Page 6 - Kimberly 2009

Fannie Bay Gaol is a historic gaol in The gallows remain on public view,
Fannie Bay, Northern Territory, The last executions in Darwin were and visitors can push the lever that
Australia. The gaol operated as Her held at Fannie Bay Gaol in 1952, operated the trap. The prison was
Majesty's Gaol and Labour Prison, when Jerry Coci and Jonus Novotny, damaged, along with much of
from 20 September 1883 until 1 Czechoslovakian immigrants, were Darwin, by Cyclone Tracy in 1974.
September 1979. hanged for the murder of a taxi
driver. At first female prisoners were
housed in the Gaoler's
accommodation but in 1928 a
female section was constructed and
male and female prisoners were
held in separate buildings. The
female prison block included a
small garden designed to keep the
prisoners busy. There was also a
block for children, which in the
early 1970s was also used for
refugees who had arrived by boat.

Two cells were placed in the middle
of the lawn for violent or mentally
ill inmates. These cells included a
small yard encased with cyclone
fencing. Maximum security cells
included hooks mounted into the
walls for the restraint of inmates
and very narrow doorways to
In 1888, Deputy Sheriff (and later The gallows were constructed prevent inmates escaping when a
Government Resident) John especially for this execution, in the guard entered.
George Knight collected sketches infirmary. A pit was dug into the
and drawings made by Aboriginal floor at one end of the building, with The gaol was listed on the now-
prisoners to be displayed at the brick walls either side to support the defunct Register of the National
Melbourne Centennial Exhibition beam. A small trapdoor and flight of Estate in 1983 and on the Northern
under the title, The Dawn of Art.[1] steps led down into the pit for the Territory Heritage Register in
Dr Philip Jones, Senior Curator, doctor to examine the bodies after 1995.[2][3]
Department of Anthropology, the drop. The prisoners were held in
South Australian Museum, has wire cages at the other end of the The gaol is now a museum open to
called this the first exhibition of infirmary prior to execution. the public.
Aboriginal art.

Separate Confinement <<< The sign