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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: macken_h on Thursday 10 November 22 00:00 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
I'm looking for background history for Portable Lockups which were used in Victoria Australia in the early 19th Century.
These were sometimes referred to as "Casterton style lockups. Is it possible that they came from Casterton in Victoria?
https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/59c8377121ea6c0dac1984fa
From my initial research these were manufactured in England and then sent to Australia in kit form and assembled here. Generally they were in Victoria only.
I will attach some photos, one of which we have in our Historical precinct in our town.
Any information would be gratefully received.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Regards,
Hilary
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Newspaper mention says "built by order of the Victorialn Public Works Department".
I suspect you will have already seen this.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129303395?searchTerm=%22Portable%20lockup%22
There is an example in Cooma.
https://mgnsw.org.au/articles/flat-pack-portable-cell/
To me, the idea of a portable gaol sounds more American than English.
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=134489
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You may have also seen this already - from Museums Victoria
"It is amongst a large group of portable lockups, categorised as 'Portable Lock Up - Timber - Later' and also known as the "Casterton style", based on the only known plan for portable lock ups, built for the Casterton Police Station, in 1907. The later portables have been in use since the 1880s. It is not known how many lock ups of this type have been constructed in Victoria. At least 50 examples have been documented around the state. Of these, 42 are known to be extant."
https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/59c5d50f21ea68047c1e19ad
Modified to add:
Oh, I see this same quote is used on the page you cited.