AGY-533 | Public Works Prison Trial Bay

Full description

On 1 October 1885 William Small was appointed superintendent of the Public Works Prison, Trial Bay. Other staff were: a Chief Warder, two First Class Warders and fourteen Third Class Warders. The Visiting Justice John Lyn was appointed on 1 April 1886 and a Roman Catholic Chaplain - Rev. P. J. M’Guinness on 28 April 1886. (1) The prison was occupied early in 1886. (2) The boundaries of the Trial Bay Gaol were proclaimed on 4 March 1886 and penalties including imprisonment applied to unauthorised access to the land or prisoners. The gaol was for the detention of male prisoners under the "An Act to substitute other punishments for transportations beyond the seas" and the Criminal Law amendment Act, and its population were subject to hard labour. The prison became subject to the existing regulations affecting the prisons of New South Wales (3) The Public Works prison was loosely modelled on the Intermediate Prison at Lusk, Ireland). The purpose of the prison was to establish a breakwater to provide 'a harbour of refuge' for the Department of Harbours and Rivers. Regulations under section 409 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1883 (46 Victoria Act No 17) were issued on 17 December, 1886. (4) These allowed for serving prisoners with terms of three to five years who were recommended by their gaolers to receive 'Licenses for Public Works'. License holders had the rights of Intermediate Prisoners, received reduced sentences, were freer during their sentence and they had the opportunity to earn modest wages. In all other respects they were treated as ordinary prisoners and subject to prison rules and discipline. The Public Works Prisoners were accommodated in timber huts situated within the prison walls which were built by the first 'Public Works' prisoners. They had limited association with prisoners not public-works prisoners. (5) The boundaries of the Gaol were extended by proclamation of 26 February 1891. (6) In 1902 the daily average number of prisoners was 61, about 40 of whom were employed at the breakwater, building construction and road works. The remainder of them assisted with the prison service. (7) The Trial Bay Gaol was closed by proclamation from 1 August 1903, when the remaining prisoners were transferred to Darlinghurst Gaol. (8) The Comptroller-General of Prisons in the Report for 1903 observed as follows " For some years the prison authorities have viewed this place with disfavour, and it is now some time since arrangements were approved of to close down on the breakwater attaining a certain length. The lines laid down for the conduct of this establishment were not in harmony with the general system, and the association which was unavoidable did not assist reform. Its abolition is a relief to the general policy of the Department, and is also a gain to economical working". (9) FOOTNOTES:
(1) Public Service List NSW 1886, p. 95
(2) Prisons report for1885, A. R. 1885/86, v.4, p.947
(3) NSW Government Gazette No. 139, 1886, p. 1589
(4) NSW Government Gazette 17 December 1886 p. 8627 (5) Prisons report for 1886, p. 1-2 in NSW Parliamentary Papers Second Session 1887 Vol 5 p. 1071-2 (6) NSW Government Gazette No. 131, 1891, p. 1587
(7) Prisons report for 1902, A. R. 1903, v.2, p. 390
(8) NSW Government Gazette No. 395, 1903, p. 5654
(9) Prisons report for 1903, A. R. 1904, v.1, p. 697
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