History

Boggo Road Gaol - its very name conjures images of rooftop riots, infamous inmates, hunger strikes, violent protests and spectacular escapes. As an institution it was used as the instrument of various governments to enforce their political will. It was the place where Queenslands worst were sent and locked away. It is easily the most notorious Australian prison of the 20th century.

Named after the road which led to it, that became a boggy quagmire after rain, "Boggo Road Gaol" was officially known as the Brisbane Prison. For 109 years it dominated the skyline of the capital of Queensland. It's stark red brick walls, and imposing guard tower on Annerley Road have become iconic for all the wrong reasons.

Boggo Road Gaol opened in 1883 as H. M. Gaol for Men. In 1903, Boggo Road Gaol was divided into separate male and female sections. In 1921 the Female Division was closed and the former women's gaol was reused to house male inmates. The former female division was renamed Number Two Division - new section was reoccupied by male inmates serving lengthy sentences - killers, murderers and trouble-makers. Three cellblocks became the homes of "Lifers".

Boggo Road was home to some of the nations most infamous inmates - including James Richard Finch and John Andrew Stuart - the Whiskey Au Go Go bombers; "Slim" Halliday - Australia's most notorious escapologist; Ernest Austin - a child-killer who was to become the last man to be executed in the state of Queensland; Florence MacDonald - stepmother of the "Longreach Cinderella"; and Patrick Kennif - Australia's last bushranger.

In the 1980s Number Two Division became the focal point of intense national media scrutiny following a series of riots and roof-top protests over the primitive conditions in which inmates were being held. Number Two Division was finally closed in 1989. The entire prison complex shut its doors forever in 1992.

Current Status

Number Two Division is the only surviving section of Boggo Road Gaol. In 2005 the State Government embarked on a major redevelopment of the former prison site. The redevelopment will transform the area surrounding Number Two Division into a new suburb. Historic Number Two Division will not be demolished.

The prison is currently closed for redevelopment, scheduled to reopen late 2010.

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