Boggo Road Gaol – A Female Perspective – Matron Sarah Browne
A Female Perspective – Matron Sarah Browne
BOGGO ROAD GAOL IS REMEMBERED AS A PLACE OF PUNISHMENT FOR MEN. IT IS TRUE… IT WAS. BUT LONG BEFORE MEN WERE LOCKED UP HERE IN NUMBER TWO DIVISION IT WAS A PRISON FOR WOMEN!
Matron Sarah Browne
Matron Sarah Browne
Sarah Browne entered the prison service on the 10th of July 1885.
Profile on Appointment
Aged : 40 Years
Native Place : Victoria
Religion : Church of England
Marital Status : Married
Previous Employment : Housewife
Sarah Browne experienced wardress and now Matron of the Fortitude Valley Gaol was transferred with the initial group of ladies to be admitted to HM Prison (Females) Number 2 Division Boggo Road Gaol – on the 6th of October 1903.
Sarah with her 16 charges were moved in shortly after the contractors had left. It wouldn’t be long however until she had more women in her charge.
The Closure of Toowoomba and Roma Gaols
Just like Fortitude Valley Prison, The Tooowomba and Roma Gaols had passed their usefulness.
Prisoners from Toowoomba Gaol were brought down to Brisbane by train, arriving at HM Prison (Females) Brisbane later known as 2 Division Boggo Road Gaol on the 8th of October 1903. Nineteen ladies were brought down in the charge of David Douglas McKee who will be the Senior Warder, Clerk and Storekeeper for the female division. The possessions of the ladies from Toowoomba Gaol were lost on the Toowoomba Range.
They were left with nothing.
The final admissions in the first two weeks of 2 Division Boggo Road Gaol came directly from the Police Court and the final one on the train from the Roma Gaol on the 15th of October. So it was, Sarah had 41 prisoners in her charge.
Sarah had an immaculately clean record in the service. The only notations on her file were the transfer from the Valley Prison to HM Prison Brisbane (Females) and subsequently a notation on her retirement.
Sarah spent some five years working with the women of the Female Division of Boggo Road Gaol. Her time in the service took its toll and eventually Sarah fell into ill health which forced her retirement in October of 1908. Sadly she passed away shortly afterwards.
In celebration of Queensland Women’s Week and International Women’s Day, We are delighted to share the stories of Boggo Road Gaol from a female perspective.
This Sunday, a special tour is being held in honour of Queensland Women’s Week. A morning tea will be served at 10am with a bargain ticket price of $20 per adult ticket for the 11am History Tour!
So ladies, come along and join us! Gentlemen bring along the ladies in your lives and lock them up for a couple hours! This special event is bookings essential as places are strictly limited.
BOOK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE!! YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!!
Can’t make it on Sunday? That’s Okay! We have an event on Thursday 8th of May for International Women’s Day.
You can book here for that. Places for this event too are strictly limited and bookings essential
This article was contributed by Research Coordinator Sue Olsen as part of the ongoing research program for Boggo Road Gaol Pty Ltd. The aim of the program is to bring to light and share articles relating to Boggo Road for the purposes of review and study. Do you have a story to share or something you would like us to know about? You can contact the research team here