Prison Numbers: Boggo Road Visitor Stats

"Statistics may be defined as "a body of methods for making wise decisions in the face of uncertainty."
(Wilson Allen Wallis)

Public Works recently stated that 3,000 people visited Boggo Road Gaol in the four months during December 2012-April 2013. We don’t know how these figures were checked or obtained and so we can’t comment on their accuracy, but it is interesting to compare them to official visitor figures from Boggo Road during 2004-05, when the place was under not-for-profit management.

Visitor numbers, Boggo Road Gaol, 2004-05 and 2012-13

	AUG 2004- DEC 2005	DEC 2012- APR 2013
General admission	1484	-
Guided Day Tours	9415	-
Guided Night Tours	1,648	-
Ghost Tours	-	-
Functions	3, 706	-
Other events	374	-
Totals	16,627	3,000
Inc. Ghost Tour figures*	18,710	-
Average/month	1,100	750

               

*‘Ghost Tours’ figures were not disclosed, so final totals include a
conservative guess of 20 people per week from these events.

Obviously the 2004-05 figures are higher, but they were achieved at a time when the capacity of the BRGHS to offer visitor services was much more limited than it is now. Our membership base back then was less than 10% of our current size, and although we had an average of six staff at the museum per day, we only had had two or three tour guides available. All staff were volunteers with other lives to lead, so we did hold back somewhat when it came to marketing the tours.

Of course, things have changed now and a tour guide recruitment drive late last year resulted in nearly 30 people putting their hands up, not to mention the other volunteers who wanted to be on regular staff. So with a much larger staff base and talent pool, these numbers show that the BRGHS could bring in plenty of visitors to Boggo Road under a not-for-profit management model.

The Last Hanging: Remembering 1913 and all that

We historians get very busy when centenaries come around. I found that out back in 2003 when the Boggo Road Gaol Historical Society organised the Centenary Open Day to mark the opening of Boggo Road’s No.2 Division back in 1903 (when of course it was known as the Prison for Women). These days there is always some kind of anniversary going on, be it the 50^th, 80^th, 135^th, whatever, it seems that any old round-ish or quartile number will do for a commemoration.

Truth be told, I’m not a fan of all these ‘110^th’ or ‘65^th’ anniversaries we see being bandied around all the time now. It makes the actual numerically-significant commemorations so much less special, and half the time it’s just impatient people trying to milk a bit of publicity out of nothing. 

2013 brings us two actual centenaries, with 1913 seeing the end of one thing and the beginning of another. These were the last hanging to take place in Queensland, and the founding of the State’s premier historical organisation, the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, and as it happens I have a finger in both these pies.

Ernest Austin (Qld State Archives)

It was the morning of Monday 22 September 1913 when convicted murderer Ernest Austin was ‘launched into eternity’ on the Boggo Road gallows. Nobody there could have guessed that this was to be the last time they would be required to go through the ritual of judicial execution. Plenty more men were sentenced to death over the following nine years but they all had their sentences commutated. In 1922 Queensland became the first part of the British Empire to abolish capital punishment and Austin took his place in history. He was the 94^th person to be hanged in Queensland and despite the horror of his crime (the brutal murder of 11-year-old Ivy Mitchell near Samford) he was by no means the worst or the most interesting of those who were executed here. Nonetheless, being the ‘last man hanged’ brings with it a certain kind of infamy and Austin’s name is invariably evoked in shortlists of famous prisoners. His name will no doubt be heard a lot more as the centenary of his death approaches, and while I'll be doing my bit in all that I think that reflection upon where we stood with capital punishment in 1913 is of more historical significance than revisiting the gory details of the demise of Austin and his victim.

This brings us to the other centenary, which is one that ties in neatly with the last hanging. On Sunday 2 June the RHSQ will be hosting a Centenary Open Day at their Commissariat Store home on William Street in the city, with special exhibitions, classic cars, a sausage sizzle, and a series of public talks, one of which will be given by the Boggo Road Gaol Historical Society. We will also be on hand to chat with visitors about the Boggo Road hanging beam they have on display there. This beam is still housed in the case that BRGHS members made for it when I curated the ‘Gallows of Boggo Road’ exhibition at Boggo Road itself back in 2005. 

(Courier-Mail, July 2005)

I have also been invited to present a paper at the RHSQ Centenary Seminar, and the subject matter will of course relate to the 1913 hanging. 

So what else is happening? Well, later this year the Supreme Court of Queensland will be hosting a new exhibition in the Sir Harry Gibbs Legal Heritage Centre to mark the centenary of the last hanging. I am doing ongoing consultation work with them on this project, including writing an article for the exhibition catalogue, and can tell you (without spoilers) that they have some brilliant stuff up their sleeve over there.
 

Sir Harry Gibbs Legal Centre (SCQ)

In addition to all that I’m also looking to complete a new e-book this year on the complete history of hanging in Queensland. This has been an on-off project of mine for several years now. The BRGHS are also working on a few ideas for other 1913 centenary projects that are yet to be announced. Then we can drop the whole subject for a while, at least until 2022 brings the centenary of abolition.

So, yes, centenaries are a great opportunity for historians to get some much-needed work as we attempt to convince the public that this-or-that is interesting and important, and it’s especially good to work around genuinely-significant dates.

The Kindness of Strangers, Part 3

Here's the third installment of comments from our 'Better Future for Boggo Road' petition over at change.org. Once again a big thanks to everyone who has signed so far, especially those who leave comments too. 

Thanks also to the thousands(!) of people who have signed the paper version of the petition.

Ian Hutchinson

heritage sites are public assets for the benefit of the whole community and should not be privatised

Stephen Paul Oldham

It is MY history and I have every right to protect it.

Ted Domanski

Because people who never experienced the feel of working amongst prisoners, shouldn't be running the place.

Julie Massie

I am concerned it will just get sold

Evelyn Williams

part of our history, i teach Legal Studies

Tony Smallwood

Heritage should be vailable to the community as easy as possible.

Chris Dillon

This is part of our heritage and history something needs to be protected.  Find somewhere else to ruin and leave this historical site alone.

Lorraine Carter

My father was born in Brisbane and I have cousins who still live there. I fly from WA to Queensland each year to do family research. Family researchers need easy access to all records. Boggo Road Gaol should be for the community and looked after by the govt as many heritage properties are.

Chris Wright

This is Qld Heritage and should be  available to all Queenslanders, which cannot be guaranteed if it is sold.

Marion Hall

The Boggo Road Goal is a heritage museum and should be available for the public as such.

Kevin Wallace

Public access to historical buildings is important and this must always be inexpensive.

dawn pearce

this is OUR heritage and should not be used only by private companies

Bruce Woodstock

As a fellow Historical Society we realise the importance of havibg access to premises that reflect the history of our state or country

Denise Comerford

I think our Public Heritage Assets should be protected.

Tony White

Keep our heritage in the hands of the people

Tennikah Webster

Brisbane has such few remnants of its history, don't take what's left.

Lynn Anich

Important parts of our state heritage are too important to be handed over to private enterprise

Kate Krause

This is a significant part of our history and everyone should be able to access it...it needs to be run by those who are passionate about taking care of it.

Lynda Hinz

Our Australian is so important to all of us and especially our children.

Anne Panitz

As a community museum volunteer i know the work it requires to keep these places open to the public. Dedicated volunteers have a love for these places and for preserving the history of such a place. Please let dedicated people with the history of Queensland in their hearts run such a place! 

sonya jackson

history is history it should be protected not sold to someone who may turn it into a shopping complex!

Barbara Wild

Brisbane deserves an accessible, interactive historical site. Why should Melbourne and Sydney have all the fun?

Denis Peel

The Historical Society has contributed a huge amount to the preservation and development of the gaol and are now being effectively locked out.

fred van essen

I recently took my family to the gaol. It is a fantastic site, the entry fee may have been   expensive.  but.... if the money made is also used for maintainence, you do not mind!!.but .... their is no maintainence being carried out on this site.So if placing control of this site back to the government brings the goal back to its formerly glory, then this should be done. 

Robyn Evans

I am sick of governments selling off our assets & history and would like to visit when I come to Qld every winter.

Tricia Simpson

This process should have been tendered and the historical society should have been taken into consideration

Ron Pokarier

History belongs to the people, not to commercial operators.

Glenda Pokarier

This historic site should not become an opportunity for small business profiteering.

Mick Dance

I worked at Boggo Rd for 11 years in the 1980's. It is a very special place for me and holds many memories. It should be refurbished and protected as an historical site. There are many tales to be told about "THE ROAD".

Maree Ganley

the work of volunteers researchers and tour guides helps to ensure all of our history is known and preserved for generations to come. We go into the future with the strength of knowledge of our past

Lynette Fleming

As a member of a local Family History Society I see the importance of preserving our history.

Evan Skuthorpe

Important part of our heritage.

Ken Davis

I'm sick of back door privatisations of public assets against the will of the community. Enough!

Steve Reynolds

People should be able to listen to the people who were warders or prisoners, not some pack of kids who know nothing about the jail.

John Strike

Lets keep history for future generations in the hand of people who are concerned for the Gaol as it is, not for money hungry privateers.

Laura Adler

this is heritage for everyone, should not be profit for only some!

Peter Wilson

Historical Society were fantastic, finding information and assisting my research.  Why destroy an outstanding community organisation for a few pieces of silver, Campbell?  

suzanne andrews

Because it's a wonderful part of Brisbane's history and should be available to all not at a profit for a private company. So many fantastic things about this city. It shouldn't have a price .

Karen Webster

the heritage of the State belongs to the people of Queensland, so they can learn about their history and where they have come from.

Jan Grant

Because it is a heritage site and should be managed by people who know how to preserve this heritage and keep accessibility free of private  commercial control whose only interest is in making money.

Ray Thurlow

Heritage matters are best left in the hands of a not-for-profit organisation as is already the case in many other places.

Margaret Greer

Our historic buildings should be accepted as such. And not allowed for private profit

Dorothy Joycey

The Historical interest is huge.

Rebecca Fitz-Herbert

History gives perspective on where we have been and who we are now.  The story needs to be told properly!

Lee Hunter

because we have sold off far too much of our government owned land and property as it is. Something like this needs to be preserved and available to the general public, not just those who can afford to pay the high prices a private firm would charge for access (if they dont just find a way to tear it down in the first place!)

Colleen O'Leary

It is part of our history in this state and should not be run as a profit making business.

Glenys Prins

Our heritage belongs to the people no to some private company to make money out of.

Tara Young

Australia's heritage & landmarks should be accessible by both Australians & tourists at a reasonable cost. They are our heritage & a symbol of our past, not a business to make a profit from. We have lost too much if our heritage already to it her Privatisation gone wrong or modern development. Listen to the people...we want this Gaol to remain affordably accessible & maintained for our future generations. 

Stefania Zara Kleynendorst

because it's a public historical building that should be available open to all

Cat Steele

Shame LNP shame! Boggo Road is our heritage

Bob Aldred

Historical sites are the property of the community, and not for the commercial profits of individuals and companies. Also, not for profits have something different to offer that commercial companies.

John Elliott

to preserve the historical site

Annette Hall

Too much of Queensland's history has been demolished.  The future is important but the past once was the future and is worth hanging onto for all time.

Greg Glidden

This is an important heritage site of historical significance. Furthermore, it is an asset which was paid for and belongs to the people of Queensland and must continue to be managed by the government. Private enterprise has no place here!

Steffy Duncan

Because my Grandfather worked there, not sure what his role was as I was only young but a part of Boggo's history is a part of my family history.

Brodie-Ann Wright

History belongs to us all.

Peter Johnson

As this is a Qld heritage site, it should not become a private business venture.