He and Milat were housed in the 5-wing cell block. The day after the escape was planned for, Savvas was found dead in his cell after hanging himself.

In 1997, George Savvas and Ivan Milat had planned an escape from the gaol but were stopped by correctional officers. In April 1996, state Minister for Corrective Services Bob Debus announced the closure of Maitland Gaol as part of an overhaul of the NSW prison system, as its accommodation and working conditions were no longer considered appropriate in the context of the Government's plans for correctional facilities. In this cell block was also a clinic designed to treat inmates who had swallowed razor blades or drugs. This was the last cell block to be built before the gaol's closure in 1998. They were allowed in there for only one hour per day. These inmates had their own exercise yards, which contained a shower. 5-wing inmates had no contact with anyone at all. Only trusted inmates who showed good behaviour and had cooking skills worked in the kitchens.Īlso built in 1993, 5-wing was a high-security cell block designed to house inmates who had committed heinous crimes or crimes against other inmates. These cells were designed to house, usually, only one inmate at a time. In 1993, a block of modern prison cells was built above the kitchens, designed to house only the prisoners who worked in the kitchens. There were many other escape attempts but most failed of 32 attempted escapees, 31 were recaptured. The tunnel was filled in with two truckloads of concrete. His body was hidden with a sheet of plastic painted the same colour as the floor. The man who informed the warden of the tunnel had his throat cut so viciously his head swung back on his shoulders. Armed with a softwood stake, he waved to television and Maitland Mercury newspaper journalists.Ī 5.5-metre (18 ft) long tunnel was discovered in Cell 7 in C Wing in 1980. At one stage he disappeared over the roof returning with food. In 1978, a 23-year-old inmate protested for 16 hours by sitting on top of the gaol's administration building. They were all back inside in two hours after a massive police sweep on the area. In 1977, Raymond Denning and six others escaped through an exhaust vent in the shower block. Damage resulting from the riot was estimated at A$100,000. The infamous Darcy Dugan was blamed for inciting the riot, while 78 of the rioting inmates were transferred to other prisons. They used a swag of homemade weapons to attack the prison wardens, protesting about the prison system and the gaol's conditions. In 1975 inmates rioted, setting fire to the maintenance block. Maitland became a maximum-security prison in 1972. Work included perimeter walls, watch towers, women's cell range, workshops and female warders quarters. Ĭonstruction on the eastern extension was completed in 1900. In New South Wales, the last corporal punishment occurred at the Maitland Gaol – a whipping, in 1905. The last man executed at Maitland was Charles Hines in May 1897 for allegedly raping his stepdaughter however, he claimed he was innocent until he took his last breath. There is still debate as to where some of these executions took place throughout the gaol. Sixteen men were executed at Maitland Gaol between 18 – all for rape or murder. Hangings took place at the main gates and the back corner of the gaol. Executions were open to the public until 1861, and crowds were common. įlogging was in place whilst the gaol was being built.

The second stage, built 1861-73 under James Barnet, included the north-west wing, the watch towers, the warders' quarters and the governor's residence that flanked the entrance from John Street, the two-storey building that contained a chapel and a school room on the first floor and workshops on the ground floor.

The first stage included the south-east wing, the gate lodges and the enclosing wall of the original compound, all of stone. Permanent buildings were not begun until 1846 (though a foundation stone was laid in 1844), and the official opening was in December 1848. The gaol is in East Maitland, and this location was first used as a gaol in 1843 in the same year two prisoners were hanged there for the murder of a child. 6 Australian Museum of Clothing and Textiles.

Maitland core tunnel