A new prison for women opened adjacent to the existing male prison at Boggo Road on 3 October 1903. It had been constructed in response to a 1887 Parliamentary Inquiry, which recommended that female inmates should be kept in separate cells while in prison.
The neighbouring prisons were very similar in design and became known as the 'Male Division' and the 'Female Division'.
The neighbouring prisons were very similar in design and became known as the 'Male Division' and the 'Female Division'.
Gallery: Scenes from the Male and Female Divisions 1903-21
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| Vegetable crops on the side of No.1 Division, circa 1915. (BRGHS) |
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| Superintendent's Quarters, circa 1914. (BRGHS) |
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| Hospital, Male Division, circa 1915. (BRGHS) |
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| View of the male and female divisions, 1912. (State Library of Queensland) |
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| Compound in the Male Division, circa 1915. (BRGHS) |
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| Quadrangle inside the Female Division, 1912. (State Library of Queensland) |
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| Layout of Boggo Road prisons, 1910. (BRGHS) |
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| Cellblock in Female Division, circa 1914. (BRGHS) |
The women's prison had three cellblocks, although the one now known as 'D Wing' was used as a workshop. It had enclosed flooring on each level, and a chapel was set up on the top floor. Despite having 80 separate cells (and two punishment cells), the daily numbers of female inmates was quite low, usually in the teens. The landings in both Divisions had coir matting on the iron walkways of each floor.
The male prison was still used to hold short-term inmates or those awaiting transfer to St Helena Island.
The prisoners took baths in the yards, in circular iron tubs.
The two prisons stayed like this until 1921, when the female inmates were moved to another building on the reserve and the whole site was reorganised.
READ MORE
- 1903: 'Caged Humanity: A Tour Through the Brisbane Prison' (The Queenslander). An illustrated description of the Male Prison at Boggo Road.
- 1903: 'New State Prison for Women' (The Queenslander). An illustrated description of the brand-new prison for women.
- 1904: 'La Paienne' in Prison with Wicked Women' (The Truth). An inspection of the Female Division in the company of prison governor Arthur Peirson.
- 1911: 'Barred in Boggo. Captain Peirson at Home. Hominy Up!' (The Truth). A description of life inside the Male Division - Part 1.
- 1911: 'Barred in Boggo. Cruel Curiosity of the Aged. The Persecution of Albert, an Aboriginal.' (The Truth). A description of life inside the Male Division - Part 2.
- 1911: 'Out From Boggo. The World Against Them. Biffed by Booth's Bounders.' (The Truth). A description of life inside the Male Division - Part 3.
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