Architectural

Rare Gaol door from Fremantle Prison
Item number: ARC03041129
Price: $6500

This gaol door comes out of Fremantle Prison. It was taken home by the ex-superintendent warden in the 1970s when renovations took place at the prison. This warden lived in South Perth and when he sold his house he left it with the house because it was too difficult for him to move and he was then too old. It weighs a good 300-400 kgs. I bought it from the new owner of the house a long time ago. i remember roughly where he lived. He told me this himself. I could trace the records of the homeowners of this house and prove this but i cannot be bothered, and if did this I would not be offering this for this price but more like $25k. I have had expressions of interest from the Fremantle Prison Preservation Society, and from someone who is writing or researching a book about the prison. The Preservation Society confirms a few items from the prison where allowed to be taken by wardens/guards in the 1970s. They were not stolen. If they were stolen I would ahev to give this door back. No crime took place. They think the door may come from the woman's section of the prison when it was demolished in the 1970s, but the woman's prison is not old enough for this door. I also know an ex-warden/guard who worked at Fremantle Prison for some 30 years. He lives near me and is a JP. He has looked closely at the door and believes it was the door to the transfer cell, possibly outside, where prisoners were held before being taken to the Round House and then to Rottnest Island. This cell was later converted into a store room. Another ex-warden whom i corresponded with believes it was the door to the so called "dungeon" or punishment cell, next to the kitchen where they punished prisoners. the prisoners were kept there so they could smell the food but were not fed. The Fremantle Prison Preservation Society did not seem to know much about this. They seem to be more interested in preservation than restoration anyhow. It is a solid door with a heavy early construction and large lock. The ex-warden I know also had some some keys that may fit the lock but his keys are from the main prison. we have not tried them as yet. It is definitely not a country lock-up jail door as it is of very early construction and is c 1850-1860, with a a huge lock. The dimensions of the frame are 203 cms by 83 cms. I was going to use it for my own dungeon (with whips and chains) but I may be moving. I will remove comments on this post if people start to annoy me. I offered the item to the Fremantle Prison Preservation Society at cost and they wanted it for free. If you think it should go back to Fremantle Prison buy it and donate it yourselves. Do not give me grief. I tried. They can get funding if they really want it back, but like I said they seem to be more interested in preservation than restoration anyhow.