AGY-512 | Young Gaol

Full description

The Young Gaol was proclaimed on 1 December 1870, by a Governor’s proclamation as third among five gaols proclaimed on that date. Previously, it was a Watch-house or Lock-up. (1) It was a police gaol, used for prisoners with sentences of fourteen days or less. In same time there were, a acting gaoler appointed by the Governor and a warder appointed by the Sheriff. (2)

A few years after the proclamation were erected some buildings and made better accommodation in the Gaol. From this period it was known as the New Gaol at Young. It was proclaimed by a Governors Proclamation from 22 March 1878 and gazetted on 26 March 1878. The Proclamation declared and notified that the said buildings at Young were a Public Gaol, Prison and House of Correction. (3)

Accommodation in the New Gaol at Young was suitable for 20 separated and 60 associated prisoners. It was a progress because earlier accommodation was only for 5 separated and 10 associated prisoners (4)

In 1888 the Gaol was well equipped and there were: a gaoler and matron, a Second Class Warder and five Third Class Warders. The Visiting Justice Samuel Robinson visited the gaol twice a month and there were a Church of England and a Roman Catholic Chaplains. (5)

The gaol was listed in the second schedule of Prisons Act 1899 as a Public gaol, prison and house of correction. (6)

During 1899 the conducts of the prisoners in the gaol were good and they were employed at the following manufactures: hat making, tailoring, brush making and repairing tinware, shoes and clothing. Large amount of the prisoners was also employed in the ordinary service of the prison as cooking, washing, sweeping, woodcutting etc. (7)

In 1909 the Young Gaol received 100 prisoners and 63 of them were under the Justices Act. There were 90 discharged prisoners during the year as follows: 1 by special remission; 1 by ordinary remission; 13 transferred to other gaols; 19 paid fines and 56 served their sentences, leaving a total of 15 in the gaol on 31 December 1909. (8)

The employed prisoners were paid for the job and half of their gross earnings was credited to them and they were allowed to spend half or two-thirds, according to grade of such amounts as were credited, but only in exceptional cases was this privilege taken full advantage of the general desire been to save as much as possible against the day of release when the savings may be used as the foundation upon which to endeavour to build a new life. (9)

The Young Gaol ceased to exist on 1 August 1923 following Governor’s proclamation from 26 July1923 that the buildings and enclosures used at Young, as a prison should cease to be a prison. (10)

FOOTNOTES:
(1) NSW Government Gazette No. 295, 1870, p.2711.
(2) Public Service List, 1871, p.27.
(3) NSW Government Gazette No. 88, 1870, p.1231.
(4) Prisons report for 1874, Annual Report, 1875, v.2, p.971, Prisons report for 1878, Annual Report, 1879/80, v.2, p.975.
(5) Public Service List, 1888, p.97.
(6) Prisons Act, Second Schedule,The Statutes of NSW 1899, p.249.
(7) Prisons report for 1899, Annual report, 1900, v.2, pp. 848-849.
(8) Prisons report for 1909, Annual Report, 1910, v.2, p.82.
(9) Prisons report for1920, Annual Report, 1921, V.3, p.116.
(10) NSW Government Gazette No. 84, 1923, p.3395.

REFERENCES :
New South Wales Government Gazette. Sydney, Government Printer. 1832 -
Blue Books (Public Service Lists) 1858 - 1960, Sydney, Government Printer, 1858- 1960
NSW. Department of Corrective Services. "An analysis of NSW Prison Proclamations" compiled by Denis Fitzpatrick. Sydney, The Department, 1996.