Adelaide Gaol, Adelaide

Adelaide Gaol, located in the Park Lands of Adelaide, is one of the oldest surviving colonial public buildings in the city and a significant site in the region's history. As the first permanent prison in South Australia, the gaol operated from 1841 until its closure in 1988. Alongside Government House, Adelaide Gaol remains one of the two oldest buildings still standing in the state, marking it as an important historical landmark.

The gaol was designed by George Strickland Kingston, who was commissioned in 1840 to create a facility based on the latest European prison designs, which were considered advanced for the era. The project, however, faced significant financial challenges. The final expenditure more than doubled the initial estimate, pushing the young colony of South Australia into bankruptcy. This financial crisis led to the recall of Governor Gawler to England and his replacement by Governor Grey, who halted further construction for over six years. As a result, Kingston's full vision for the gaol was never realized, though various additions and modifications were made over the prison's 147 years of operation.

During its years as a working prison, Adelaide Gaol saw approximately 300,000 prisoners pass through its doors, and 45 executions were carried out on-site. The first public hanging occurred in November 1840, even before the gaol's construction was complete. The executed individuals were buried within the prison grounds, adding to the gaol's grisly history.

In the early 1980s, it was decided that Adelaide Gaol would be closed, and the prison was officially decommissioned on 4 February 1988. Today, the site serves as a museum, tourist attraction, and function center, offering visitors a glimpse into South Australia's colonial past and the darker aspects of its history.