Go directly to Gaol – The Black Maria

Black Maria the dreaded vehicle of the crook, hated almost as much as her more sombre sister the hearse. She slinks through the streets of Brisbane holding within some of the secrets of the underworld, the grievances of the charged and the sorrows of the sentenced.

Black Maria

The Black Maria, otherwise known as a paddy wagon or prison van; is just as it sounds- a vehicle for the transportation of prisoners.  Boggo Road Gaol was just one of the frequent stops for the Black Maria of Brisbane.

HM Prison Brisbane for Men – Later Boggo Road Gaol Number 2 Division 1930s

Why Black Maria?

Black Maria Article – Darling Downs Gazette 24th September 1898 Pg 6

The name Black Maria is somewhat shrouded in mystery.  Some say it has a literal meaning from the Hebrew name Mary (or Maria) which means bitterness.   It is said that by choosing the ways of crime, the accused, riding in disgrace through the streets courtesy of the Black Maria, was surely most bitter about his situation.  The wagon was painted black hence the colour reference. Others in history say it is named after Maria Lee; a large, powerful, African-American lady that ran a boarding house for drunken sailors in Boston, Massachusetts. The latter is an interesting story that is published in numerous newspapers of the late 19^th Century.  Its accuracy is unknown, but the story is simply too good not to share.   We leave the reader to further ponder the origins of the name.

The Black Maria in Brisbane

Various versions of the Black Maria were seen in the city streets over the decades. All now are replaced by modern prison vans which are usually white in colour and are mostly unmarked.  These modern vehicles can occasionally still be seen around Boggo Road Gaol; though not for the transportation of prisoners to her cells… but the officers enjoying a hot cup of coffee while waiting for their prisoners to be released either from a hospital visit or other appointment.

The modern vehicles leave behind them the legacy of the Black Maria.  Now the work is separated into two parts – the van used for the transportation of prisoner’s already in prison and the Paddy Wagon used by police to transport those arrested on the city streets.

The horse-drawn Black Maria taken in front of the Countess street barracks.

In 1925 the back of a horse drawn Black Maria was mounted to a Bean truck Chassis and created the first motorised Black Maria.

In 1936 One of these motorised Black Marias were mounted to a truck and the other was traded into the latest of limousine type vehicles.

So what of the secrets of the dreaded Black Maria?

Perhaps a few lines from the Truth newspaper on Sunday 27^th of December 1931 will tell all.

What stories could she tell? If only she could speak and tell of what she knows of the men and women criminals who have been for a time encased within those closed, but silent, walls?

Black Maria the dreaded vehicle of the crook, hated almost as much as her more sombre sister the hearse. She slinks through the streets of Brisbane holding within some of the secrets of the underworld, the grievances of the charged and the sorrows of the sentenced.

No one knows the stories which are locked in the van when the key turns, no one can overhear them; they remain there removed from the ears of eavesdroppers…secrets.

Want to visit Boggo Road Gaol?  Not so keen on a trip in the Black Maria?  That’s okay!  Other modes of transport are available to you now.  

For more information on location and transport visit here

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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