Old Dubbo Gaol

About

The Old Dubbo Gaol is a heritage-listed former gaol and now museum and tourist attraction at 90 Macquarie Street, Dubbo in the Dubbo Region local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The gaol was designed by the NSW Colonial Architect's Office and was built from 1847 to 1945 by James Atkinson Jnr (1862–63) and William Bonython Moffatt (1871 and 1874). The gaol was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 26 March 2004. It was the second gaol in Dubbo, replacing lock-ups built in 1847 and 1862. When closed, the Government of New South Wales planned its demolition and replacement with a multi-storey office block. Protests led by the then Dubbo City Council and local historical society led to the plans being dropped. In 1973 the building was transferred from the NSW Department for Corrections to the city council, with the intention of restoration and creation of a tourist attraction.

The Dubbo Gaol was erected on the site of the original courthouse. It is believed to have been officially opened in 1887. Many of the buildings however were already in existence by this time. Many changes and new buildings followed. The surrounding wall also changed shape. Closed as a gaol in 1966, the complex re-opened as a tourist attraction in 1974.

In 2015 Old Dubbo Jail won a silver prize in the cultural tourism category of the 12th Travel Inland Tourism Awards. The Gaol was inducted into the Tourism Hall of Fame. In August 2016 the gaol was closed to allow extensive restoration and renovation of the site.

The Old Dubbo Gaol is a small, compact gaol located within the central business district of Dubbo. The enclosing wall is extensive and high. It is built of Dubbo red-brown bricks in English bond, with piers, laid in lime mortar. Above the north-eastern corner of the wall is a watchtower having a wide eaved roof of corrugated iron. Originally a catwalk extended from the watchtower. The structure inside the gaol wall include the main male cell block with 12 ordinary cells and specialised cells comprising two solitary confinement cells, a padded cell, a condemned cell; the female cell block comprising two cells, a bathroom and exercise yard; the infirmary and kitchen block, including a kitchen, infirmary, Library, bathroom, two store rooms, two offices; two remand yards adjacent to a debtors exercise yard and an early toilet block, laundry building with toilets and fenced exercise yards, sanitary disposal facility, toilet. The buildings are mainly sandstone with hipped corrugated iron roofs, while the entrance, watchtower and women's cell block are of brick. The infirmary and kitchen and the male exercise yard feature simple wooden brackets to the verandah posts. The gallows were re-erected.

As of 8 December 2010, the physical condition of the buildings is good, however, rising damp is a problem in some areas. Fences are suffering from dry rot. The re-erected gallows are in poor, deteriorating condition. The first two public buildings in Dubbo – a police residence and court house/lockup were built in this precinct. There were two prisons and two court houses built within the precinct prior to the construction of the present buildings. Archaeological potential would be expected to be medium to high in a number of areas.

Some features lost but reasonably authentic restoration overall. Built over a number of different periods always changing. More sympathetic signs suggested.

Modifications since initial construction are:

- 1847–48: First police residence and courthouse/lockup built

- 1862–63: New court house and watch house built, designed by Colonial Architects office.

- 1873–74 Additions: extension to cell block with 5 cells, fenced enclosure around the east end of cell block,

- 1877–80: major extensions – hospital and kitchen block, perimeter wall and two watchtowers, shelter sheds.

- 1886–87: major alterations and additions including construction of residences (gaoler's), re-located entrance, women's cells & bathroom, new gateway/entrance

- 1895–98: extension of gaol wall, removal of one watchtower, new trial yard, shelter sheds, new office and guard room etc.

- 1928–29: extensive renovations and additions, including new gaolers residence

As of 8 December 2010, the physical condition of the buildings is good, however, rising damp is a problem in some areas. Fences are suffering from dry rot. The re-erected gallows are in poor, deteriorating condition. The first two public buildings in Dubbo – a police residence and court house/lockup were built in this precinct. There were two prisons and two court houses built within the precinct prior to the construction of the present buildings. Archaeological potential would be expected to be medium to high in a number of areas.

Some features lost but reasonably authentic restoration overall. Built over a number of different periods always changing. More sympathetic signs suggested.

Modifications since initial construction are:

- 1847–48: First police residence and courthouse/lockup built

- 1862–63: New court house and watch house built, designed by Colonial Architects office.

- 1873–74 Additions: extension to cell block with 5 cells, fenced enclosure around the east end of cell block,