Her Majesty's Gaols
in South Australia

Gladstone - Port Augusta - Wallaroo

1900 to 1930

 

 On his return to Adelaide in Oct 1902, George was appointed to HM Gaols. 

  His first posting was to Port Wallaroo Gaol in 1903.  In August of that year, George & Alice's 2nd child, a 
  daughter - Milfred Milton Gertrude Robinson was born at Norwood Adelaide, just days before George was to take
  up his appointment in Port Wallaroo.

  Two years later their 3rd child, a son - Henry Milton Robinson was born on the 3rd of May 1905. George served
  at the Port Wallaroo Gaol until 1910.
  His next posting was as a Senior Warder to Gladstone Gaol in June 1910, which at the time was used for
  'inebriates, debtors and other prisoners'.

  Then in 1912 George was posted to Port Augusta Gaol in the position of "Keeper of the Gaol". In November of
  1924 his wife Alice Mary (nee Etheridge) died of a heart attack, she was buried in the general cemetery in Port
  Augusta. George continued to serve as "Keeper of the Gaol" until 1930 when he retired.

 

 Port Wallaroo Gaol

  With the rapid increase to the population of Port Wallaroo, due to the presence of many seamen from visiting
  ships, it was decided that the four cells at the Port Wallaroo Police Station were not enough to cope with
  offenders who broke the law.  The Government called on the Commissioner of Public Works to build a substantial
  Gaol to handle the offenders brought before the Kadina, Moonta and Wallaroo Courts.

  A tender for the Port Wallaroo Courthouse and Gaol was commissioned on the 8th of December 1865. .  The
  Honourable Commissioner of Public Works called for Plans and specifications of the Gaol to be displayed for
  tender.

  An 80-acre site was reversed in the Wallaroo Mineral Section 160L adjoining the township, on the southern
  boundary.

  In April 1865 a tender for the Gaol was accepted.  The tender went to Mr Hancock a builder from Kadina, for the 
  accepted costing of £1750.

  Building started in July 1865 and consisted of the Keepers residence, 8 cells capable of holding 12 to 15 prisoners
  in each, 3 large underground tanks and spacious exercise yards surrounded by 18’ stone walls.  The Gaol was 
  completed in December of the same year.

  The Port Wallaroo Gaol opened on the 14th of April 1866, with Mr CT Barnsley as its first appointed Keeper. 
  One of  the first tasks by the prisoners was to establish a large olive plantation, other work done by the prisoners
  was tending to the Gaol gardens, cutting firewood from the nearby forest, repairs and maintenance of the Gaol.

  George Mansfield Robinson's first posting was to in 1903 to Port Wallaroo Gaol. On commencement of his new
  position, Georges salary consisted of 6 Pounds 6 shillings per quarter; quarters, lights and fuel were supplied. In
  1910 Georges salary was increased to 7 Pounds per quarter. George stayed in Port Wallaroo until his next
  posting as a Senior Warder to Gladstone Gaol in June 1910.   

  See a  list of the Staff who worked at Port Wallaroo Gaol.

 

Gladstone Gaol

  On the 4th of June 1876, the Government of South Australia, called for tenders for the construction of a Gaol at
  Gladstone in the Mid North of the state.   Messrs Sara and Dunstan of Aberdeen Burra were the successful
  applicants. A budget of £21,640 was set aside for the erection of the Gladstone Gaol, and work began
  immediately, their scheduled date of completion being the 20th of February 1881.

  The Gaol comprised of sixty-two single cells, for convicted and unconvinced prisoners and a debtors prison.  
  Containing four double cells; and ample accommodation for kitchens, stores, dispensary, surgeons room, warders
  and matrons rooms, offices, laundry, male and female exercising grounds; convicted and unconvinced prisoners
  having separate yards; water storage for 120,000 gallons; out offices &c. The whole to be contained within an
  enclosing stone wall 16' high.

  Outside the enclosing wall the residences of the Keeper of the Gaol and the First Warder.

  George Mansfield Robinson's next posting was as a Senior Warder to Gladstone Gaol in June 1910. With the  
  appointment to Senior Warder, Georges salary increased to 8 Pounds 6 shillings per quarter, staff quarters, light
  and fuel provided. With Alice and children they moved to the Senior Warders quarters provided by the Gaol, just
  outside the township of Gladstone for the next 2 years.    

  As Senior Warder he spent very little time with his family, his duties meant he was on call a majority of the time. 

  The function of the Gaol was to:

  • To provide for the reception of male inmates for detention for terms less than 12 months imposed by the Courts of Summary in or near the Gladstone area. 

  • To receive and keep in custody those inmates specially selected and transferred from the Yatala Labour Prison, Adelaide Gaol and Port Augusta by order of the Comptroller of Prisons.

  • To allot these inmates to various types of work available according to their classification and suitability.

  • To ensure that these inmates receive corrective training and continue to show by their general behaviour that they are endeavouring to prepare themselves to fit into the community as law-abiding citizens upon their release.

  For more information on the township of Gladstone in South Australia.   See a list of the Staff who worked at  
  Gladstone Gaol.
 

 

 Port Augusta Gaol

  The decision to build a Gaol at Port Augusta was made in 1867, but construction was delayed while water was 
  brought from Woolundunga Springs to a standpipe for the use of the contractors. On the 23rd of December 1868
  His Excellency, the Governor was pleased to appoint Mr John Howell to be Keeper of the Port Augusta Gaol from
  the first proxime.

  The prison was isolated on wasteland and presented a bleak, forbidding aspect, which should have been a deterrent
  to crime. The stone and brick prison took its first inmates in 1869. Prior to the building of the penitentiary, remand
  prisoners were chained at the Police Station, but the inmates of the new Gaol had the unrestricted use of a cell,
  though small and inadequately ventilated.

  The Port Augusta Gaol was proclaimed in 1869 for both male and female prisoners. The first female prisoner was
  admitted to the Gaol on the 30th of November 1869. Built of stone and brick and consisting of 2 yards, divided by
  a centre block of 6 cells, kitchen, office, change room, private clothes store, women's work room and store room
 the whole is enclosed by a stone wall with quarters on the south side for 2 officers. These buildings still stand,
  although the general set up has been altered.

  In 1884 the old buildings and Officers quarters were entirely enclosed by another wall and the new Keepers
  quarters. The 2 yards were divided into 4 and 4 blocks of cells, 6 cells in a block were built. One block in each
  yard to cope with the increase in numbers of prisoners received. Total accommodation 36 prisoners. 

  The Port Augusta Gaol received all types of prisoners - on remand, awaiting trial, debtors, and offenders
  sentenced to imprisonment. The long term prisoners, other than a few who definitely sentenced to serve their time
  at Port Augusta Gaol (aborigines), were transferred to other Gaols and Prisons, when the Gaol reached its
  maximum   number of inmates.   Also some prisoners serving a sentence less than 3 months would be transferred
  if the influx of prisoners warranted it.

  Prisoners were employed cutting firewood for the kitchens, laundry, mending Gaol clothes, and on maintenance of  
  the Gaol buildings. Considerable quantities of vegetables were grown in the garden for consumption in the Gaol, and
  any surplus was sold to local traders and the Hospitals Department.

  Then in 1912 George was posted to Port Augusta Gaol to take up the posting of  "Governor  of the Gaol" after the
  previous Governor had died.  George served in this position until 1930.  As “The Keeper (Governor)” George was
  responsible to the Controller of Gaols and Prisons for the administration, discipline and management of the Gaol
  (see detailed list).  He had one Senior Warder and 2 other Warders to assist him.    

  See a list of the Staff who worked at Port Augusta  Gaol.

  For more information on the township of Port Augusta in South Australia.
  For information on other Gaols in South Australia, see please Department of Correctional Services Homepage