Narrabri Gaol and Residence

Item details


Name of item:	Narrabri Gaol and Residence
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Law Enforcement
Category:	Gaol/Lock-up
Location:	Lat: -30.3286099704 Long: 149.7860708220
Primary address:	Bowen Street, Narrabri, NSW 2390
Parish:	Narrabri
County:	Nandewar
Local govt. area:	Narrabri
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Narrabri

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	1	6	DP	758755

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Bowen Street	Narrabri	Narrabri	Narrabri	Nandewar	Primary Address
Barwan Street	Narrabri	Narrabri	Narrabri	Nandewar	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Narrabri Shire Council	Local Government

Statement of significance:


	Designed by Colonial Architect James Barnett, the gaol has functioned continuously as such for 101 years and, apart from the last 10 years, has operated in the way intended in the original design, representing a system of the administration of punishment that is no longer considered appropriate. The form of the buildings for a country gaol appears to be unique with its formal symmetrical facade and enclosing wall. It is an important part of the streetscape and a dominant element particularly in Bowen Street. Due to its function as a police gaol and its ancillary functions it has become an integral part of life of Narrabri and has strong associations with the local community. (Rhett Partridge & Partner:79)
	Date significance updated: 01 Oct 97
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	James Barnet
Builder/Maker:	J Conlon
Construction years:	1880-1881
Physical description:	A formal composition consisting of a main central wing having an elaborate classical pediment and roof fleche flanked on the street by tall brick walls having rendered quoins and spheres above. A timber verandah frames the main entrance while at the rear there is an extensive range of single storey residential cell and service blocks all of similar stuccoed brick construction. (Parsons and Sheedy 1980) The walls of the building are all solid, generally laid in English bond and are substantial. In the residential section, external walls are 350mm thick and internal walls are 225mm thick. In the gaol section the external walls are 450mm thick and internal walls are 350mm thick. The floors are generally raised approx 750mm above the footpath level. The roof structure is timber with pine boarding on the rafters, oversheeted with corrugated galvanised iron. The structure is double couple close structure with collar ties and substantial ceiling joists. All timbers are cypress pine. (McBean & Crisp 1985:2,3)
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Physical condition is good. Archaelogical potential is low.
Modifications and dates:	1880-1881 - built 1882-1883 - water tank added 1890 - addition (probably kitchen and wash house) 1898 - addition (probably 2 bedrooms, bathroom and verandah) 1946 - demolition of kitchen, wash house, bedrooms, bathrooms, external closet rear porch and steps and infilling the well. Dining room extension and providing a double door link to the exisiting dining room. 1988 - verandah on Bowen Street entrance completely reconstructed with floorboards replaced again in 2010 (DCE, 4). 1995 - perimeter wall to rear courtyard underpinned - extent is unknown (ibid). 1997 - perimeter wall to eastern courtyard underpinned and partially reconstructed (ibid)


Current use:	Museum
Former use:	Aboriginal land, town lot, Gaol

History

Historical notes:

The first government structures to be erected on the site were the first court house, lock-up and lock-up keepers accommodation. In 1865 the lock-up consisted of two cells, accommodating a maximum of six prisoners. In 1875 this was extended by infilling the passage between the two cells, creating an extra cell for two additional prisoners. These structures were located in the area that now forms the forecourt to the second courthouse.

As a result of a number of escapes and influx of prisoners in late 1877, application for additional acccommodation was made by the Acting Gaoler.

Tenders were called in 1880 for the erection of a gaol and residence at Narrabri. The buildings were designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet and the plans were available for inspection at the Colonial Architects Office and at Narrabri Court House.

Tenders closed on 31 September 1880 and the tender of J. Conlon was accepted on 20 October 1880 for 3,590.8.6 pounds. The buildings were constructed from 1880 to 1881.

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).

On the 10 October 1886 the site was notified in the Government Gazette as reserved for a gaolsite, along with reserves for the Court House and Police purposes. (Rhett Partridge & Partners:6-7)

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
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	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Housing public servants and officials-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Accommodating prisoners and internees-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Accommodation-Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities.	Housing (regional towns)-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities	Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages	19th Century Infrastructure-
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	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	The rule of law-
7. Governing-Governing	Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes	Jail-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Visiting heritage places-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Going to a museum-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Activities associated with relaxation and recreation-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Developing collections of items-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	Tourism-
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]	Designed by an important Colonial Architect James Barnett, it has functioned continuously as a gaol for 101 years and apart from the last 10 years has operated in the way intended in the original design, representing a system of the administration of punshment that is no longer considered appropriate. (Rhett Partridge & Partner:79)
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The form of the buildings for a country gaol appears to be unique with its formal symmetrical facade and enclosing wall. It is an important part of the streescape and a dominant element particularly in Bowen Street. (Rhett Partridge & Partner:79)
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	It forms a significant part of the only important group of civil buildings in Narrabri. Due to its function as a police gaol and its ancillary functions it has an integral part of life of Narrabri and has stong associations with the local community. (Rhett Partridge & Partner:79)
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	It is one of only several country goals constructed between 1865-1890 during Barnett's time and is one of the last to be closed. (Rhett Partridge & Partner:79)
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	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

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	00344	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former	00344	15 Mar 85	56	1183
National Trust of Australia register		27 Oct 80
Register of the National Estate		28 Sep 82

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
National Trust Country Register	0		National Trust of Australia (NSW)		No

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Written	DCE Structural & Civil Engineers	2016	Building Condition Report - S2451 - Old Narrabri Gaol, Bowen Street, Narrabri NSW 2390
Tourism	Heritage NSW		Narrabri Old Gaol Museum	View detail
Written	John Carr	2010	Narrabri Gaol Conservation Plan
Written	K Parsons and D Sheedy	1980	National Trust Classification Card - Narrabri Gaol and Residence
Written	Le Sueur, Angela	2016	Colonial Architects - part 2
Written	Mc Bean and Crisp Pty Ltd	1985	Report on Structural Condition of Former Narrabri Gaol
Written	Rhett Partridge & Partners	1986	Narrabri Conservation Plan
Tourism	Tourism NSW	2007	Narrabri Old Gaol and Museum	View detail

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:	5045707
File number:	S90/03726/001 & HC 33172

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

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