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1880
2 October 1880
1895
20 December 1895
The Gaol is a comparatively old structure, in which improvements have been carried out from time to time to bring it up to the state desirable for such an institution. We cannot say that we hope for its enlargement, because that would mean that we would like to see an increase in crime and convictions, but we hope yet to see it fitted up to accommodate prisoners who will be engaged in working up into many forms the splendid marble, which is of undoubted quality, to be found in such immense quantities in the Buckaroo Mountains, four or five miles out. The Gaol is very complete. There is accommodation for 72 prisoners, 60 males and 12 females. There is the usual hospital, a condemned cell, and a yard in which, as occasion demands, a gallows can be erected. Executions, however, are few and far between in Mudgee, the only one during the past 10 years being that of Jimmy Hoy, a Chinaman who murdered a fellow countryman in Mudgee a few years ago. Mr. H. Cotter is now the gaoler, and has under him a staff of five warders and one senior warder. Mrs. Cotter holds the position of mmnm. At present there are only 22 prisoners in the gaol1
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1935
4 July 1935
MUDGEE GAOL
THEN - NOW
No Oil Painting To-day
ON the 4th of June, 1880, according to the Parliamentary Hansard of that date. Mr. David Buchanan rose to move in the State House: "That in the opinion of this House the petition signed by over 1,300 of the residents of Mudgee, and presented to this House, complaining of the serious injury to various classes of tradesmen through the extensive manufacture and sale of different articles by the prisoners confined in the Gaol of Mudgee. should be taken into consideration by the Government, and some means adopted to prevent this prison labor coming into injurious competition with the mechanics and laborers of Mudgee, who depend upon their labor for the support of themselves and family."
In the 80's - and prior thereto - Mudgee Gaol was an establishment of some importance. However, if David Buchanan could rise up today and see the establishment in regard to which he spoke in the State Talking Shop on the 4th of June, I860, we venture to say he would not feel very proud of the building - however much he might feel of its emptiness. Situate in the main artery leading into the town, the old gaol was - a few months ago - more of an eyesore from neglect and decay than anything else. If the building is not needed as a reformatory or anything of the kind, then it should be wiped out. If it is used for some worthy purpose today, then it might well be kept in decent and presentable order. Could the walls of Mudgee Gaol but speak, what reminiscences of other days, to be sure, would be related. "Wingham Chronicle"2
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