Boggo Road Gaol – A Female Perspective- Mary Gee
A Female Perspective – Mary Gee
Mary Gee was a lady very much of her time. Sadly though, Mary was afflicted with a severe addiction to alcohol. Married and with a child. It is not known exactly what drove Mary to drink.
City Police Court summary 11th January 1908
Mary Gee
Aged 40 Years
Marital Status: Married
Crime: Drunkenness
Sentenced: 1 pound fine or one week’s imprisonment
Mary Gee was a lady very much of her time. Sadly though, Mary was afflicted with a severe addiction to alcohol. Married and with a child. It is not known exactly what drove Mary to drink.
On her admission, Mary was suffering terribly from Alcohol withdrawal. Known as delirium tremors or DT’s. Even in the court transcript she was recorded as being in a weak state.
She was admitted nonetheless just as all drunks were. She was bathed and dressed in prison uniform and taken to her cell. Just a short 48 hours later, she was dead.
She had died from the effects of withdrawal on the 13th of January 1908.
Her death was a great shock to all in the prison; Mary was a harmless girl, just under the effects of drink. It was too, the first death in HM Prison (females) Brisbane, since it opened just four years previously.
Her remains were removed from the prison by the local undertaker and her body buried in an unmarked grave the South Brisbane Cemetery the next day.
Matron Sarah Ann Nixon and the Chief of HM Prison (Men) Brisbane attended at the graveside.
The Monument to Mary Gee
Just before the centenary of her death the grave of Mary Gee was finally marked.
Managing Director of Boggo Road Gaol, Jack Sim; with his company Ghost Tours Pty Ltd had raised the funds for the monument from Heritage Fund contributions and also by personal contribution.
The Monument to Mary Gee was put into place in April of 2007.
Mary Gee is buried in portion 3 Grave number 36 in South Brisbane Cemetery
Stonemason installing monument
Monument before installation
Monument to Mary Gee on the grave.
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 Thursday, a special tour is being held in honour of International Women’s Day. 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!!
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
