Fannie Bay Gaol was built to deal with the ways that prisoners were housed and dealt with in the Northern Territory.
The ghost stories began after the 1952 execution (from gallows built in the infirmary) of Jerry Coci and Jonus Novotny, who had murdered a taxi driver.
The ghost stories began after the 1952 execution (from gallows built in the infirmary) of Jerry Coci and Jonus Novotny, who had murdered a taxi driver.
Her Majesty's Gaol and Labour Prison at Fannie Bay
Early aerial view of Fannie Bay Gaol Prior to late 1883, prison detention facilities in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, were viewed as a bit of a joke. Prisoners were seen freely walking the streets around the old detention camp doing as they pleased. The prisoners saw it as more of a place for refuge where one could be guaranteed shelter and a bite to eat. Favouritism and ill enforced discipline was also common practice with the public feeling that the prisoners were getting more of a holiday camp than punishment.
It was very apparent that a new place for incarceration needed to be built.
It was very apparent that a new place for incarceration needed to be built.
The 'playpen' On the 20th September, 1883, Her Majesty's Gaol and Labour Prison at Fannie Bay was opened and the prisoners recieved. This Gaol ran more as a place of punishment with fully trained guards and hard labour. The original structures comprised of two blocks of sixteen stone cells plus a washhouse and kitchen. It was the most expensive building built in Darwin at the time.
The infirmary was added in 1887 and in the 1920's a new structure was built for female prisoners complete with garden. Later seperate sections were built for aboriginal prisoners and those only held on remand. Finally in the 1950's Maximum security wings and a guard tower were built. A block for children prisoners was also built and was later used for housing refugees.
The infirmary was added in 1887 and in the 1920's a new structure was built for female prisoners complete with garden. Later seperate sections were built for aboriginal prisoners and those only held on remand. Finally in the 1950's Maximum security wings and a guard tower were built. A block for children prisoners was also built and was later used for housing refugees.
Executions
Gallows in the infirmary Fannie Bay Gaol has eleven documented executions but some people believe there were another sixty that did not make it into the books (or whose documents were lost). Executions were mostly carried out on gallows constructed out in the prison yard.
In 1952 new gallows were built at one end of the infirmary. - a pit was dug into the ground and simple brick walls were built either side to hold the wooden beam. A set of steps were located under the trapdoor so the body could be brought back out once death had been established. The condemned themselves were held in wire cages at the other end of the infirmary prior to execution. On the 8th of August that same year Jerry Coci and Jonus Novotny (sometime Nopoty), Romanian immigrants were hanged for the murder of a taxi driver. These were the last two executions to be carried out in Darwin.
After the executions, prisoners and officials did not like to be in the building after dark. The accomodation of prisoners within the building were met with resistance as people had seen and heard the ghosts of Coci and Novotny.
In 1952 new gallows were built at one end of the infirmary. - a pit was dug into the ground and simple brick walls were built either side to hold the wooden beam. A set of steps were located under the trapdoor so the body could be brought back out once death had been established. The condemned themselves were held in wire cages at the other end of the infirmary prior to execution. On the 8th of August that same year Jerry Coci and Jonus Novotny (sometime Nopoty), Romanian immigrants were hanged for the murder of a taxi driver. These were the last two executions to be carried out in Darwin.
After the executions, prisoners and officials did not like to be in the building after dark. The accomodation of prisoners within the building were met with resistance as people had seen and heard the ghosts of Coci and Novotny.
Ghosts
External view of the infirmary showing the grave markers of Jerry Coci and Jonus Novotny Fannie Bay Gaol closed it's doors the 1st of September, 1979, and later reopened as a museum. Since the time of it's opening to the public as a tourism attraction, many people have experienced the paranormal within it's walls. Doors opening and closing, seemingly on their own, the sound of fingers being run over the corrugated iron fences and walls take place right in front of the observer and the feeling of being touched in the cells. Some people get the feeling of being watched for the duration of their stay and the sensation of bodies pressed up against them to the point of near suffocation.
It is the infirmary that harbors the greatest of emotions. Anger, depression and fear have been reported by visitors but to my knowledge there has not been any incidences of the two executed been seen since the gaol was shut to prisoners.
It would also seem that all of the reported phenomena is more on a residual level, is not interactive. Perhaps the haunting is just the residual energies of the history itself?
It is the infirmary that harbors the greatest of emotions. Anger, depression and fear have been reported by visitors but to my knowledge there has not been any incidences of the two executed been seen since the gaol was shut to prisoners.
It would also seem that all of the reported phenomena is more on a residual level, is not interactive. Perhaps the haunting is just the residual energies of the history itself?
Ashley Hall 2014
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