Gaol Cells

There are 8 small cells which were for British/European prisoners. The large cell (beside the exercise yard) was for Indigenous prisoners. Not long after the cells were built, a prisoner - John Williams - escaped by digging through the soft limestone wall with his hands and pulling the iron barred window out. Four of the small cells walls were then lined with jarrah boards and obviously used to house what was considered the worst offender Prisoners would spend up to 9.5 hours locked in the cells at night. Prisoner food was very basic – bread and tea for breakfast and dinner, meat and potatoes for lunch. The policeman’s wives did the cooking for the prisoners but it was the police officers who were paid the extra allowance of 3 shillings and 6 pence! In today’s money that is 36 cents!

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