State Archives Collection
Making history every day
Gaol inmates & prisoners
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Convicts: gaol records
A secure gaol was required for convicts who committed criminal offences within the colony and were sentenced to imprisonment. Gaols were also used to house prisoners awaiting trial or transportation to another penal settlement
COPY Prisoners & inmates guide
Find out what types of prison records are available and how to access them
Gaol inmates & prisoners guide
Find out what types of prison records are available and how to access them
Gaol inmates & prisoners photos index 1870-1930
Search over 52,000 mugshots from NSW prisons. Alongside the photos are details such as name, aliases, native place, year of birth, details of arrival in the colony, occupation, physical description, marks or special features, where and when tried, offence, and sentence
Gaol photographs
We have indexed and digitised this collection of photographs of men, women and children who were incarcerated in the NSW prison system c1870–c1930
Tracing NSW gaol inmates
This webinar shows you how to use the State Archives collection to trace your ancestors through the NSW prison system, uncovering their crimes and incarcerations