The gaol opened in 1824 and housed men and woman, adults and children.

It was a very horrible place to be, the cells were very cold and there was only a very thin canvas mattress to sleep on.

Most people were not sent to gaol for very long, most sentences were between a few days and a few months. The criminals that committed the really bad crimes were sent to Australia and never saw their families again.

In those days it was quite easy to be sent to prison, one lady was sent for saying the wrong thing, and some children as young as 9 were sent for petty theft.