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Published: March 31st 2009
After a stormy night we woke to a cloudy but fine day. We drove to the Trial Bay Gaol and explored the old ruins.
Trial Bay Gaol was commenced in 1877 as an experiment in penal reform. It was constructed of locally quarried pink and gray granite with the first wing being completed in 1886 and completed in 1890.
In the 1870s it was decided to build a deepwater harbour at Trial Bay and a breakwater. Subsequently a prison was established and the prisoners began to build the breakwater. However the plan was not a success. Heavy seas washed parts of the breakwater away and the plan was abandoned.
The breakwall was to provide a safe harbour for ships travelling from Sydney to Brisbane but was never completed.
The Gaol was closed in 1903 but reopened in 1915 to hold internees from Germany as a result of World War I, where they were allowed out onto the beaches during the day but locked up at night.
Trial Bay Gaol now houses a museum that covers the history of the gaol and is well worth the visit when you are in the area.
After wandering through the Gaol
Steve and I had a lovely picnic lunch down by the waters edge. In the afternoon we drove out to the Smoky Cape Lighthouse and then in to Town to visit the Art Centre and Horseshoe Bay.
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Sheelagh
non-member comment
The view from the headlands are lovely Sue. Great job!