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The Black Holes Of Boggo Road
Taking Punishment to a New Level...
In Roy Stephenson's book 'Nor Iron Bars A
Cage', the Author goes on to describe the black
holes built into the old
1 Division's A - Wing. The Wing contained 2 special underground punishment cells
known as Black Peters or the Black Hole.
To enter, you opened a trapdoor
then descended 10 stone steps, turned an abrupt left, walked 6 paces where you
would come across the entrance to the cells.
The cell had 2 doors that were 14 inches apart and even with both the doors open,
it was pitch black, rancid with foul air and had water seepage across the cell
floor. The doors were opened once a day so the prisoner suffering punishment in these
cells could wash his hands and face, then receive the daily ration of half a
loaf of bread and a quart of water. There was no conversation with the warders
at all.
B - Wing also contained 2 Black Holes but had slightly better air circulation because they were adjoined to the rear of the Wing and had air vents. Picture a railway toilet and treble the aroma.
C - Wing contained 10 punishment cells at the rear of the Wing, but they were not sensory deprivation. (allegedly)
Of course there are no images available of the Black Holes of Boggo Road because they were an absolute disgrace that should have ceased way before even the Bjelke-Petersen Government of the early 1970's. I am trying to find some, but in 1991 you could tour the closed 1 - Division and see them for yourself.
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Dates of Importance
2nd December 1987:
200 prisoners rioted in both Divisions after the reopening of the Black Hole
in 1 Division to contain protesting Aborigines at World Expo 88 (after being
closed in 1984 due to public pressure)
1989:
Newly formed Goss Government close the Black hole and build 6 new punishment
cells into the sterile zone of 2 Gaol because the Hole was in breech of
United Nations regulations regarding the treatment of prisoners. Each of the
new cells had individual
exercise yards. (These cells are heritage listed and will be reopened
with 2 Division in early 2009)
1989: JJ Kennedy Report declared that The Boggo Road Gaol is a relic of an era gone by. It is behind the times by at least 80 years!
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In the wake of much publicity concerning black deaths in custody, the Queensland
Minister for Corrective Services, Mr Neal, has announced plans to re-open "the
Black Hole" in Brisbane's Boggo Road jail specifically for Aboriginal protestors
arrested during Expo '88. These cells were closed in 1984 due to public pressure
as they have no natural light or ventilation. Whatever the political motivation
behind this proposed action - to antagonise Queensland blacks or to take media
focus away from the Fitzgerald inquiry - this decision is a particularly racist
and stupid one, even for the Queensland government.
taken from the Aboriginal Law Bulletin website
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