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The Escape of John McHenry
In September 1869, a prisoner boldly escaped the Geelong Gaol by changing clothes in a water closet and walking straight out past the Governor’s office. John McHenry or James Clark as he was originally known grew up in the streets of Shoreditch in London. Before coming to Australia he would see the inside of some…
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Murder at Cherry Tree Flat
In October 1865, Elijah Dixon alias Charles Alfred Dives took an axe and murdered his wife, Elizabeth and their two small daughters, Julia aged 3 and Elizabeth aged 1. This all took place in the small bedroom of their hut at Cherry Tree Flat near Sebastopol, just outside Ballarat. The couple’s two sons, James and…
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The Murder of Ginger Tommy
On the afternoon of August 21st, 1918, Norman Violet entered the front door of 28 Cumberland Place where his on again off again paramour Roma Smith lived. She was still laying in bed when he told her to get up. When there was no response, he pulled back the quilt to discover Roma had been…
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Execution at Gallows Flat
In this episode, we look at the first and only public execution in Geelong. Before the passing of the Act for the Execution of Criminals which took executions behind the Gaol walls, the judicial death of criminals were a public event seen to be a deterrent to those following a similar path. John Gunn and…
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Ride for Life – The Near Execution of John Goldman
In 1853, Trooper John Goldman shot his superior Corporal William Harvey in his tent at Buningyong following an altercation with a local shopkeeper, Edward Adams, over the ownership of some boxes. Harvey died 24 hours later and Goldman disappeared for 9 months before being arrested. At his trial before Judge Redmond Barry, Goldman was convicted…
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Escape of Thompson and Reynolds
In 1865, two prisoners were let out of the cooks cells to make their way to the kitchens to cook for the rest of the prisoners. But these two men had other ideas – for one man it would result in him never returning to the Geelong Gaol. For the other his freedom was shortlived….
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“The Seaside Resort” – Geelong Gaol
For over 170 years, the old Geelong Gaol has overlooked the township of Geelong. It has been a place of incarceration of men, women and children during its 138 years of operational history. Some of the roles it has been used may surprise you! In this episode we revisit the history, the building and some…
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Who Are Locked Up With History?
So you have come across Locked Up With History amongst your podcast offerings?! Welcome! But who are we, why are we doing with this podcast, why would you want to listen to me! Deb (me!) has been researching family and local history for over 30 years now and has been conducting tours…
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Why a Podcast?
Welcome to our podcast page for Locked up with History! My name is Deb Robinson and this podcast is associated with the Geelong Gaol Musuem and Twisted History where I have been manager for quite a few years now! For years, I have been collecting research documents whether it was for a new tour script,…
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