Claremont Museum > Records

Bathurst Gaol

Sharkey Collection
c. 1895
Overview

Impressive stone entry with lion's head as keystone of arch, coat of arms and heavy pediment above. Infill has two barred windows and two doors. Three-storey wing on left has small windows: larger wing on right has upper balcony and arches to lower floors. There is an cart, shed and barrels in foreground

Historical information

Bathurst Gaol (later renamed the Bathurst Correctional Centre) was proclaimed on 7 June 1888, and built at a cost of just over 102,000 pounds.

The building contained 308 cells and "commodious workshops" was complete and partly occupied in 1888.

The hand-carved sandstone gate at the gaol featured an ornate sculptured lion's head holding a key that is a Victorian symbol designed to impress wrongdoers with the immense power and dignity of the law.

Legend has it that when the key falls from the lion's mouth, all prisoners are allowed to go free.

Source: Wikipedia

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-28--9-172-c
Item type
Photographs
Themes
Social History
Contextual Information

Australian social history from the collection of photographs and albums donated to the museum by Raymond Sharkey's family.

Raymond John Sharkey an architect, surveyor and amateur photographer was born in 1868 in New South Wales. Raymond was a Claremont resident when he died at an early age.

Year
c. 1895
Geotag
-33.417736547553, 149.55793989557

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Links to additional resources
Claremont Museum.
Last modified
Friday, 27 June, 2025
Completeness
94
Copyright category
Date of creation +70 years
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For authorisation to reproduce, publish or display, please contact the Claremont Museum.

Attribution requirements

Acknowledgements to be made to 'Claremont Museum 09.172c'

Copyright holder
Claremont Museum, Town of Claremont, Western Australia, 6010
Claremont Museum

Claremont Museum

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Bathurst Gaol
Bathurst Gaol
Source: Claremont Museum 09.172c

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