|| Old 1 Division || The Lock || 2 Division || Infamous Prisoners || The Black Holes || 1 Division || Pictures || Current Images ||

 

The Lock Hospital
 

The Lock Hospital

In 1903, 2 Division which still currently stands was opened for Women Prisoners. 2 division was built much better than the old 1 Division and with a definite lack of Women prisoners at the time, the female Prisoners were moved to the old Lock Hospital.
The building was a fire trap and in terrible condition and with the long over due closure of the Lock in 1929, the women were moved to what was known as 3 Division, which was located where the current state library archives building stands on the southern corner of Annerley road, at the rear of 2 Gaol.

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

Boggo Road Women's Prison
1982 - 1990
 

Aerial image from Googlearth

The 1980's Women's prison was constructed of white concrete and contained 87 cells (or slots)
Each of these slots had one or two bunks, shower, toilet and washbasin which were all visible from a glass panel in the cell door. There were no power points and no television. Lights out meant all lights out.
In 1989 the prison which was designed to house 40 prisoners... Housed 140 women!

________________________________

 

Murder in B Block

This led to factional fighting amongst the groups of women in B Block, where lifers and long termers were separated from the other prisoners by a locked gate. Violence erupted on the 7th January 1990 with the murder of Debbie Dick and attack on her friend Deb Kilroy (director of Sisters Inside) by Storm Brooke and Amali Badenoch. The women were attacked with sharpened BBQ forks

Storm Brooke was taken to the men's punishment cell which contained no bed or shower. She spent of total of 14 months in solitary... total isolation.

The Prisons Manager was sacked and as a result of the inquiry, the prison leant more towards the rehabilitation of the Women, not punishment and a noticeable change from the poorly managed system of old. But the conditions were still very poor which led to Debbie Kilroy creating the Sisters Inside movement.


The Women's Prison at Boggo Road has been bulldozed and the land will become part of the Boggo Road precinct.

________________________________
 


Some notable female Prisoners

 

____________________________________________________________________________

Thanks to Kris Olsson for the above information from her book available here
'Kilroy was Here' - The story of Deb Kilroy
I'll have a page on this site regarding books relating to Boggo Road in the near future and Kris's book will feature highly. It's a great insight into the turbulent late 80's - 90's history of the Women's Prison. Thanks Kris and Deb and all the women at Sisters.