B Wing | Maitland Gaol
Skip to main content
Home
Search
  • Remove All filter All (144)
  • General (83) Apply General filter
  • 25 (3) Apply 25 filter
  • Weston Family Collection (3) Apply Weston Family Collection filter
  • Events (9) Apply Events filter
  • News (7) Apply News filter
  • Documents (9) Apply Documents filter

Merchandise

Home

56561

History

What's On

School holidays

General History

Spring activities

Visit

Terms and conditions

Privacy statement

About

Pages

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • …
  • 12
  • Next page
  • Directions
  • Contact us
  • A
  • /
  • A

Main Menu

  •  Home
  • Visit
    Back to Main MenuBack to parent

    Visit

    • POPULAR LINKS
      Back to Main MenuBack to parent
      • FAQs
      • Battlezone Playlive Laser Tag
      • Summer activities
      • Get Out Escape Rooms - Jail Breakout
      • Filming
      • Download the app
    • Public Guided Tours
      Back to Main MenuBack to parent

      Public Guided Tours

      • 150 Years Under Lock and Key Night Tour
      • Ex-Warder Guided Tour
      • Justice Precinct Guided Tour
      • 150 years Under Lock and Key Guided Tour
      • Escapes Guided Tour
      • Ghost Hunting 101
      • Crimes of Passion Guided Tour
      • A Psychic Experience Guided Tour
    • Self guided audio tours
      Back to Main MenuBack to parent

      Self guided audio tours

      • Download the app
    • School holidays
      Back to Main MenuBack to parent

      School holidays

      • Autumn activities
      • Winter activities
      • Spring activities
      • Summer activities
    • Activities
      Back to Main MenuBack to parent

      Activities

      • Meeting Spaces
      • Bread and Water cafe
      • Get Out Escape Rooms - Jail Breakout
      • Battlezone Playlive Laser Tag
      • Filming
    • Visitor Services
      Back to Main MenuBack to parent

      Visitor Services

      • Festive Season Operating Hours
      • Gift Vouchers
      • Ticketing services
      • Access and facilities for people with a disability
      • FAQs
    • Private Groups
      Back to Main MenuBack to parent

      Private Groups

      • Social Groups
      • School Groups
      • OOSH Groups
  • What's On
    Back to Main MenuBack to parent

    What's On

    • POPULAR LINKS
      Back to Main MenuBack to parent
    • 150 Years Under Lock and Key Day Tour
    • 150 Years Under Lock and Key Night Tour
    • A Psychic Experience
    • Crimes of Passion Night Tour
    • Escapes Day Tour
    • Escapes Night Tour
    • Ex-Warder Day Tour
    • Ex-Warder Night Tour
    • Ghost Hunting 101
    • What's On
    • Junior Sleuth - Slammer Slang
    • Workhouse Woes - Chapel Craft
  • History
    Back to Main MenuBack to parent

    History

    • POPULAR LINKS
      Back to Main MenuBack to parent
      • Infamous Inmates
      • Family Research
      • Executions
      • Women in prison
      • Discipline
      • Riots and protests
    • General History
      Back to Main MenuBack to parent

      General History

      • Discipline
      • Women in prison
      • Infamous Inmates
      • Executions
      • Drugs and Alcohol
      • Riots and protests
      • The Daily Routine
    • Oral History Project
    • Family Research
    • A day in the life of Maitland Gaol
      Back to Main MenuBack to parent

      A day in the life of Maitland Gaol

      • March
      • April
      • May
      • June
      • July
      • August
      • October
  • About
    Back to Main MenuBack to parent

    About

    • POPULAR LINKS
      Back to Main MenuBack to parent
      • Cell Blocks
      • Buildings
      • Tenants and businesses
      • Other Justice Museums
      • B-Wing
      • A-Wing
    • Site information
      Back to Main MenuBack to parent

      Site information

      • 5 Wing
      • A Wing
      • B Wing
      • Buildings
      • C Wing
      • The Chapel
      • Cell Blocks
      • Tenants and businesses
    • Other Justice Museums
    • Recent Works
      Back to Main MenuBack to parent

      Recent Works

      • Roofing
      • 5-Wing
      • Savvas Cell
      • B-Wing
      • A-Wing
      • Wall Investigation
      • Facade Refurbishment
  • Online Resources
    Back to Main MenuBack to parent

    Online Resources

    • POPULAR LINKS
      Back to Main MenuBack to parent
      • Snitch's Spot
      • Goodies for the Grown Ups
    • Snitch's Spot
    • Goodies for the Grown Ups
  • Directions
  • Contact us
Search

Top Header Right Menu

  • Book Now
You are here:
  • Home
  • About
  • Site information
  • B Wing

B Wing

Constructed as part of the second phase of construction in Maitland Gaol B Wing is the largest wing on site.

B Wing is available to view on self guided audio tours, day and night guided tours. It is our most popular and unique building for private functions and events, get in touch with us for further information.

Construction

In 1861 prisoners were put to work building the ground floor of B Wing, in 1862 a significant stockpile of excellent quality sandstone had been acquired from the quarry 'Ravensfield'. All prisoners sentenced to hard labour would now stay in Maitland Gaol, rather than be sent to Sydney, to work as labourers and stone masons on the building. The building was designed by the Government Architect, William Mortimer Lewis Jnr, it was to be three storeys and contain 84 individual cells. It took the prisoners five years to complete the ground floor and by 1866 the New South Wales Government was being petitioned to get the building completed. The prisoners ceased work and a tender was called for the completion of the remaining two storeys, Thomas Alston was awarded the tender and completed the building using free labour. The building was completed in November 1867 and the prisoner began to be housed within a short time after. 

The building was designed for a specific purpose and that was the single accommodation of prisoners as part of the Separate System which was legislated in 1867. This new system of separation required prisoners to be housed individually (where possible) under a classification system. B Wing would be used as part of this system until the beginning of its abandonment in 1898. Prisoners would while away the hours in their cells, alone, under strict work orders without the ability to communicate or interact with each other. Small periods of time outdoors was permitted for certain prisoners and this time was also strictly controlled again limiting human contact and interaction. Thankfully by 1905 this system had been completely abolished. 

Modifications

Major alterations were made to B Wing during it's occupation. The building received electricity in 1898, however prisoners didn't have access to it.  After the abolishment of the Separate System the building was modified to enlarge the size of the cells. This saw the removal of the internal wall between two cells, opening it to double the size. The second entrance door to the cell was then sealed shut, maintaining the one entry and exit point for prisoners. 

The sewer and water connection was made to the cells in the early 1970s. At this time the electric panels were added to the cells making power outlets and alert system available to prisoners for the first time. 

Restoration Projects

B Wing is the largest building in the site and despite having recently celebrated it's 150th birthday it is in fairly good shape. However restoration and maintenance project have been important to maintain the heritage fabric left in the site at the time of its closure. The following work has been carried out since the site was handed to Maitland City Council in 2000.

  • Conservation and repair of timber windows on front of building.
  • Rust prevention works and repainting of metal bars surrounding exercise yards.
  • Repair and maintenance of paintwork in main foyer area and exercise yard.
  • Assessment of sandstone and make safe removal of degraded stone.
  • Replacement of iron roof on front of building and guttering and downpipes throughout building to make watertight.
B Wing internal - circa 1895
Restoration of windows
B Wing prior to maintenance paint work
Stone inspection
Roof works
B Wing internal from second level
B Wing yard
B Wing - circa 1990
B Wing yard - circa 1895
Print Email Share
Send us feedback
Top of the page
  • Visit
    • Public Guided Tours
      • 150 Years Under Lock and Key Night Tour
      • Ex-Warder Guided Tour
      • Justice Precinct Guided Tour
      • 150 years Under Lock and Key Guided Tour
      • Escapes Guided Tour
      • Ghost Hunting 101
      • Crimes of Passion Guided Tour
      • A Psychic Experience Guided Tour
    • Self guided audio tours
      • Download the app
    • School holidays
      • Autumn activities
      • Winter activities
      • Spring activities
      • Summer activities
    • Activities
      • Meeting Spaces
      • Bread and Water cafe
      • Get Out Escape Rooms - Jail Breakout
      • Battlezone Playlive Laser Tag
      • Filming
    • Visitor Services
      • Festive Season Operating Hours
      • Gift Vouchers
      • Ticketing services
      • Access and facilities for people with a disability
      • FAQs
    • Private Groups
      • Social Groups
      • School Groups
      • OOSH Groups
  • What's On
    • 150 Years Under Lock and Key Day Tour
    • 150 Years Under Lock and Key Night Tour
    • A Psychic Experience
    • Crimes of Passion Night Tour
    • Escapes Day Tour
    • Escapes Night Tour
    • Ex-Warder Day Tour
    • Ex-Warder Night Tour
    • Ghost Hunting 101
    • What's On
    • Junior Sleuth - Slammer Slang
    • Workhouse Woes - Chapel Craft
  • History
    • General History
      • Discipline
      • Women in prison
      • Infamous Inmates
      • Executions
      • Drugs and Alcohol
      • Riots and protests
      • The Daily Routine
    • Oral History Project
    • Family Research
    • A day in the life of Maitland Gaol
      • March
      • April
      • May
      • June
      • July
      • August
      • October
  • About
    • Site information
      • 5 Wing
      • A Wing
      • B Wing
      • Buildings
      • C Wing
      • The Chapel
      • Cell Blocks
      • Tenants and businesses
    • Other Justice Museums
    • Recent Works
      • Roofing
      • 5-Wing
      • Savvas Cell
      • B-Wing
      • A-Wing
      • Wall Investigation
      • Facade Refurbishment
  • Online Resources
    • Snitch's Spot
    • Goodies for the Grown Ups

Contact Maitland Gaol

Maitland Gaol opening hours

Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 4.00pm
Saturday and Sunday, 10.00am - 4.00pm
Public holidays, 10.00am - 4.00pm

  •  6 - 18 John St (PO Box 249)
  • East Maitland, NSW 2323
  • Directions

Connect with us

  • Maitland City Council Facebook page

Office contact hours

  • Monday to Friday 9.00am – 4.00pm
  • Saturday to Sunday, 10.00am – 4.00pm

Stay in touch

Sign up to our newsletter
  •  02 4936 6482
  •  02 4936 6483
  •  [email protected]

 

  • Downloads
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy statement
  • Ticketing Conditions

© Maitland City Council 2018 – All rights reserved