If your on a [1] campervan hire Australia trip and are visiting Darwin and wish to see an historical landmark with a past more in accordance with the darker aspect of living, then you might want to have a look at Fannie Bay Gaol. This edifice to law and order sits on a prime piece of real estate in the middle of one of Darwin’s most elect suburbs, overlooking Fannie Bay.

From the road, you only see a dark, high walled area that looks trusting enough from the outside and gives no proof of what sits behind. When it was first built, Fannie Bay was well away from the settlement of Darwin, which was originally built around the Darwin Harbour area thanks to the shipping. Now though, Fannie Bay, including the Gaol is one of Darwin’s inner suburbs.

When the gaol was originally built, Darwin was a very coarse frontier town and it is not surprising that a gaol was required. The climate and environment were tricky and so too were it’s settlers. Alcohol fuelled violence and general lawlessness was common, so the gaol tended to offer a home away from home for drunken battlers.

The gaol was employed from 1883 thru to 1979 and the original building had 16 stone cells, a wash house and a kitchen. The cells were and still are, hot airless little boxes and would've been more than upsetting to occupy. In 1887 a hospice was added. The gallows is still there as well and the last hanging was as fresh as 1952. A female section was added in 1928.

The 1950’s saw a rise in occupants with a ‘native ‘ section, a remand section and a maximum security area being added. At the end, it would be a neat place to avoid and one can simply imagine how hot and upsetting it could have been to be locked up there for any period of time.

This draft was penned by Anton Maverick who has travelled Australia at length by campervan he reccomends when touring the southern states either [2] campervan Hire Sydney or [3] campervan hire Melbourne good luck with your travels.