AGY-3090 | Tamworth Gaol

Full description

The first reference to the Tamworth Gaol is the appointment of David Williamson Irving, Police Magistrate at Tamworth as a Visiting Justice of the Tamworth Gaol on 17 December 1864. (1) The Acting gaoler, was appointed by the Governor and a warder by the Sheriff. (2) During 1880 the gaol premises were completed and occupied by prisoners. It was classified as a minor gaol. (3)

The staff of the Gaol in 1888 was: the Visiting Justice, Gaoler and Matron l appointed by the Governor, and two senior warders, two first class warders and four warders who were appointed by the Comptroller General of Prisons. There were a Church of England and a Roman Catholic Chaplain appointed by the Governor. (4)

The gaol was listed in the second schedule of Prisons Act 1899 as a Public gaol, prison and house of correction. (5) In 1909 there was an increase of five in the daily average number of prisoners, most of whom were vagrants from the Sydney and Maitland areas. This increase in the population led to a greater demand for labour than in former years. (6) There were 11 prisoners in the gaol at the commencement of 1920. During the year 201 were received and 183 discharged leaving 29 in the prison at the end of the year. The number of prisoners received was the highest since 1911. Almost 20 % of the prisoners were under 21 years of age. (7) The Roman Catholic and the Church of England chaplains visited the gaol weekly and in other occasions as required in 1925/1926 and their opinion was that general situation was stable and they were satisfied with the officers and gaolers. (8)

The Tamworth Gaol ceased to exist on 25 March 1943 and this was ratified by a proclamation from 8 April 1943 that the buildings and enclosures so used at Tamworth, as a prison should cease to be a prison. (9)

Endnotes
1. NSW Government Gazette No. 247, 1864, p.2904
2. Public Service List NSW 1868, p.31.
3. Prisons report for1880, A.R. 1881, v.2, p.923.
4. Public Service List NSW 1888, p.96.
5. Prisons Act, Second Schedule, The Statutes of NSW 1899, p.249.
6. Prisons report for 1909, A.R. 1910, v.2, p.79.
7. Prisons report for 1920, A.R. 1921, v.3, p.114.
8. Prisons report for1925/26, A.R. 1926, v.4, p.25.
9. NSW Government Gazette No.41, 1943, p.697.