Penskinova
Yatala Labour Prison
Rear view of Yatala Labour Prison (B-Division).
For the first five years of South Australian settlement there was no permanent prison. Prisoners were kept locked in irons onboard HMS Buffalo until its sailing in 1837, and in temporary jails subsequently. 1841 saw the first permanent prison built in Adelaide, with the Adelaide Gaol on the banks of the River Torrens, the building of which severely strained the new colony's finances.
Twenty five prisoners were sent to Dry Creek to work the quarries in July 1854, living at night in an iron house. Dry Creek prison was officially declared a gaol on 10 Aug 1854.
The Prison began as an iron house with surrounding palisade and became known as The Stockade. The construction of a stone building was requested and by October 1854 this was completed using locally quarried bluestone, with accommodation for 60 prisoners.
In its early years rock-cracking, hard labour and solitary confinement were the notable features of life at the prison.
The first batch of 24 convicts was sent to the prison from Adelaide gaol on 9 February 1855 wearing the characteristic broad arrow pattern prison clothes of the time and the first escape from the prison took place October 1855 with 8 escapees. The Prisoners were captured, chained in solitary confinement within the prison, then subsequently punished with 50 lashes for the escape and other disciplinary issues.
The prison has been expanded over the years and consists of 4 units:
B-Division - high and medium security, and prisoners requiring protection.
E-Division - all security classifications for assessment, prisoner induction.
F-Division - working division close to the prisons industries facilities.
G-Division - highest security section of the prison.
Some of the original buildings and parts of old equipment can still be seen from a creek level walking trail, between the prison and new suburb of Walkley Heights. These include guard towers, quarries, a blacksmith's shop and a gunpowder magazine.
Yatala Labour Prison
Rear view of Yatala Labour Prison (B-Division).
For the first five years of South Australian settlement there was no permanent prison. Prisoners were kept locked in irons onboard HMS Buffalo until its sailing in 1837, and in temporary jails subsequently. 1841 saw the first permanent prison built in Adelaide, with the Adelaide Gaol on the banks of the River Torrens, the building of which severely strained the new colony's finances.
Twenty five prisoners were sent to Dry Creek to work the quarries in July 1854, living at night in an iron house. Dry Creek prison was officially declared a gaol on 10 Aug 1854.
The Prison began as an iron house with surrounding palisade and became known as The Stockade. The construction of a stone building was requested and by October 1854 this was completed using locally quarried bluestone, with accommodation for 60 prisoners.
In its early years rock-cracking, hard labour and solitary confinement were the notable features of life at the prison.
The first batch of 24 convicts was sent to the prison from Adelaide gaol on 9 February 1855 wearing the characteristic broad arrow pattern prison clothes of the time and the first escape from the prison took place October 1855 with 8 escapees. The Prisoners were captured, chained in solitary confinement within the prison, then subsequently punished with 50 lashes for the escape and other disciplinary issues.
The prison has been expanded over the years and consists of 4 units:
B-Division - high and medium security, and prisoners requiring protection.
E-Division - all security classifications for assessment, prisoner induction.
F-Division - working division close to the prisons industries facilities.
G-Division - highest security section of the prison.
Some of the original buildings and parts of old equipment can still be seen from a creek level walking trail, between the prison and new suburb of Walkley Heights. These include guard towers, quarries, a blacksmith's shop and a gunpowder magazine.