"Of An Inhospitable Starkness"

....Today we ventured interstate to the township of Wentworth.

Our Australian blippers would have heard of Wentworth - it is notable for the OLD WENTWORTH GAOL which was built during 1879-1881, and ceased to operate over 70 years ago.
All the bricks were hand made and are slightly smaller than the manufactured brick of today..and slate for the roof was shipped from Wales, United Kingdom.

Many gaols throughout New South Wales in Australia either copied the design or took elements from it. Even the Long Bay Gaol, Sydney, built in 1912 has cells exactly the same as the Wentworth Gaol.

It remains very much as it was when it was originally built but maintains the impression that is could be used again tomorrow.. In fact, in 1962 there were riots in Mildura - and the cells were again utilised.

Of all the Old Gaols in Australia, it is the Wentworth Gaol that is acknowledged as the one in its best original condition.

Its beauty is in its uninviting, inhospitable starkness...