State Library of South Australia logo From the ground up
SA Memory. South Australia past and present, for the future




Adelaide Gaol
Title : Adelaide Gaol Adelaide Gaol
Add To My SA Memory
Creator : Henderson, James, artist
Date of creation : ca. 1843
Format : Artwork
Contributor : State Library catalogue
Catalogue record
The State Library of South Australia is keen to find out more about SA Memory items. We encourage you to contact the Library if you have additional information about any of these items.
Copyright : Reproduction rights are owned by State Library of South Australia. This image may be printed or saved for research or study. Use for any other purpose requires permission from the State Library of South Australia. To request approval, complete the Permission to publish form.
Description :

View of the Adelaide Gaol, ca. 1843, showing the gaol governor's house at left, parts of the 18 foot high outer wall and two of the octagonal corner towers. The building was designed by architect George Strickland Kingston and begun in 1840. For a view of the interior side of the governor's house, see B 17790 (painting by H. Glover).


South Australia was proclaimed a convict-free colony and the surveyors made no provision for a gaol when setting out Adelaide and its sections.

There were two attempts at temporary structures, which proved very insecure, very crowded and very unsatisfactory. By mid 1840 it had been decided that a new gaol was needed. Civil Engineer and Inspector of Public Works George Strickland Kingston drew up the plans for the Gaol in May 1840.

Kingston's design and concept is not unique as it was a design similar to the American radiating plan in use at the time as well as that used at the English Pentonville Prison which was considered a model prison for the 19th century. Note that the second tower in the illustration and in the actual building lacks the dramatic crenellations of the front tower.

The gaol ceased being used as a prison in 1988, and is now a heritage site under the custodianship of the Adelaide Gaol Preservation Society.

The gaol is listed on the Register of the National Estate and on the South Australian Heritage Register.

Subjects
Related names :

Kingston, George Strickland, 1807-1880

Coverage year : 1843
Period : 1836-1851
Region : Adelaide city
Further reading :
Danvers Architects, Adelaide Gaol conservation study report, Adelaide: Danvers Architects, 1986
Langmead, Donald, Accidental architect, Darlinghurst, N.S.W. Crossing Press, 1994
Scheiffers, Sue, Inside: a brief history of the Adelaide Gaol, [Strathalbyn, S. Aust.: S. Scheiffers], 2002
Internet links :
Exhibitions and events :

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing. From the ground up August 2004-


Navigation

Home

About SA Memory

Explore SA Memory

SA Memory Themes

Search

My SA Memory

Learning

What's on

Contributors