Wentworth is a small town in the far southwest of NSW. The town lies where two of Australia's two most important rivers join - the Darling and the Murray and was once Australia's busiest inland river port. Wentworth is a border town, with Victoria to the south and South Australia to the west.
Heritage-listed Old Wentworth Gaol is the oldest of the Australian-designed gaols, built between 1879 and 1881. Designed to serve a vast region, the gaol operated until 1927. Open to visitors, it offers a wonderful opportunity to explore one of Australia’s historic landmarks and get a taste of life in this harsh era.
Old Wentworth Gaol was designed by colonial architect James Barnett. The small single-storey brick gaol with bluestone trim was the first of the Australian-designed gaols, with Hay and Dubbo gaols to follow.
The gaol was originally designed to house local criminals but also served as a detention centre for Indigenous people and petty offenders. The new gaol replaced over-crowded lockups and was utilised until its closure in 1927 when it was transformed into extra classrooms for Wentworth Central School until 1963.
The structure is a classic example of colonial Australian prison architecture, featuring high stone walls, iron-barred windows, and a central courtyard surrounded by cells.
On a self-guided tour, visitors can delve into Old Wentworth Gaol’s rich history, with exhibits detailing the daily life of inmates, the architecture of the building, and the broader history of the region. The gaol has also gained a reputation for being one of Australia’s most haunted locations.
The town of Wentworth was named after William Charles Wentworth, an Australian statesman, politician, explorer, lawyer, pastoralist, newspaper editor and author. Wentworth was born on the HMS Surprize which transported convicts and supplies to Norfolk Island in 1790.
He lived a long successful life, becoming one of the wealthiest and most powerful figures in colonial NSW. Wentworth, William Lawson and Gregory Blaxland led an 1813 expedition across the Blue Mountains in 1823, becoming the first successful British to travel through the region.
Wentworth was the leading advocate for the rights of emancipists, trial by jury and representative self-government. He led the drafting of New South Wales' first self-governing constitution that established the Parliament of New South Wales.
With Robert Wardell, Wentworth established Australia's first independent newspaper leading to the introduction of press freedom in the country. He was involved in legislating for Australia's first university, the University of Sydney.
The gaol is located on Beverley Street Wentworth. The town is 34 kilometres west of the Victorian regional city of Mildura. The famous mining city of Broken Hill is 266 kilometres north along the Silver City Highway.
The town of Wentworth was named in 1859 after the famous explorer and politician William Charles Wentworth.
Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the Old Wentworth Gaol with a site map available. The gaol tour is both fascinating and bleak, a grim reminder of the harsh days of colonial settlement.
The Gaol Warden’s residence has an extensive range of souvenirs, gifts and old wares.
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