Porridge

The Trial Bay Gaol was built by the Department of Public Works at the turn of the last century as an in situ residence for prisoners serving their time in hard labour building the breakwater at the bay named after one of its wrecks. It was the first of its kind in Australia and although it had a reputation of being a more lenient establishment there was just no getting away from the harsh work. The twenty odd year project was deemed a failure though when the ocean ripped a hole in the breakwater some 600m from shore and it was closed in 1903. When the Australian government interned the German population during the First World War, some 500 men were placed in the gaol. Over time, their families were allowed to join them and a large settlement formed outside the prison walls. Rumours of a German raider in the area to attempt a breakout and a paranoid government lead to the removal of the internees, the burning of the settlement and the permanent closure of the gaol in 1917.

It was a grey rainy day all day today as we travelled south to Newcastle. The purple Jacaranda streaked the green landscape beautifully as we passed by. Our stop in South West Rocks and trips to the nearby gaol and lighthouse were made in constant drizzle, which added a wonderful element to the buildings. It also let us push on and made the 8 hour journey pass without feeling we missed stopping off.