Adelaide Gaol, Colonial prison in Thebarton, Australia
Adelaide Gaol is a stone prison in Thebarton built with thick walls, barred windows, and multiple cellblocks connected by a central observation point called The Circle. The facility includes separate areas for different types of inmates, along with courtyards and gardens that shaped daily operations throughout its history.
The facility was established in 1841 during Governor George Gawler's administration and served as a major regional prison for over a century. It operated continuously until 1988, evolving from a colonial-era structure into a complex that reflected changing approaches to incarceration over its long history.
The prison walls hold preserved graffiti left by inmates, offering insights into how people coped with confinement across different periods. These markings tell personal stories and reveal aspects of daily life that official records often overlook.
The site is best explored through guided tours that provide access to original cells, courtyards, gardens, and key areas of the complex. Comfortable shoes are recommended since you will walk on uneven ground and navigate through various buildings connected to the main structure.
The Dame Roma Mitchell Gardens within the prison walls continue to grow vegetables for community meals today. This ongoing practice preserves a tradition from the facility's operational years and demonstrates how confined space can serve productive purposes.
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