Darlinghurst Gaol and East Sydney Technical College, approximately 1830s-1970s

PXE 1468

fonds

approximately 1830s-1970s

Graphic Materials, Photographs

910788

58 photographs - black & white - 25.3 x 20.2 cm

Construction on the wall of Darlinghurst Gaol began in 1822, with some of the cellblocks completed in 1840. The first prisoners occupied the gaol in 1841. Darlinghurst Gaol was completed in 1885.

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, Darlinghurst Gaol became increasingly overcrowded, with continuous problems with drainage, security and disease. Plans were made for new gaols in the Sydney area, including the State Penitentiary for Men Long Bay which was opened in 1914.

The old Darlinghurst Gaol was used as an internment camp during World War I.

The site was transferred in 1921 to the New South Wales Department of Education, who adapted the building for use as the East Sydney Technical College. In 1921 the National Art School also took up residence in the old gaol buildings and offered diplomas in painting, sculpture, ceramics, design and commercial art. By the early 1960s the National Art School has nearly 500 full-time and 1,000 part-time students and 93 staff. In 1996 the National Art School became the sole occupant of the complex of buildings.

In the 1950s there was a push to convert part of the Darlinghurst Gaol building to a theatre. This cause gained significant momentum in 1955 when Katharine Hepburn and Robert Helpmann agreed to visit the Cell Block to announce the project. Since the 1980s the Cell Block Theatre has served as a venue for the Art School's formal gatherings and as exhibition space for student works.

Reference:
Library correspondence file
Dictionary of Sydney, http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/darlinghurst_gaol (accessed 20 March 2013)

Photographic copy prints from a variety of sources and ranging from the last days of Darlinghurst Gaol to the 1950s when the Cell Block Theatre was built. Collection includes aerial photographs of the Darlinghurst Gaol site, photographs of site and building plans and photographs from the visit of Katharine Hepburn and Robert Helpmann in 1955.

Photos of Darlinghurst Gaol
1. Gallows, E wing, front view
2. Forbes Street entrance gate with prison guard
3. E Wing entrance door, built 1866
4. Gaol chapel
5. Gaol workshops
6. Manacles on window
7. Interior gaol kitchen
8. Plan of ground floor of workshops c1850s (detail)
9. Plan of ground floor of workshops c1850s (detail)
10. Plan of ground floor of workshops c1850s (detail)
11. Plan of ground floor of workshops c1850s (detail)
12. Plan of ground floor of workshops c1850s (detail)
13. Plan of ground floor of workshops c1850s (detail)
14. Plan of ground floor of workshops c1850s (detail)
15. Plan of ground floor of workshops c1850s (detail)
16. Gaol wall detail – iron rings
17. View from SW guard tower –front wall Forbes Street 1877
18. View from SW guard tower- Governor’s quarters and D wing 1877
19. View from SW guard tower - C Wing and Governor’s quarters 1877
20. Plan for new addition to gaol
21. Plan for gallows platform over Forbes Street gate c 1850s
22. 1861 plan
23. 1836 plan – ground floor
24. 1836 plan Upper storey
25. Darlinghurst Court house from Taylor Square c1870
26. Exercise yard/ mess yards
27. Gaol hospital
28. Taylor Square, man in helmet, looking towards gaol
29. Original entrance to gaol 1871 with guards at front
30. Gallows Ewing, angled view c1900
31. View across site from NW guardhouse – back of morgue, photo studio on right
32. Inside atrium of E wing, Gallows door on middle level
33. Forbes Street from Taylor Square – elevated view
34. E wing interior
35. Inside male hospital of gaol (empty)
36. E wing interior – door 60 on left
37. NW Guard tower with guard
38. Governor’s quarters, façade
39. Letter – description of early plans for gaol c1830s, bathhouse
40. Letter – description of early plans for gaol c1830s

After gaol closure 1914 – gaol conversion & East Sydney Tech/ National Art School
41. Interior A wing, cells being removed
42. Interior A wing, cells being removed
43. Former gaol hospital, derelict
44. Food school of ESTC from chapel c 1970s
45. Ceramics wing ( Build 24) after addition of 3rd storey
46. Unknown group of officials outside Building 11 c1940s
47. ESTC students outside the Cell Block Theatre c1960s
48. Sculpture yard c1950s
49. View across campus towards Forbes St entrance
50. Two students and car near Building 11 c 1950s
51. Cell Block Theatre exterior wall c 1960s
52. Overhead view of site c1960s
53. Conversion of Building 11 interior c 1920s
54. Cell Block Theatre interior with Katherine Hepburn, Phyllis Shillito and Robert Helpman
55. Cell Block Theatre interior with Katherine Hepburn giving speech, Phyllis Shillito and Robert Helpman, Roy Davies and Bill Crisp
56. Cell Block Theatre exterior with Katherine Hepburn, Phyllis Shillito and Robert Helpman
57. Cell Block Theatre interior – stage at rear, c1960s
58. Cell Block Theatre interior – showing two stages

Order is roughly chronological

Out of copyright: Created before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
Research & study copies allowed

Original photographs held by the NSW Department of Public Works

Pic.Acc. Upgrade Project - Information transferred from Pic.Acc.4768 as part of the eRecords Project 2012-13