| Photographs | View Photo Database Record View Photo Database Record |
|---|---|
| List | Register of the National Estate (Non-statutory archive) |
| Class | Historic |
| Legal Status | Included place before RNE closed. Record for reference only, no statutory basis (21/03/1978) |
| Place ID | 2198 |
| Place File No | 1/12/036/0393 |
| Statement of Significance |
|---|
|
This is the oldest surviving large gaol complex in
Australia. It is well designed and largely intact; constructed entirely of
sandstone the workmanship is extremely good. Chapel considered one of finest
examples of stonemason's art in Australia. Construction commenced with pegging
out by Francis Greenway in 1821 (his outer walls still remain). S L Harris took
over 1823-24, then M Lewis in 1835 refused Greenway's plans and began his own.
Finished fifty years later. (The Commission is in the process of developing and/or upgrading official statements for places listed prior to 1991. The above data was mainly provided by the nominator and has not yet been revised by the Commission.) |
| Official Values Not Available |
| Description |
| Outer walls commenced to F Greenway's designs, 1821. S L Harris completed them 1823-24 and in 1835 work resumed to new plan of M Lewis. It consisted of a central roundhouse from which various long cell block wings radiated, with staff quarters, Morgue, Governor's Residence, Workshops and other buildings dotted around the perimeter. Plan finished fifty years later. Constructed of sandstone, two or three storeys high. Workmanship of very high quality. |
| History Not Available |
| Condition and Integrity |
| With the exception of the Y block, where large windows have been inserted, most buildings have been sympathetically treated, although some maintenance work is of poor quality and some minor additions are out of character. Such faults will eventually be rectified. |
| Location |
| Including walls and gates, cell blocks and other buildings bounded by Burton and Forbes Streets and Darlinghurst Road, and the Darlinghurst Court, Darlinghurst. |
| Bibliography |
|
'Hope
in Hell - a History of Darlinghurst Gaol and the National Art
School' by Deborah Beck,
published by Allen and Unwin, 2005, SBN No 1 74114 739 5 |
Report Produced Tue Mar 25 08:20:52 2025