Geelong Gaol

The Great Escape from Geelong Gaol

In 1889, two wily old convicts named Frederick Clarke and Christopher Farrell made the most infamous escape in Geelong Gaol history. Overpowering a warder in the middle of the night they used a skeleton key to make good their escape over the wall. Join Deb from the Geelong Gaol Museum and Twisted History to hear…

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The Great Escape from the Geelong Gaol

In 1889, two wily old convicts named Frederick Clarke and Christopher Farrell made the most infamous escape in Geelong Gaol history.   Overpowering a warder in the middle of the night they used a skeleton key to make good their escape over the wall. Join Deb from the Geelong Gaol Museum and Twisted History to hear the…

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The Execution of James Ross

James Ross was a man with a temper and a jealous streak that would ultimately lead to his death at the end of a noose in the Geelong Gaol. What his wife Mary suffered in their two short years of marriage was horrendous. Ross’ jealousy led to the deaths of his neighbours wife and his…

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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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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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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 over some boxes. Harvey died 24 hours later and Goldman disappeared for 9 months before being arrested. Goldman was convicted of wilful murder and was sentenced to death. It was to be…

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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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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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