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Boggo Road Gaol

H.M. Prison Brisbane, commonly known as Boggo Road Gaol, was Queensland's main prison from the 1880s to the 1980s. By the time it closed, it had become notorious for poor conditions and rioting. Located on Annerley Road in Dutton Park, an inner southern suburb of Brisbane, it is the only surviving intact gaol in Queensland that reflects penological principles of the 19th century.[1] After closing in 1992, the larger 1960s section was demolished, leaving the heritage listed section (built as a women's prison in 1905).

Boggo Road Gaol
Boggo Road Gaol entrance
Map
LocationDutton Park, Queensland, Australia
Security classMaximum Security
OpenedJuly 1883
ClosedNovember 1989
Managed byAt first prisons fell under the control of the Sheriff until the 1890s. The Prisons Department (later the Department of Correctional Services), ran the site until closure. As a historical site the prison was run by different government departments, including State Development and Public Works.

It was officially known as "Brisbane Gaol" but was commonly known as "Boggo Road" after the original name of the Annerley Road. A new street formed after 1996 now has the name Boggo Road.

History

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Entrance to the gaol, c. 1936

In the 1850s, the district where the gaol was subsequently located was known unofficially as "Boggo" or "Boggo Scrub", and by the late 1850s the track through the area was known as Boggo Road.[2]

It has been suggested that the name came about because the area was very boggy in wet weather. Another theory is that Boggo (or "Bloggo" or "Bolgo") was a corruption of an Aboriginal word meaning 'two leaning trees', and that the road was named after two prominent trees at either One-Mile Swamp or what is now Wilkins Street, off Annerley Road.[2] Another possibility is that Boggo Road was an unofficial and unmaintained short-cut between Ipswich Road and Stanley Street that became very boggy after rain.[3] Boggo Road was officially renamed Annerley Road in 1903, but the colloquial name for the gaol that had long been in use stayed.[4]

In 1863, land off Boggo Road was set aside as a government reserve, finally proclaimed a gaol reserve in 1880.[5][4] The first cellblock opened on 2 July 1883,[6] built by Robert Porter, contained 57 cells, and was constructed using materials from the demolished Petrie Terrace Jail.[6][7] In 1903, a new prison was built to hold female prisoners.[1] This later became known as the No. 2 Division, and is now the only section still standing, and is listed on the Queensland State Heritage Register. The "No. 1 Division" built in 1883 was the scene of 42 hangings, including the hanging of Ernest Austin in 1913—the last execution in Queensland. A new prison was built around the perimeter of No. 1 prison during the 1960s and No. 1 prison was demolished leaving area for an oval and recreational facilities for the newly built prison, which had running cold water and toilet facilities in all cells. Under the oval was the facility that became known as the "black hole" where prisoners were subjected to "punishment". The "black hole" continued in use until the late 1980s. A new women's gaol was also built at this time. The gaol was originally designed to cater for 40 male prisoners serving as a holding place for prisoners heading to St Helena Island in Moreton Bay.[8] However, by 1989 there were 187 male prisoners and the women's facility had around 200 additional prisoners.

Protests at the gaol during the 1970s saw inmates undertake hunger strikes, roof-top protests, and rioting over the poor conditions and treatment. The prison was constantly in the headlines and became notorious around Australia. Cells in the No. 2 prison did not have any form of sanitation, and facilities for washing were lacking.[7] Prisoners were required to use a bucket through the evening for toilet breaks and empty it, or "slop out", in the morning. A Queensland Government inquiry into the living conditions of State prisons found Boggo Road to be outdated and inadequate for prisoners' needs. No. 2 Division was closed in 1989. No. 1 division was closed in 1992 and was demolished in 1996 (a small section of what was "C5" and guard tower still remain).[1] The women's prison operated until 2000 and was demolished in 2006.[5]

Since 1992, the No. 2 Division was home to the Boggo Road Gaol Museum, which featured displays of prison-related artefacts. Throughout the 1990s, ex-officers conducted guided tours of the site, and from 2003 the museum and tours were operated by the Boggo Road Gaol Historical Society, a non-profit incorporated association of volunteers.[9] From 2012-20, Boggo Road Gaol was a tourist attraction with guided tours being conducted by Boggo Road Gaol Pty.[10][11] Like many other similar places around the country, the site also hosts guided ghost tours.

In 1993, Boggo Road Gaol hosted the concert "Jailhouse Rock", which included bands such as Divinyls, Rose Tattoo, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, Spy Vs Spy and Powderfinger.[12]

Redevelopment of the surrounding site began in 2006, leading to the temporary closure of the Boggo Road Gaol historical site. Since 2012 the gaol has been re-opened to the public.[10] Boggo Road has since been turned into an urban village called Boggo Road Urban Village and was completed in 2010.[13][14]

Heritage listing

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The No. 2 Division and the remnants of No. 1 Division were listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1993.[15]

Notable prisoners

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Executions

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42 prisoners were hanged at the Gaol.[25]

 
Plaque on gallows beam used at Boggo Road Gaol
Name Year of birth Year of death Place of origin Victims
James Gardiner 1864 1883 Scotland Murder of Ada Gardiner at Rockhampton[26]
Jango c.1866 1883 Australia (Aboriginal) Murder of Mrs Eliza Mills at Dingo[26]
George 1858 1883 Australia (Aboriginal) Rape of young girl at Rockhampton[26]
Walter Edward Gordon 1857 1885 England Murder of Walter Bunning on Darr River Downs station[27]
Tim Tie 1856 1886 China Murder of Jimmy Ah Fook near Dulbydilla[28]
Wong Tong 1857 1886 China Murder of Cock Tow at the Seaview Plantation, Bundaberg[29]
Christopher Pickford 1856 1887 United States Murder of Martin Emmerson at Ravenswood[30]
Ellen Thompson 1846 1887 Ireland Murder of her husband William Thompson near Port Douglas[31]
John Harrison 1860 1887 England Murder of William Thompson near Port Douglas[31]
Edmond Duhamel 1851 1888 France Murder of Sarah Descury at Rockhampton[32][33]
Sedin 1864 1888 Java Murders of John Fitzgerald, Christian Mariager, and J. P. Davis at Normanton[32]
Donald c.1863 1892 Australia (Aboriginal) Rape of a married white woman[34]
Francis Charles Horrocks 1875 1892 Queensland Murder of Rudolph Weissmuller at Mooraree[35]
George Gleeson 1865 1892 India Murder of Patrick McKiernan at Prince of Wales Island[36]
Leonard William Moncado 1850 1892 Chile Murder of Bob, an Aboriginal boy aboard the barque "Sketty Belle"[37]
George Thomas Blantern 1858 1893 England Murder of Flora McDonald at Marlborough[38]
Hatsuro Abe 1863 1894 Japan Murder of a Japanese woman named Omatzie at Thursday Island[39]
Mi-Orie 1866 1895 Malaita Island Murder of Francis Macartney near Bundaberg[37]
Narasemai 1862 1895 Malaita Island Murder of Francis Macartney near Bundaberg[37]
Sayer (Safhour) 1870 1895 Malaita Island Murder of Peter Anderson at Etowrie, near Mackay[40]
Jacky 1864 1895 Australia (Aboriginal) Murder of Jacky Williams at Mount Morgan[41]
Frank Tinyana 1858 1895 Filipino Murder of Senior Constable William Conroy at Thursday Island[42]
Willie Broom 1870 1900 Australia (Aboriginal) Murder of thirteen-year-old Mary Le Blowitz at Stanton

Harcourt, near Bundaberg[37]

Charles Beckman 1859 1901 Germany Murder of Alfred Anderson at McCartney's Creek, near Bowen[43]
Wandee 1881 1901 South Sea Islands Murder of Alfred Burnstead at Ayr[37]
John Rheuben 1846 1901 Portugal Murder of Fanny Hardwick at Rockhampton[37]
Orifough 1879 1901 South Sea Islands Murder of Morris Summers at Ashburton, near Mackay[44]
David Alexander Brown 1846 1901 USA Murder of Graham Haygrath at Charters Towers[37]
Patrick Kenniff 1865 1903 NSW Murder of Police Constable George Doyle at Lethbridge's Pocket near Carnarvon[37]
Sow Too Low 1875 1903 Malaita Island Murders of Sergeant David Johnson, John Martin and Alice Gunning in the Mackay area[45]
Gosano 1870 1905 South Sea Islands Murder of Jack Parsons at Ingham[46]
James Warton 1845 1905 Ireland Murder of William Munday at Toowong[47]
Johannes 1867 1906 Ceylon (Sri Lanka) Murder of Police Constable Albert G. Price[48] at Mackay[49]
Twadiga 1876 1906 Solomon Islands Murder of William Baulch at Mackay[49]
Look Kow 1844 1906 China Murder of Lee Choy Yuen at Townsville[37][50]
August Millewski 1855 1907 Germany Murder of Wallum Nabby at Nanango[51]
Bismarck 1886 1909 Australia (Aboriginal) Murder of Mrs Janet Evitts at Jundah[52]
Arthur Ross 1888 1909 England Murder of James Muir (Bank Clerk) at Gayndah[53]
Alexander Bradshaw 1882 1910 Queensland Murder of George Sutherland at Carron River (The charge of murder of Sutherland's wife Alice was then not proceeded with)[54][55]
George David Silva 1884 1912 Queensland/Ceylon Murdered six members of the Ching family at Alligator Creek[56][57]
Charles Deen 1865 1913 Ceylon Murder of Peter Dina (Or Dinah) at Innisfail[58][59]
Ernest Austin 1890 1913 Victoria Rape and murder of 11-year-old Ivy Mitchell at Cedar Creek Rd, Samford[60][61]
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Boggo Road is mentioned in the Australian soap opera Prisoner as the prison where Joan Ferguson worked prior to coming to Melbourne. It was also visited in the season final of The Amazing Race Australia 2.[62] Boggo Road is also the setting for the second episode of the sixth season of the American reality show The Mole.[63] Australian rock band, The Chats also reference a 1989 riot at Boggo Road in the song "Boggo Breakout", within the album Get Fucked, released in 2022. Eli Bell, the protagonist of the novel and Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe breaks into the prison to visit his mother Frankie on Christmas Day. Eli and his brother Gus' babysitter Slim Halliday was notorious for his escape attempts from the prison, one of which Eli replicated, but was unsuccessful.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Boggo Road Gaol: No 2 Division and Remnant No 1 Division (entry 601033)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Why Boggo ?". Boggo Road Gaol Historical Society. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  3. ^ Vera Raymond (née Sanders), 1900-1982, resident of Annerley
  4. ^ a b "Boggo Road Urban Village". Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. 14 February 2009. Archived from the original on 9 July 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  5. ^ a b "Boggo Road timeline". Boggo Road Gaol Historical Society. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  6. ^ a b Hogan, Janet (1982). Living History of Brisbane. Spring Hill, Queensland: Boolarang Publications. p. 53. ISBN 0-908175-41-8.
  7. ^ a b "History of Brisbane's Dutton Park". ourbrisbane.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  8. ^ Denise Cullen (15 September 2007). "Dark Secrets". The Australian. News Limited. Archived from the original on 28 November 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  9. ^ 'Boggo Road Gaol Museum' "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ a b "Brisbane's Historic Boggo Road Gaol to Reopen as Tourist Attraction after Seven Years". Courier Mail. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  11. ^ "Boggo Road Gaol Tours". Archived from the original on 15 August 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  12. ^ Sinnamon, Myles (31 July 2018). "Jailhouse Rock at Boggo Road Gaol, 1993". State Library Of Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Boggo Jail to become urban village". Brisbane Times. 10 April 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 10 April 2007.
  14. ^ "Boggo Road Urban Village". hpw.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 13 February 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  15. ^ "Boggo Road Gaol: No 2 Division and Remnant No 1 Division (entry 601033)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  16. ^ My Descent from Soapbox to Senate. Co-operative Press, Brisbane, 1953
  17. ^ "Boggo Jail". George Negus Tonight: Transcript. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 September 2004. Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  18. ^ Robertson, Joshua (4 January 2017). "Time served: how Debbie Kilroy went from jail to advising the government on sentencing". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  19. ^ "Kilroy, Debbie - Biographical entry". Australian Women Lawyers as Active Citizens. University of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  20. ^ "Memorial to victims of bushrangers". ABC Local Radio. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 April 2002. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  21. ^ "Jailbreak inquiry due by Friday". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 26 September 1988. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  22. ^ "The Great Boggo Road Fun Run". couriermail. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022.
  23. ^ Keiza, Grantlee (12 June 2016). "Ellen Thompson hangs for murdering her husband, the only female executed in Queensland". The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  24. ^ "Ellen Thomson". The Douglas Shire Historical Society. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  25. ^ "Boggo Road Gaol: History - Hanging" (Archived copy). Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  26. ^ a b c The triple execution Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  27. ^ Execution in Brisbane Gaol Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  28. ^ The Haunting Question (Archived 16 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine) — boggoroadgaol.com.au. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  29. ^ Execution at Brisbane Gaol Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  30. ^ Execution of Pickford Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  31. ^ a b The double execution Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  32. ^ a b Two murderers hanged Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  33. ^ The Rockhampton murder Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — South Australian Register. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  34. ^ Execution in Brisbane Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  35. ^ The Hemmant murder Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  36. ^ Double execution in Brisbane Gaol Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h i Boggo Road History 1 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) — mytalk.com.au. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  38. ^ Execution of Blantern Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  39. ^ Execution of Abbi — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  40. ^ Execution in the Brisbane Gaol Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  41. ^ Double execution Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  42. ^ Named in honour of William Conroy Archived 18 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine — Queensland Water Police. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  43. ^ The execution of Beckman Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  44. ^ Execution at Boggo Road Gaol Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  45. ^ Execution of Soo Too Low Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  46. ^ The Ingham murder Archived 4 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine — The Brisbane Courier. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  47. ^ "EXECUTION OF WARTON". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 18 July 1905. p. 2. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  48. ^ ROLL OF HONOUR 1904–1963 Archived 19 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine — Queensland Police. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  49. ^ a b "DOUBLE EXECUTION". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 15 May 1906. p. 6. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  50. ^ "CHINAMAN EXECUTED". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 1 January 1907. p. 2. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  51. ^ "A MURDERER EXECUTED". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 17 December 1907. p. 6. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  52. ^ "THE JUNDAH MURDER". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 20 April 1909. p. 2. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  53. ^ "EXECUTION OF ROSS". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 8 June 1909. p. 5. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  54. ^ "EXECUTION OF BRADSHAW. THE CARRON RIVER MURDERER". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 14 June 1910. p. 3. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  55. ^ "THE CRIME RECALLED". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 14 June 1910. p. 3. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  56. ^ Boggo Road History 1 Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine — mytalk.com.au. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  57. ^ 100 years on: Ching family massacre Archived 19 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine — Daily Mercury Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  58. ^ "THE INNISFAIL MURDER". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 6 May 1913. p. 5. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  59. ^ "THE CRIME". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 6 May 1913. p. 5. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  60. ^ "THE SAMFORD MURDER. AUSTIN EXECUTED". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 23 September 1913. p. 8. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  61. ^ "HISTORY OF THE CRIME". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 23 September 1913. p. 8. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  62. ^ Hoskin, Michael (16 August 2012). "Amazing Race: Australia 2-12 final episode recap". SECTION 244. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  63. ^ Bentley, Jean (24 October 2022). "'The Mole' Eliminated Contestants Reflect on Their Gameplay". Netflix. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
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