Oatlands Gaol - Tasmania

The largest building remaining in the former Oatlands Military Precinct, the Oatlands Gaol opened in 1837.[1] The gaol was built to hold 300 inmates and was the ‘only regional gaol in the colony where executions were commonplace.’[2] Oatlands Gaol was designed by Colonial Architect, John Lee Archer and was erected between 1834 and 1836.[3]

The gaol held female and male prisoners and was the largest gaol complex outside of Hobart and Launceston.[4] It was the only regional gaol in Tasmania to have its own Supreme Court House attached.[5]

The Oatlands Gaol operated for 26 years, being decommissioned in 1863. It then became a municipal gaol.




18 men were hung at Oatlands Gaol between 1844 and 1860.

• Alexander Reid - 24 April 1844 – Hanged at Oatlands for shooting and wounding Constable Murray.[6]
  
  
•  Thomas Marshall – 24 April 1844 – Hanged at Oatlands for the murder of Ben Smith.[7]
  
  
• Richard Jackson - 1 May 1845 - Hanged at Oatlands for the rape of Elizabeth Davis.[8]
  
  
• John Phillips – 4 February 1846 – Hanged at Oatlands for setting fire to the magistrate's oat stacks following a conviction for sly grog selling.[9]
  
  
•  James Sullivan – 9 May 1848 – Hanged at Oatlands for the attempted murder of Constable James Kelly at Swanston, near Andover.[10]
  
  
• Patrick Shea – 9 May 1848 – Hanged at Oatlands for the attempted murder of Constable James Kelly at Swanston.[11]
  
  
• James McGough – 9 May 1848 – Hanged at Oatlands for the attempted murder of Constable James Kelly at Swanston.[12]
  
  
• John Shale – 9 May 1848 - Hanged at Oatlands for wounding John Connell with intent to murder.[13]
  
  
• Thomas Smith – 4 August 1848 – Hanged at Oatlands for stabbing with intent to murder Constable Clough at Jericho.[14]
  
  
• Jeremiah Maher – 4 August 1848 – Hanged at Oatlands for stabbing with intent to murder Constable Clough at Jericho.[15]
  
  
• William Henry Stevens - 25 April 1851 - Convict. Hanged at Oatlands for Assaulting James Moore, being armed with a gun on the high road between Antill Ponds
• and Tunbridge.[16]
  
  
• George Mackie – 21 July 1851 – Hanged at Oatlands for the murder of Thomas Gilbert at Waters Meeting, near Cranbrook.[17]
  
  
•  John Crisp – 27 October 1851 – Hanged at Oatlands for Wounding with Intent Constable William Donohoo at Swansea.[18]
  
  
• William Henry Stephens – 25 April 1851 – Hanged at Oatlands for the attempted murder of Thomas Moore at Antill Ponds.
  
  
• Patrick McMahon – 28 October 1852 – Hanged at Oatlands for rape of a child.
  
  
• Michael Casey – 5 August 1856 – Hanged at Oatlands for the attempted murder of John Hewitt at Falmouth.
  
  
• Abraham Munday – 27 October 1857 – Hanged at Oatlands for attempted murder by poison of George White at Courland Bay.
  
  
•  Richard "Long Mick" Ennis – 27 October 1857 – Hanged at Oatlands for the murder of George Sturgeon at Kitty's Corner, near Antill Ponds.
  
  
•  John Vigors – 31 January 1860 – Hanged at Oatlands for Shooting with Intent at John Baker at Ellerslie.[19]

For more information on Oatlands please visit Southern Midlands Council's website here: https://www.southernmidlands.tas.gov.au/oatlands-gaol/

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2022

[1] Brad Williams, ‘Oatlands Gaol Historical Study and Archaeological Survey’, Southern Midlands Council, (2004), p. 9, https://www.southernmidlands.tas.gov.au/assets/southernmidlands_williams_arch_survey_2004.pdf.

[2] Ibid., p. 2.

[3] Barry and Eleanor Bjorksten, ‘Oatlands Gaol Remedial Works Report.’, Southern Midlands Council, (2004), p. 11, https://www.southernmidlands.tas.gov.au/assets/southernmidlands_bjorksten_2004.pdf.

[4] Williams, ‘Oatlands Gaol Historical Study and Archaeological Survey’, p. 9.

[5] Brad Williams, ‘Oatlands Gaol Interpretation Plan.’, Southern Midlands Council, (2011), p. 4, https://www.southernmidlands.tas.gov.au/assets/southernmidlands_gaol_interps_plan.pdf.

[6] 'Execution at Oatlands.’, The Courier, (26 April 1844), p. 3., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2951132.

[7] Ibid.

[8] 'Oatlands Assizes.', The Courier, (8 April 1845), p. 3., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2948998.

[9] 'Oatlands Assizes.', The Courier, (17 January 1846), p. 2., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2946459.

[10] 'Domestic Intelligence.', Colonial Times, (12 May 1848), p. 3., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8762811.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Ibid.

[14] 'Domestic Intelligence.', Colonial Times, (8 August 1848), p. 3., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8763241.

[15] Ibid.

[16] 'Oatlands.', The Courier, (30 April 1851), p. 2., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article296097.

[17] 'Execution at Oatlands.', The Cornwall Chronicle, (26 July 1851), p. 468., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65574090.

[18] 'Executions.', The Tasmanian Colonist, (27 October 1851), p. 2., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226525096.

[19] 'Execution and Confession of Vigors at Oatlands.', Launceston Examiner, (2 February 1860), p. 3. (AFTERNOON), http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38999069.

The Ghosts of Old Geelong Gaol.

The Ghosts of Old Geelong Gaol.

Old Geelong Gaol - source: Geelong Gaol Museum

 The Old Geelong Gaol was decommissioned from service in July 1991. From its opening in 1853 until its closure the gaol saw hundreds, possibly thousands of deaths. Two of those deaths were executions, and some were murders, but there were also many suicides, accidental deaths and deaths from illness. (the Geelong Gaol was used as a hospital for Victorian criminals). I have chronicled some of those deaths in previous posts on this blog.

 Ghost stories were often told by the prisoners themselves inside the gaol. Prisoners often reported the sounds of young girls playing, whistling or singing. This coincides with the known history of the gaol. From 1865 until 1871 the East Wing was used as an Industrial School for girls. It was shut down after a royal commission revealed that its conditions were “many degrees worse than that of any other school”.

 You may remember on Haunting: Australia I captured an EVP of what sounds like a young girl saying “Spooky” after I played a prank on Rayleen near the kitchens in Geelong Gaol. That wasn’t the only odd occurrence. On the top level, there is a room that I can only describe as a double room. We were told that it was used as an exercise room for young girls. During Haunting: Australia I captured on a video a shadow person, about the height of an 11-year-old girl, on video. The image blocks the light coming into the room from outside. The footage wasn’t used in the episode as the executive producer didn’t think it was “strong enough evidence” (but some of the things I contested as evidence made it into the show – go figure!).

Cell 55: The condemned man cell, used for holding men due for executions seems to be the epicentre of this haunting, with many people reporting paranoia, cold spots, being touched, and seeing a black shadow move through this area.
 One spirit identified in this area is that of executed murderer James Murphy. Murphy has been seen in the condemned man's cell and on the hanging platform. He has also been reported as standing around the cardboard cuttings that depict his hanging.

Cell 45: This cell is considered one of the most haunted in the gaol. Past inmates claimed to have heard girls screaming from inside and outside this cell while being imprisoned there. Others have claimed being pushed by unseen forces, and even pinched while in this cell.

Cell 75: This cell is home to a spirit nicknamed “Ranga”. It is claimed Ranga is the ghost of a former paedophile. Often people report the overwhelming stench of fresh urine in this cell. One ghost hunter claimed that he was punched so hard by an invisible force in this cell, that others outside could hear the physical impact of the spectral thumping!
 It is claimed Ranga stalks people he considers weaker than himself. He preys on these people and physically attacks them. He has been seen in the cell sitting on his bed, sometimes as a forming apparition, sometimes as an imprint upon the bed.

 The Morgue is claimed to be haunted by a spirit named Mary. No one is exactly sure who Mary might be, whether she was one of the schoolgirls or a prisoner who died while giving birth in the gaol hospital above. Or even a female prisoner's suicide. Mary makes her presence known in the morgue, but she is not the only ghost haunting this section of the gaol. Another spirit in the morgue is a male, who presses his face against the glass room divider and stares at those near the autopsy table.
 there have also been reports of ghost hunters being physically pushed out of the morgue, and people leaving with bruises from un-felt altercations with spirit.

Rayleen Kable in the Geelong Gaol Kitch during Haunting: Australia 2013

The Kitchens: located on the ground floor, the kitchen is reported to be haunted by an aggressive male spirit who likes to grab women’s breasts and behinds. This spirit has been known to run its hands up women’s thighs and do a manoeuvre Donald Trump has made famous!
 This spirit also plays with women’s hair and has been known to become aggressive to males, often scratching them.

External Shower Block: This area is reported to be haunted by former prisoners that were shanked. Ian Lawman, during Haunting: Australia, claimed to have psychically picked up on one prisoner’s near-death shanking experience in this section of the gaol. Other people report feeling very uncomfortable in this section of the gaol.

Gaurav Tiwari's full-spectrum "Gaol Gaurd" photograph 2013

 Centre-Circle: This is the section of the gaol where the prisoner's guard box is located. It is designed to be able to see clearly down all four wings of the gaol. During a meeting before filming Haunting: Australia, I noticed a man on the third level looking over the railings down at the team. He was dressed in dark blue, but his facial features were indistinguishable. Later, during an interview, while I was on camera, I heard footsteps walking along the gangway above me. The footsteps caught on camera, come along a level above then walk down the stairs right where I was being interviewed.
 This is also the section of the gaol where Gaurav Tiwari caught his full-spectrum photograph of the ghost of a gaol guard. The guard appears to be standing near the staircase looking toward the moan entry of the gaol. What many sceptics of the photo don’t realise is that, on the night, Gaurav and I tried to recreate and debunk the image. I stood in the place where the image is in the photo, and we measured height, circumference etc, to conclude that the image would’ve been at least a foot taller than me (I’m 183 cm – 6 foot) and its appearance seemed ‘stretched out’.
 If you look really closely at Gaurav’s photo you might also notice something else a little odd. The knees of the spirit appear to bend backwards!

Visit the old Geelong Gaol Museum: https://www.facebook.com/geelonggaolmuseum/

Or Geelong Gaol Ghost Tours: https://twistedhistory.net.au/tour/geelong-gaol-ghost-tour/

Allen Tiller © 2019

Cite this article: 

Tiller, A, The Ghosts of Old Geelong Gaol, Eidolon Paranormal Blog, (2019), 

The Demise of John Hassett – Geelong Gaol

The Demise of John Hassett – Geelong Gaol

John Hassett, c. 1890.
PROV, VPRS 515/P0 Central Register of Male Prisoners, Unit 42, Folio 490

 Early in the morning on 25 August 1889, it was alleged that Frances De Veilles and John Hassett attacked Constable Albert Earnest Vizard, with the intent to murder him at Lygon Street, Carlton. They beat the policeman with a leather belt that had a large heavy belt buckle attached to it. When the officer fell to the ground, they kicked him relentlessly.

The attack was witnessed by Patrick Bailey, who grabbed a large stick and beat the assailants away from the police officer. Vizard, who had only been with the police force for a year, was so badly wounded from the assault that he had to retire from the workforce.

 Francis De Veilles was arrested a few days later at Kilmore. He was charged and sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Hassett was arrested a couple of weeks later, and also sentenced to death, and then commuted to life imprisonment – except, Hassett may not have been De Veilles accomplice, but an innocent man found guilty on circumstantial evidence.

 During their court case, it was never inferred in one instance that the two men knew each other, nor did either man state they knew each other. Hassett had wounds on his head, that the prosecution alleged were from the beating given by Bailey, but the chemist who was bought in as a witness to identify Vizard's assailant, stated in court, that he was not sure that Hassett was the correct person as the gentleman he had treated had a much thicker and heavier moustache and beard.

  Whether Hassett was guilty or not, he was sentenced to gaol. He appealed four times to the powers that be to be released, but all his efforts failed. Hassett had been a model prisoner and was soon appointed Assistant to the Dispenser, which gave him extra privileges. He had come to Geelong Gaol from Pentridge Gaol in August 1898, suffering from heart disease. (Geelong Gaol at this time was used to house sick or injured inmates from other gaols in Victoria).

  On the 6th of December 1901, Hassett ran into the Geelong Gaol barber shop which sat across the hall from the Gaol Dispensary. He was crying and asked fellow prisoner, and barber, John Corrigan, to say goodbye to his mother for him. Hassett then ran into the Dispensary and smashed open a large medicine chest.
 Corrigan shouted to a guard named Barnes and both men followed Hassett into the Dispensary. Hassett was drinking from a large bottle. When he saw the two men, he pulled from under his sock a large lance and threatened “rip up” anyone who tried to approach him.

 The effects of the medicines he had swallowed soon consumed Hassett, and he fell to the ground. A stomach pump was applied, but he died just a few hours later. It was later revealed during an inquest that the poison Hassett had consumed contained tinctures of belladonna, opium, digitalis, aconite, and liquid strychnine.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2019

Bibliography

'THE GEELONG GAOL.', The Murchison Times and Day Dawn Gazette, (10 December 1901), p. 2.

'THE SUICIDE IN GEELONG GAOL.', The Age, (9 December 1901), p. 6.

'IN GEELONG GAOL.', The Herald, (7 December 1901), p. 4.

'GEELONG GAOL SUICIDE.', Geelong Advertiser, (10 December 1901), p. 4.

1901 'GEELONG GAOL SUICIDE.', The Argus, 9 December, p. 5

'CAPTURE OF AN ARMED CRIMINAL', The Argus, (28 August 1889), p. 8.

Old Geelong Gaol (part 5): Owen McQueeney – Murderer

Old Geelong Gaol (part 5): Owen McQueeney – Murderer

  In 1858 Owen McQueeney (sometimes spelled McQueeny or Queeny) was accused of killing Elizabeth Lowe at “Green Tent” near Ballarat. Green Tent, where ‘Green Tent Road’ near Meredith in Victoria gets its name, was a small structure that served as a shop and tavern to local gold fields.
  The Green Tent was owned by Mrs Elizabeth Lowe (nee Matheson), who with her husband had established a travelling shop. Her husband had left one day to buy a horse and cart and never returned. Mrs Lowe decided to stay where she was and set up the Green Tent as her shop. She made a lot of money very quickly and was able to purchase a pair of jade earrings that she wore daily which proclaimed her success in business.

  McQueeney was an Irish man, with an imposing disposition and a cataract in one eye, giving him a fearsome look. McQueeney had spent two years in prison for stealing horses and claimed he had come to the gold fields to find some missing bullocks. He leered at the shop owner, Mrs Lowe as he explained his fake story of seeking lost bullocks. The following day he returned and spent the entire day at Green Tent drinking. McQueeney began to visit the Green Tent daily, with locals noting Mrs Lowe’s fear of the man.


  One day, local Revenue Officer, Joseph Smith arrived at the tent, and noticed swirling smoke from the chimney, went inside expecting to be greeted by staff or other visitors, only to find no one inside. Smith decided to wait for Mrs Lowe, thinking she had gone running an errand. He became suspicious when a strange smell came from the chimneys. He went to check and found Mrs Lowe sprawled across the floor, her hair lying in the fire. Smith noticed a gunshot wound, where a bullet had penetrated her eye, and instantly called for help. He rolled Mrs Lowe over and found underneath her body her 2-month-old son, uninjured. He ordered a man nearby to get to the telegraph station and report to the Geelong and Ballarat police that a murder had occurred.


 A local aboriginal tracker came to Smith and showed him tracks leaving the hut. McQueeney had very large feet, which made him easily tracked. A witness spotted him near Meredith, carrying a very large swag. McQueeney was next reported by a local salesperson named Gallagher, near Geelong who he had sold all his tea too. Gallagher stated that McQueeney had sold him the teas because his mother had; “sickened him of it when he was a youngster in England”. This fact would eventually be his undoing.

Trooper McIntyre visited Mrs Adam's boarding house in Geelong. He asked Mrs Adams; “Have you in your establishment a man with one eye that does not like tea?”
Mrs Adams, suspicious of the policeman asked why he needed to know, to which he replied “ murder!”.
Mrs Adams, taken aback by the claim stated: “There’s a cove at my place with a shield over one eye, and only this morning Nellie remarked that he never drank tea.”
Trooper McIntyre arrested McQueeney, earning himself a promotion.


 The police, despite all the evidence they had collected against McQueeney, seemed non-plussed about prosecuting him, putting him in gaol while waiting for more evidence to be procured. McQueeney himself provided the last bit of evidence needed to place him squarely as the murderer.
While in gaol, McQueeney confided in another prisoner who was soon to be released and offered him a pair of jade earrings, telling him to sell them for tobacco, and to get it into the gaol. Instead of following McQueeney’s orders, the prisoner reported the earrings to the Gaoler.

During the trial inquest, Mrs Lowe’s body was exhumed from her grave at Meredith, where it was shown her well-known earrings had been torn from her ears. During his trial on October 9 1858, McQueeney was called to the stand, where he verbally abused all the witnesses, the judge and everyone else in earshot and asked ridiculous questions in what appeared to be a plight to be declared insane.

The sentencing Judge, Mr Justice Williams led proceedings. After all the evidence was submitted, it took the jury just ten minutes to reach their guilty verdict. McQueeney was sentenced to death by hanging.


At 7:30 am on 20 October 1858, McQueeney was taken from his cell by the Governor and hangman. His shackles were removed, and his arms pinioned. Catholic Priest, Father O’Brien read McQueeney his last rites. At 8am, the Sherriff demanded the body of McQueeney and then led the procession to the gallows. McQueeney proclaimed his innocence with every step. Once at the gallows, he claimed he was been manhandled excessively, and ironically, claimed the noose was too tight.
At 8:05am, the pin was pulled, and McQueeney was hung at Gallow’s Flat.[1]

There are claims that after the death of McQueeney, an unusual request was received by the Sherriff. About an hour or so after the execution, a crippled woman sought permission to have her hands “streaked over” by the hands of the dead murderer in the hope of curing her disease!

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2019

Sources:

'GEELONG.', The Argus, (21 October 1858), p. 5.

'GEELONG.', Bendigo Advertiser, (26 July 1858), p. 3.

1858: Owen McQueeney, Green Tent Murderer, ExecutedToday.com (2014), http://www.executedtoday.com/2014/10/20/1858-owen-mcqueeney-green-tent-murderer/

'The Case of the Man Who was Hanged by an Eye', The World's News, (13 October 1937), p. 10.

1858 'THE GREEN TENT MURDER.', The Age, (7 August 1858), p. 5.

'SOCIAL.', The Age, (16 October 1858), p. 5.

Mitchell, Jo, ‘Making tracks - all roads lead to the Green Tent’, Barwon Blog, (29 October 2015), http://barwonblogger.blogspot.com/2015/10/

'THE MURDER AT THE GREEN TENT.', The Argus, (27 July 1858), p. 6.

---

[1] 'GEELONG.', The Argus, (21 October 1858), p. 5.

Old Geelong Gaol (HM Prison Geelong) (part 1)

Old Geelong Gaol (HM Prison Geelong)
Part 1

 Geelong Gaol was built in sections over a period from 1849 until 1864. It was built with locally sourced bluestone, volcanic rock and brick. Its design is based on English gaol, Pentonville Prison in north London. The building appears as a large cross from above (cruciform). 
  The east and west wings served as cell blocks for prisoners, with the north wing serving as an administration wing. The southern wing of Geelong Gaol served as a Kitchen on the lower floor, a tailoring workshop and a hospital as well as a toilet block. A shower block was later added on the east wing of the cell blocks.
 The gaol was built with convict labour, with convicts being housed on floating prison barges on Corio Bay.

An 1850 Argus newspaper article made note of the cost of staff for the gaol proposed for the year 1851:

·         A Gaoler (Governor) at 125 pounds per year.
·         A Surgeon at 40 pounds per year.
·         A visiting Justice at 40 pounds per year.
·         Two Chaplains at 20 pounds each per year.
·         A Matron at 25 pounds per year.
·         A Clerk at 84 pounds per year.
·         A Superintendent of treadmills at 3 shillings 6 pence per diem.
·         Four Turnkeys at 3 shillings and 6 pence per diem.
·         One female Turnkey at 2 shillings and 3 pence per diem. [1]

The first appointed ’Keeper’ of the Gaol was Sergeant Ashley, of the State’s Detective Force announced in January 1851.[2]

The gaol was used for various purposes over the years:

·         In 1853, the gaol received its first occupant.
·         1853 until 1865 the building was used as a gaol for convicts
·         1865 until 1872 the building was used as an industrial school for girls (street kids) housing 180 children aged 9 to 16 who were abandoned during the gold rush.
·         From 1877 – 1940 it was a hospital gaol
·         From 1940 until 1947 it was an Australian army detention centre.
·         From 1947 until 1958 it returned to being used as a gaol hospital
·         From 1958 until its closure in 1991 it was used as a training prison, retraining the state’s worst prisoners.
·         1998 - 2019, the Geelong Gaol has housed Rotary International, and Lazarus Community Centre (from 2016)
·         2018 the site was purchased by Montgomery International who are going to re-develop the site in a heritage-appropriate manner.

 

Geelong Gaol Cell Block - photo: Allen Tiller

The Geelong Gaol cells never contained heating, cooling or any plumbing. Prisoners were forced to use buckets for toilets, emptying them every morning.

 There were six executions at the Geelong Gaol, most of which happened outside the gaol at Gallows Flat. Gallows flat was approximately 200 meters down the road from the gaol where present-day St Mary's Hall sits (162-190 Myers Road) it sat between Myers Road and Little Ryrie Street.[3]

EXECUTIONS:

·         1854: George Roberts (16 December); murder. Gallows Flat
·         1854: John Gunn (9 November); murder. Gallows Flat
·         1856: James Ross (22 April); murder. Gallows Flat
·         1858: Owen McQueeny (20 October); murder. Gallows Flat
·         1863: James Murphy (6 November), murder. Permanent Gallows inside the gaol.
·         1865: Thomas Menard (28 October), murder. Permanent Gallows inside the gaol.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller ©2019

Other Sources:

The Old Geelong Gaol, Intown, (2018) https://www.intown.com.au/locals/geelong/attractions/geelong_gaol.htm

Former Geelong Gaol, Heritage Council Victoria, (21 February 1997), https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/539

Exciting vision for Geelong Gaol revealed, City of Greater Geelong, (27 July 2018), https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/news/item/8d5f3a6a93a67b2.aspx

[1] 'Domestic Intelligence.', The Argus, (18 July 1850), p. 2.
[2] 'LOCAL INTELLIGENCE', The Melbourne Daily News, (30 January 1851), p. 2.
[3] 'TOWN TALK.', Geelong Advertiser, (30 November 1898), p. 2.

Old Geelong Gaol Paranormal Investigation with Allen Tiller

Want to investigate the Old Geelong Gaol with Allen Tiller? 

As many of you know, I don't run investigation nights very often, but this year, I am running two investigation evenings at the Old Geelong Gaol on the 28th and 29th of August.

This is a massive goal, considered very haunted, and is the place that Gaurav Tiwari famously snapped a full spectrum photograph of what is believed to be a guard that haunts the gaol.

Each night is limited to 15 guests. from 8:30pm until 2am. With a short talk and tour before we start investigating, and plenty of time for you to explore. If you have ghost hunting equipment, you are more than welcome to bring it along...

 
BOOK HERE: https://www.trybooking.com/BCZDY