Fannie Bay Gaol facts for kids
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| Location | Fannie Bay, Northern Territory |
|---|---|
| Status | Closed |
| Security class | Minimum and Maximum Security |
| Capacity | ? |
| Opened | 1883 |
| Closed | 1979 |
| Managed by | Northern Territory Department of Community Development, Sport & Cultural Affairs |
Fannie Bay Gaol is a historic gaol in Fannie Bay, Northern Territory, Australia. The gaol operated as Her Majesty's Gaol and Labour Prison, from 20 September 1883 until 1 September 1979.
In 1888, Deputy Sheriff (and later Government Resident) John George Knight collected sketches and drawings made by Aboriginal prisoners to be displayed at the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition under the title, The Dawn of Art. Dr Philip Jones, Senior Curator, Department of Anthropology, South Australian Museum, has called this the first exhibition of Aboriginal art.
The gallows remain on public view, and visitors can push the lever that operated the trap. The prison was damaged, along with much of Darwin, by Cyclone Tracy in 1974.
The gaol was listed on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate in 1983 and on the Northern Territory Heritage Register in 1995.
The gaol is now a museum open to the public.
