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Although it was associated with farming activities at in earlier times, the Richmond District of Tasmania or Van Daemon's Land officially began with the naming of the township in February 1824. Richmond soon became an important centre for the military, and traces of the Barracks foundations may still be located in what is now the Car Park for Richmond’s goal.
Within just over a decade the region had the third largest population on the island, and was a rich agricultural centre for wheat, oats and barley (with attendant mills); and ships were plying the Coal River on the regular Richmond to Hobart run.
From the mid 1820's a burst of building activities in the township required large numbers of convict labourers, and so a local place of imprisonment was needed for those who committed offences while assigned to the building of these public works.
Besides this, the surrounding rural properties belonged to gentleman farmers, including Carrington, that was owned by successive Lt Governors from 1813 to 1836, and these properties had large numbers of assigned Convicts working as slave labourers. What better form of discipline than a stretch in a convenient local gaol, or the lash to keep them in line? Also, Aborigines of the Stony Creek Tribe were imprisoned in Richmond without charge "of any outrage Committed" in 1828. (Given that this was the home of the Colonial Governor, I suppose that that was inevitable.- Editor )
Yummarra an Elder of the Tribe managed to escape but was latter recaptured. At the request of the Governor, George Robinson, a "Conciliator" and On one of his visits on New Year’s Day 1830, he complained about an assault on an aboriginal woman by a soldier on sentry duty, who had attacked her with the but of his musket.
When the Colonial architect, David Lambe visited Richmond on 13 March 1826, he found 'the workmen laying the floors in the Court House and making the doors etc. for the Gaolers quarters'. It seems likely therefore, that he was responsible for the design of the earliest, northern section, of the Gaol also.
Within another year, Governor Arthur could report that a small but substantial goal and courthouse were almost complete, with the materials and construction provided by convict mechanics and labourers. Unhappily, the building itself was not as substantial as first thought, because parts of it actually blow down during a heavy gale in 1827.
The first Gaoler was W. J. Speed, an ex-schoolmaster from Clarence Plains, who apparently had one or two personal problems. He was appointed on 1st February 1826, he was removed from office in 1830, when at the age of seventy years he was charged with keeping rations for himself. Governor Arthur latter learned that he had abandoned his wife and twelve children, keeping her locked in a lunatic asylum is Sydney. R. Dodsworth replaced him.
These early days were in a colourful period of Tasmania’s history, one marked by Aboriginal contact and Bushranging activities.
The Bushranging menace was so considerable that in 1827 the gaoler asked for additional weapons to defend the place if it were to be attacked.
There was great excitement in May of 1838 when Captain Mackenzie and his party rode into town with four captured bushrangers.
Regen, Atteral, Banks and Davis had been marauding the district since February and they were held up in the goal overnight before being taken to Hobart and hanged. The soldiers involved in their capture received rewards and the convicts who helped were granted Free Pardons.
The 1830’s saw a building growth spurt in the amenity areas of the goal with a gaoler’s residence, a new cookhouse and ovens being installed.
An embarrassing series of escapes around 1834-5 caused the place to be described as being "in a state of most dangerous insecurity" and "a complete Thorough-fare". One of these successful escape plans involved lifting the floor boards to gain access to the storage cellar below and then tunnelling out from there. Others just simply climbed over the paling fence of course.
Anyway 16 solitary confinement cells were built and in 1839 a well was dug. Then in 1840, they decided to build a stone wall around the complex. (I love that. Imagine building a wall around a gaol. How creative. - Editor)
That was just about the time that the Chief Gaoler was being locked up in his own goal of course. He was then taken to Hobart Goal for non-payment of debts.
He was replaced by a fellow who proved "from his want of energy, method, and regularity, to be totally unfitted to the Office of Gaoler."
The next one lasted till 1848 when five charges concerning stores and supplies were "more or less substantiated".
The next one was threatened with imprisonment in his own goal for disrespecting a Magistrate.
In 1849 six "notorious scoundrels" escaped by stacking bricks from an "old privy" up against the outer wall to create a staircase, this while all six were wearing chains.
When Transportation ceased the gaol fell into decline and was finally handed of the Police for use as a Watch House.
For a short period it was under the jurisdiction of a Municipal Police Force until the Police Act of 1898 was passed. Funding was finally withdrawn in 1889. The Richmond community and those running the gaol had, for some time, been relying on prison labourers to effect repairs and upkeep of the buildings.
In 1943 the site returned to State control, it became a State reserve in 1945 and in 1971 it came under the care of the National Parks and Wildlife Service who maintain it today as an Historic Site.
Note: I wish thank the officers of National Parks and Wildlife Service for their help in seeing this history published. - John
