the basement 4 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 6 Historic Plaque EditA 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 7 Motel EditThe Park Motor Inn at 88 Margaret Street was built on the northeast part of the old gaol grounds Women s Gaol Hospital EditThe original hospital site for the Women s Gaol at 92 Margaret Street is now the site of the Park House Cafe Austral Hall EditMain article Austral Hall The Toowoomba poet George Essex Evans 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 was built on this site After his death in 1909 the Austral Society ceased in 1911 8 and the building was later demolished 4 eventually being replaced in part by a townhouse block Notorious prisoners EditHangmen were brought up from Brisbane as needed 4 Goff Lee 3 a Chinese cook was hanged for murder in December 1869 Andrew Ritchie convicted of murder and robbery under arms was the first to be hanged at the gaol in August 1864 John Jacky Whitton 3 an Aborigine was hung for child rape in December 1869 See also Edit Queensland portalGeorge Essex Evans Jacques de Molay Knights Templar List of Australian Prisons and Detention CentresReferences Edit a b c Agency ID 934 Police Gaol Toowoomba HM Prison Toowoomba Queensland State Archives Retrieved 13 April 2020 DEATH OF MR WILLIAM MURPHY The Queenslander Queensland Australia 18 February 1871 p 3 Retrieved 13 April 2020 via Trove a b c d e f Talbot Don John Larkin 2006 2003 Toowoomba Strange and Unusual Tales Vol 1 a b c d e f g h i Talbot Don 2006 2004 Ghostly Tales of Toowoomba ISBN 0958058431 Toowoomba Gaol 1864 1903 Inside Boggo Road Archived from the original on 13 April 2020 Retrieved 13 April 2020 a b De Molay House Downs Folk Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 13 April 2020 Plaque marks site of city s gruesome past Toowoomba Chronicle Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 13 April 2020 Munt Von 15 August 1980 A Toowoomba Hall that held 8000 Toowoomba Chronicle Toowoomba Toowoomba Chronicle p Further reading EditGhostly Tales of Toowoomba Don Talbot 2004 ISBN 978 0 9580584 3 8 Greenridge Press Toowoomba Qld Australia Historic Sites and Buildings in Toowoomba R A Dansle 1988 Crime Culprits and Court Houses Beris Broderick published in the Toowoomba Historical Society Inc Newsletter June 2003 To Foster the Arts amp Science Austral The Beginning 1903 4 R A Dansle 1991 Toowoomba Strange and Unusual Tales Vols 1 5 Don Talbot 2003 2007External links EditToowoomba org Toowoomba Gaol 27 33 S 151 57 E 27 550 S 151 950 E 27 550 151 950 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Toowoomba Prison amp oldid 1118874665, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
