Bathurst Correctional Complex
Bathurst Gaol
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| Location | Bathurst, New South Wales |
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| Coordinates | 33°25′04″S 149°33′30″E / 33.41778°S 149.55833°ECoordinates: 33°25′04″S 149°33′30″E / 33.41778°S 149.55833°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Security class | Medium / Minimum |
| Capacity | 222 |
| Opened | 7 June 1888 |
| Former name | Bathurst Gaol |
| Managed by | Corrective Services NSW |
Bathurst Correctional Complex, an Australian medium security prison for males, is located in Bathurst, New South Wales, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) west of the central business district. The facility is operated by Corrective Services NSW, an agency of the Department of Attorney General and Justice, of the Government of New South Wales. The Complex accepts felons charged and convicted under New South Wales and/or Commonwealth legislation and serves as a reception prison for Western New South Wales. A minimum-security cellblock, known as X Wing, is located outside the walls of the main part of the gaol. It also detains males on remand: in 2005, over 20% of Australia's prisoners were on remand.
In 2014 it was reported that between seven and ten female offenders were being housed in the Complex each week.
The current structure incorporates a massive, hand-carved sandstone gate and façade that was opened in 1888 based on designs by the colonial architect, James Barnet. The Complex came to national prominence during the 1970s due to a series of riots by inmates protesting over living conditions.
Correction facilities were first established in the Bathurst town centre in circa 1830, as the Bathurst Gaol, adjacent to the Bathurst Court House, also designed by Barnet. As sanitary conditions at the town watch house deteriorated, a new gaol was built to Barnet's designs, and proclaimed on 7 June 1888.
The hand-carved sandstone gate at the new gaol featured an ornate sculptured lion's head holding a key that is a Victorian symbol designed to impress wrongdoers with the immense power and dignity of the law. Legend has it that when the key falls from the lion's mouth, the prisoner are allowed to go free. The new building which contained 308 cells and "commodious workshops" was complete and partly occupied in 1888. This was one of a number of gaols rebuilt or enlarged in this period, the purpose of which was to commence the program of 'restricted association' of prison inmates. The Governor of the Bathurst gaol reported on restricted association as follows:
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