Goulburn Correctional Centre complex

Item details


Name of item:	Goulburn Correctional Centre complex
Other name/s:	Goulburn Gaol; Goulburn Training Centre
Type of item:	Landscape
Group/Collection:	Landscape - Cultural
Category:	Gaol/Lock-up
Location:	Lat: -34.7414910318 Long: 149.7404997320
Primary address:	Maud Street (off), Goulburn, NSW 2580
Local govt. area:	Goulburn Mulwaree
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Pejar
Hectares (approx):	32.58

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	22		DP	1177534
LOT	2		DP	727649

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Maud Street (off)	Goulburn	Goulburn Mulwaree			Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Corrective Services - Department of Communities and Justice	State Government	25 Nov 98

Description


Designer/Maker:	W Coles and J Barnett; Colonial Architects Office
Builder/Maker:	Frederick Lemm
Construction years:	1881-1884
Physical description:	The old gaol complex was built to a radiating plan, symmetrical about the axis of the main gateway in a Victorian Classical style. The stone and brick facade is of vermiculated ashlar stone pilasters which taper slightly towards the top on either side of the arched gateway. Above the arched gate and brick bays is a machicolation motif and a parapet with the colonial coat of arms mounted on a pediment. The gaol complex is substantially sandstone and brick with slate roofing. (Heritage Group 1995)
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Physical condition is excellent.
Modifications and dates:	1893 - new wing added 1894 - new female prison cells constructed 1897-99 - 13 acres of land used for agriculture 1916 - new bakery built 1957-1961 - cell block built outside the gaol walls to accommodate prisoners employed in the agricultural area. 1966-1967 - new education block and auditorium constructed.


Current use:	Correctional Centre
Former use:	Aboriginal land, Gaol

History

Historical notes:

A gaol has existed in Goulburn since 1841(now the site of the Goulburn Courthouse), although the current correctional centre was built in 1881. For eighty years up to the 1970s, Goulburn was the establishment within the NSW penal system with a particular role in the reformation of first time and young offenders. It had a long history of agricutural and industrial training and education and built up a strong economic and social association with the town of Goulburn (Kerr 1994: iv).

The plan for the complex was developed in 1879, in J. Barnet's office under the supervision of William Coles (State Projects 1995; Kerr 1994). It was built by Frederick Lemm of Sydney between 1881 and 1884 at a cost of sixty-one thousand pounds. The new gaol was part of the public works boom in the town during the 1869 - 86 period and boosted employment as well as local industry (State Projects 1995). In 1893 a new wing was added and in 1894, a range of cells were constructed for female prisoners. Areas for agricultural cultivation were introduced in 1897-1899 and a bakery was constructed in 1916. In 1957 work commenced on a new cell block outside the walls of the gaol to accommodate prisoners employed at the agricultural area. This wing opened in 1961. During 1966-1967 a new education block and auditorium were completed (State Projects 1995). In 1986-1988 the first major redevelopment project was undertaken. It involved the extension of the perimeter walls to include a new industrial and sports area and the construction of a high security segregation unit (Kerr 1994: 20-21).

James Johnstone Barnet (1827-1904) was made acting Colonial Architect in 1862 and appointed Colonial Architect from 1865-90. He was born in Scotland and studied in London under Charles Richardson, RIBA and William Dyce, Professor of Fine Arts at King's College, London. He was strongly influenced by Charles Robert Cockerell, leading classical theorist at the time and by the fine arts, particularly works of painters Claude Lorrain and JRM Turner. He arrived in Sydney in 1854 and worked as a self-employed builder. He served as Edmund Blacket's clerk of works on the foundations of the Randwick (Destitute Childrens') Asylum. Blacket then appointed Barnet as clerk-of-works on the Great Hall at Sydney University. By 1859 he was appointed second clerk of works at the Colonial Architect's Office and in 1861 was Acting Colonial Architect. Thus began a long career. He dominated public architecture in NSW, as the longest-serving Colonial Architect in Australian history. Until he resigned in 1890 his office undertook some 12,000 works, Barnet himself designing almost 1000. They included those edifices so vital to promoting communication, the law and safe sea arrivals in colonial Australia. Altogether there were 169 post and telegraph offices, 130 courthouses, 155 police buildings, 110 lockups and 20 lighthouses, including the present Macquarie Lighthouse on South Head, which replaced the earlier one designed by Francis Greenway. Barnet's vision for Sydney is most clearly seen in the Customs House at Circular Quay, the General Post Office in Martin Place and the Lands Department and Colonial Secretary's Office in Bridge Street. There he applied the classicism he had absorbed in London, with a theatricality which came from his knowledge of art (Le Sueur, 2016, 6).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Introduce cultural planting-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Changing the environment-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Convict-Activities relating to incarceration, transport, reform, accommodation and working during the convict period in NSW (1788-1850) - does not include activities associated with the conviction of persons in NSW that are unrelated to the imperial 'convict system': use the theme of Law & Order for such activities	Demonstrating convicts' experiences and activities-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Convict-Activities relating to incarceration, transport, reform, accommodation and working during the convict period in NSW (1788-1850) - does not include activities associated with the conviction of persons in NSW that are unrelated to the imperial 'convict system': use the theme of Law & Order for such activities	Administering the convict system-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Significant Places How are significant places marked in the landscape by, or for, different groups-Monuments and Sites
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings	Developing local, regional and national economies-National Theme 3
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Townships-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Land tenure-Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal	Changing land uses - from rural to suburban-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	19th century government - a regional centre-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	State government-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - managing the convict system-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Public works-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - administering the justice system-
7. Governing-Governing	Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.	Developing roles for government - building and operating public infrastructure-
7. Governing-Governing	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	Jail-
7. Governing-Governing	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	Detaining young offenders-
7. Governing-Governing	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	Incarcerating prisoners-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life	Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups	Associations with James Barnet, Colonial (Government) Architect 1862-90-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The Goulburn Correctional Centre has a recorded association with a number of famous and infamous characters, both staff and inmates, including a Victoria Cross winner, bushrangers, larrikins, labour leaders and murderers (Kerr 1994: 22).
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The Goulburn Correctional Centre is significant for the strength of its original radial plan centred on the chapel, and the strength of the spatial relationships created by the plan. It is significant for the quality, inventiveness and durability of its original masonry, the unusually fine and sturdy roof structures in the chapel and radial wings and the harmonious textures and colours of its original brick, stone, render, slate and iron work. It has a pleasant location above the junction of the Wollondilly and Mulwarree Ponds with views to the north and east (Kerr 1994: 22).
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The Goulburn Correctional Centre has a close relationship with Goulburn township. Both town and institution have grown together and are economically and socially interdependent. Goulburn has become the major judicial and penal centre of the Southern Highlands (Kerr 1994: 22).
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The Goulburn Correctional Centre is significant because of the way its continous 110 year history of penal use is embodied in its physical fabric and documentary history (Kerr 1994: 22).
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	Goulburn was one of the two Maclean inspired gaols in NSW which best incorporated all that had been learned of penal design in the nineteenth century. The other, Bathurst, has lost its chapel and been substantially remodelled (Kerr 1994: 22).
Integrity/Intactness:	Most of the original structures remain in good condition. Subsequent additions have not compromised their integrity.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended management:

Recommendations

Management Category	Description	Date Updated
Recommended Management	Review a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)
Recommended Management	Prepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines
Recommended Management	Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) OF THE HERITAGE ACT 1977 Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977. I, the Hon James Griffin MP, Minister for Environment and Heritage, pursuant to subsection 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales do by this Order, effective at the time of publication in the New South Wales Government Gazette: 1. revoke the order made on 9 November 2020 and published in the Government Gazette Number 318 of 13 November 2020; and 2. grant the exemptions from subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977 that are described in the attached Schedule. The Hon James Griffin MP Minister for Environment and Heritage Signed this 2nd day of June 2022. To view the standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977 click on the link below.	Jun 17 2022

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register	00808	02 Apr 99	27	1549
Heritage Act - s.170 NSW State agency heritage register	007	13 Feb 95
National Trust of Australia register
Register of the National Estate		01 Jan 77

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Department of Corrective Services: Interim Heritage and Conservation Register	1995	007	State Projects Heritage Group		No

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	James Semple Kerr	2000	Goulburn Correctional Centre: A Plan for the Conservation of the Precinct and its Buildings	View detail
Written	Le Sueur, Angela	2016	Government Architects - part 2

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5000652
File number:	S94/00024/01

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