Ethan

Welker 18060057

GROWING UP WITHIN PRISON WALLS

The national identity of the Australian people is both interesting and complex. Not only do
we see the glorification of the ANZAC soldiers, and our early explorers, but it is as if our
early convict origins are given hardly any limelight. Our early penal beginnings can be most
evidently viewed in the nations earliest prisons, which open a window into the harsh living
standards of those who convicted in our colonial past. One of the earliest prisons is the HM
Prison Geelong, or better known as the Old Geelong Gaol. The Gaols ownership and
therefore preservation has recently come under threat as its current owners have little
option but to put the historic site on the real estate market. Perhaps the key to saving the
Gaols original appearance lay within the history of the prisons four walls. The uncovering of
the prisons link to not only Australias penal history, but furthermore its education and
welfare system, may play a role in the conservation of this once great structure.

On 23 August, 2017, the Geelong Advertiser newspaper printed an article titled Old
Geelong Gaol up for sale by expression of interest. i If indeed the newspapers readers had
experienced a visit to the Old Geelong Gaol, they would certainly have looked twice at this
headline, perhaps in disbelief. The greater city of Geelong does not boast the grand
historical architecture of state capitals such as Melbourne and Sydney. In the instance of
one of the citys historical structures being at risk to the highest bidder, it seems an unusual
situation has been created. From the outset this seems ridiculous, but the city of Geelong
council has ensured that the structures heritage aspects would be up most important when
receiving proposals from developers.ii Often we see historically important structures be sold
off and developed out of pure greed, but in deciding the fate of the Old Geelong Gaol, this is
not the case. The City of Greater Geelongs finance and strategy director, Joanne Moloney,
exposed that there had been a lack of investment into the Gaol for the past 23 years.iii The
Greater City of Geelong council currently have an arrangement with Rotary, who manage
the Old Geelong Gaol through the means of a lease.iv Although this arrangement appears to
be beneficial for both parties, $1.559 million dollars worth of unaddressed maintenance
has backlogged, giving the council no other option but to part ways with the deteriorating
structure.v Although the Old Geelong Gaol is protected, belonging to the Historic Building
Register in Victoria, it would tragic to see the structure share the same fate of Pentridge
Prison, also a nineteenth century prison which shares almost an identical lifespan to that of
the Old Geelong Gaol.vi

The history of Australias correctional system is to say the least, underrepresented when
looking at our nations history and identity. Australias less than humble beginnings are that
of a penal colony, whos convict immigration did not cease until 1867.vii Interestingly
enough, the origins of this nation originate from within the four walls of our early prisons,
and yet the possible future sale of the Old Geelong Gaol is a convenient example of the lack
of respect towards these tremendously important structures. Tenders were received in July
1949, for the thick foundations that would mark the commencement for the gradual
construction of HM Prison Geelong.viii The Gaols construction over the early 1850s marked
a architecturally progressive period in Geelongs history, as it was being constructed
simultaneously to that of a church and an asylum, as the three accumulated to the citys
first major structures.ix The city boasted the erection of these three structures as for the
Ethan Welker 18060057

first time in the citys history, it was announced that crime, religion and illness were
accounted for.x The newly constructed goal had an immediate effect on its new host city, as
local newspapers described it as grim enough to frighten crime were it capable of
intimidation.xi Not only was the new maximum security prison significant news within
Geelong, but it further made headlines throughout the other states, as it represented the
self-sufficiency of the colony and its subsiding reliance on the British motherland.xii
Throughout the following decades, the City Council annually inspected the condition and
workings of the Geelong Gaol, as published reports show that the prison was continually
well maintained, preserving a magnificent structure from a bygone era.xiii The unfortunate
lack of maintenance and preservation since the gaols closure in 1991xiv has given the
Geelong City Council adequate reasoning to sell the site, although maybe with the
uncovering of a lesser known period of the gaols history, the structures preservation may
become more significant.

The Old Geelong Gaol holds an incredibly unexpected relationship to a part of Australias
education and welfare history. Although the Gaol is on the market, plans to develop the site
may be blocked if the significance of the gaol and its connection to the industrial school
system was uncovered. The industrial school model was coined by Mary Carpenter, and was
copied and implemented throughout the British Empire.xv In an effort to provide housing for
all children, these schools were established to accommodate children who were considered
under state guardianship.xvi The landscape of the early Australian school system was of
course extremely different to that of today. The mid-nineteenth century Australian schools
only vacated for those who were able to afford them, as free education had not yet become
policy.xvii The intention of industrial schools was to remove children from bad influences,
whilst simultaneously providing them with both an education and a trade, in a boarding
school type environment.xviii In Australia, industrial schools did not become implemented
until 1864, when the government implemented the Neglected and Criminal Childrens Act
1864.xix This legislation was implemented in Australia to put certain children under state
guardianship, and the key word neglected was chosen do design the criteria for these
selected children.xx The state of Victoria became desperate for a system like this due to the
growing number of unsupervised children who were roaming the streets during the 1850s
and 1860s.xxi These children were known as street kids, and were relying on methods such
as pickpocketing and begging in order to survive.xxii These children were committing any
wrongdoings, but it became obvious that they were at risk to forces of corruption, and most
capable of turning to a life of crime. The Neglected and Criminal Childrens Act 1864
represented a monumental social transformation, with the colony developing somewhat of
a compassionate mentality towards those who had been born into hardship. The document
states; Whereas it is expedient to provide for the care and custody of neglected and
convicted children, and to prevent the commission of crime by young persons.xxiii
Industrial schools in Great Britain had been a revolutionary idea, although here in Australia
the workings of such a system had been incredibly misjudged. It was theorised that the
children being committed to industrial schools would be only those who were considered
the visible orphans living on the streets. However a sizable amount of children being
enrolled into industrial schools were those who were from impoverished families, and
considered unseen to the public.xxiv The size of the issue caught the government completely
off guard, hence the Department of Industrial Schools and Reformatory Schools was formed
in 1864. The department were not only in charge of the decision making process of who
Ethan Welker 18060057

would be registered into industrial schools, but furthermore they were responsible for the
quality of both the childrens custody and education.xxv The industrial school system in
Australia played a significant role in social changes to childrens welfare, and although
rather unknown, the Old Geelong Gaol holds a rather close relationship to this chapter of
Australian history.

Figure 1: Industrial School, Geelong, By Charles Travers Mackin. 1867.

The Old Geelong Gaol, along with all prisons, is often only viewed in a one dimensional
manner, as its uses outside of holding prisoners, is often forgotten. The prison has a unique
connection to the Australian industrial school system, as for a short period it played host to
an industrial school. The Geelong Industrial School was located not too far from the Old
Geelong Gaol, from 1865 to 1880.xxvi Unlike most industrial schools, who were either co-ed
or solely for young boys, the Geelong school went title and function of Industrial School for
Girls. It played a special role in the Victorian industrial school system, as it was purpose built
for children who had health issues, and were most commonly relocated from Melbourne
industrial schools.xxvii Geelongs atmosphere was considered to be considerably cleaner than
that of industrial Melbournes, therefore unwell children were immediately relocated to the
Industrial School in Geelong. This specific function of the Geelong Industrial School started
to cause problems of overcrowding, and by November 1968, plans had been put into place
to establish a second industrial school in Geelong.xxviii Due to the lack of funding, a new
construction for the second industrial school was an available option, therefore the council
decided that the Old Geelong Gaol was the only option to establish this second school.xxix It
took months of laborious construction to convert half of the Gaol site into an appropriate
structure to house an industrial school, which was to accommodate some of the 280
children in the Geelong Industrial School system.xxxxxxi Alike other industrial schools, the
children at the Gaol were taught not only primary education, but furthermore taught skills
Ethan Welker 18060057

such as cooking, laundering, tailoring, baking, shoe making, dairying, gardening, and
farming.xxxii The Old Geelong Gaol had this unique combination of both punishing criminals,
and giving neglected children an opportunity of a good life. This duel function of the
structure was short lived as by 1874, a continual decline of children being sent to Geelong
had forced the closure of the Industrial School.xxxiii The Old Geelong Gaols function as not
only a prison, but furthermore apart of the national education system, is not given nearly
enough attention or credit. Perhaps the exposure of this chapter of the Gaols history may
play a part in the structures future preservation.

This has not been a piece set out to save the prison, or protest the sale of the Old Geelong
Gaol, but rather an effort to bring attention to a forgotten part of the structures history. The
Old Geelong Gaols unusual connection to the industrial school system is a piece of history
that quite desperately needs more attention, as it may be the key to prevent any serious
development on the prison site.


i
Old Geelong Gaol up for Sale by Expression of Interest, Geelong Advertiser, 23 Aug. 2017,
para. 1,< http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/city-hall/old-geelong-gaol-up-for-
sale-by-expression-of-interest/news-story/1d075c915234bb85bdfc077992791888>,
accessed 28 Aug. 2017.
ii
Ibid, para. 6.
iii
Shane Fowles, Old Geelong Gaol set to be put up for sale by City Hall, Geelong Advertiser,
19 Apr. 2017, para. 6, < http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/city-hall/old-geelong-
gaol-set-to-be-put-up-for-sale-by-city-hall/news-
story/429e8aae4f83c2830c69a51f73547e1b>, accessed 30 Aug. 2017.
iv
Ibid, para. 7.
v
Shane Fowles, New repairs needed for Old Geelong Gaol, Geelong Advertiser, 14 Aug.
2017, para. 7, <http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/new-repairs-needed-
for-old-geelong-gaol/news-story/97b86cd313ff3beaf4f07c1f4d96623d>, accessed 30 Aug.
2017.
vi
Susan Balderstone, Government Heritage Assets, Historic Environment, 12/3 (1996), p.43.
vii
Craig W. J. Minogue, Then and Now, Us and Them: A Historical Reflection on Deaths in
and out of Custody, Social Justice, 33/4 (2006), p.10.
viii
Gaol at Geelong, The Argus, 16 Jul. 1849, 1, in Trove [online database], accessed 3 Sep.
2017.
ix
Geelong, Geelong Advertiser, 28 Feb. 1851, 2, in Trove [online database], accessed 5 Sep.
2017.
x
Ibid.
xi
Ibid.
xii
Geelong, The Cornwall Chronicle, 12 May 1852, 298, in Trove [online database], accessed
5 Sep. 2017.
xiii
Report of the Gaol, Geelong Advertiser, 7 Apr. 1866, 3, in Trove [online database],
accessed 5 Sep. 2017.
xiv
Geelong, The Canberra Times, 9 Aug. 1991, 14, in Trove [online database], accessed 3
Sep. 2017.
Ethan Welker 18060057

xv
Nell Musgrove, Reformatories and Industrial Schools: The Government enters Child
Welfare (1864-1887), Find & Connect [website], (19 Dec. 2012) <
https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/vic/biogs/E000816b.htm>, accessed 10 Sep. 2017.
xvi
Ibid.
xvii
Ragged Schools, Industrial Schools and Reformatories, Hidden Lives Revealed [website],
< http://www.hiddenlives.org.uk/articles/raggedschool.html>, accessed 10 Sep. 2017.
xviii
Ibid.
xix
Nell Musgrove, Reformatories and Industrial Schools: The Government enters Child
Welfare (1864-1887), Find & Connect [website], (19 Dec. 2012) <
https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/vic/biogs/E000816b.htm>, accessed 10 Sep. 2017.
xx
Ibid.
xxi
Ibid.
xxii
Ibid.
xxiii
The Neglected and Criminal Childrens Act (1864), <
https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/vic/objects/pdfs/1864%20Neglected%20and%20Cr
iminal%20Children%20Act.pdf>, accessed 3 Sep. 2017.
xxiv
Nell Musgrove, Reformatories and Industrial Schools: The Government enters Child
Welfare (1864-1887), Find & Connect [website], (19 Dec. 2012) <
https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/vic/biogs/E000816b.htm>, accessed 10 Sep. 2017
xxv
Cate ONeill, Department of Industrial and Reformatory Schools (1864-1887), Find &
Connect [website], < https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/vic/biogs/E000126b.htm>,
accessed 10 Sep. 2017.
xxvi
Cate ONeill, Geelong Industrial School (c.1865-1880), Find & Connect [website], <
https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/vic/biogs/E000570b.htm>, accessed 10 Sep. 2017.
xxvii
Ibid.
xxviii
Ibid.
xxix
Ibid.
xxx
Notes from Geelong, The Age, 22 Nov. 1869, 3, in Trove [online database], accessed 5
Sep. 2017.
xxxi
The Industrial Schools, Illustrated Australian News for Home Readers, 22 Mar. 1869, in
Trove [online database], accessed 5 Sep. 2017.
xxxii
Cate ONeill, Department of Industrial and Reformatory Schools (1864-1887), Find &
Connect [website], < https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/vic/biogs/E000126b.htm>,
accessed 10 Sep. 2017.
xxxiii
Geelong Industrial Schools, Geelong Advertiser, 9 Jun. 1874, 2, in Trove [online
database], accessed 5 Sep. 2017.











Ethan Welker 18060057

BIBLIOGRAPHY

PRIMARY

Fowles, Shane, New repairs needed for Old Geelong Gaol, Geelong Advertiser, 14 Aug.
2017, para. 7, <http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/new-repairs-needed-
for-old-geelong-gaol/news-story/97b86cd313ff3beaf4f07c1f4d96623d>, accessed 30 Aug.
2017.

Fowles, Shane, Old Geelong Gaol set to be put up for sale by City Hall, Geelong Advertiser,
19 Apr. 2017, para. 6, < http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/city-hall/old-geelong-
gaol-set-to-be-put-up-for-sale-by-city-hall/news-
story/429e8aae4f83c2830c69a51f73547e1b>, accessed 30 Aug. 2017.

Gaol at Geelong, The Argus, 16 Jul. 1849, 1, in Trove [online database], accessed 3 Sep.
2017.

Geelong, The Canberra Times, 9 Aug. 1991, 14, in Trove [online database], accessed 3 Sep.
2017.

Geelong, Geelong Advertiser, 28 Feb. 1851, 2, in Trove [online database], accessed 5 Sep.
2017.
Ethan Welker 18060057

Geelong, The Cornwall Chronicle, 12 May 1852, 298, in Trove [online database], accessed 5
Sep. 2017.

Geelong Industrial Schools, Geelong Advertiser, 9 Jun. 1874, 2, in Trove [online database],
accessed 5 Sep. 2017.

Mackin, Charles Travers, Industrial School, Geelong [painting], (1867)
<http://collections.geelonggallery.org.au/collections/#details=ecatalogue.3836>, accessed 3
Sep. 2017.

The Neglected and Criminal Childrens Act (1864), <
https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/vic/objects/pdfs/1864%20Neglected%20and%20Cr
iminal%20Children%20Act.pdf>, accessed 3 Sep. 2017.

Notes from Geelong, The Age, 22 Nov. 1869, 3, in Trove [online database], accessed 5 Sep.
2017.

Old Geelong Gaol up for Sale by Expression of Interest, Geelong Advertiser, 23 Aug. 2017,
para. 1,< http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/city-hall/old-geelong-gaol-up-for-
sale-by-expression-of-interest/news-story/1d075c915234bb85bdfc077992791888>,
accessed 28 Aug. 2017.

Report of the Gaol, Geelong Advertiser, 7 Apr. 1866, 3, in Trove [online database], accessed
5 Sep. 2017.

The Industrial Schools, Illustrated Australian News for Home Readers, 22 Mar. 1869, in
Trove [online database], accessed 5 Sep. 2017.

SECONDARY

Balderstone, Susan, Government Heritage Assets, Historic Environment, 12/3 (1996), pp.
43-49.


Minogue, Craig W. J., Then and Now, Us and Them: A Historical Reflection on Deaths in and
out of Custody, Social Justice, 33/4 (2006), p.10.
Musgrove, Nell, Reformatories and Industrial Schools: The Government enters Child
Welfare (1864-1887), Find & Connect [website], (19 Dec. 2012) <
https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/vic/biogs/E000816b.htm>, accessed 10 Sep. 2017.

ONeill, Cate, Department of Industrial and Reformatory Schools (1864-1887), Find &
Connect [website], < https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/vic/biogs/E000126b.htm>,
accessed 10 Sep. 2017.

ONeill, Cate, Geelong Industrial School (c.1865-1880), Find & Connect [website], <
https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/vic/biogs/E000570b.htm>, accessed 10 Sep. 2017.
Ethan Welker 18060057

Ragged Schools, Industrial Schools and Reformatories, Hidden Lives Revealed [website], <
http://www.hiddenlives.org.uk/articles/raggedschool.html>, accessed 10 Sep. 2017.