A historic New South Wales prison that exclusively held gay, trans, and non-binary prisoners from 1957 to 1984 has been officially added to the NSW State Heritage Register, recognising the LGBTQIA+ history of the site and the injustices endured by those incarcerated there.
Cooma Gaol: A Dark Chapter in Australia’s LGBTQ+ History
Originally opened in 1873, Cooma Gaol was transformed in March 1957 by then NSW Justice Minister Reg Downing into a penal institution designed solely for imprisoning “homosexual offenders” under the discriminatory laws of the time.
At the time, Downing described Cooma as “the only penal institution in the world, so far as is known, devoted specifically to the detention of homosexual offenders.”
The prison could hold up to 160 inmates before it ceased this function in 1984, when homosexuality was decriminalised in NSW. It then became an integrated facility.
A Symbol for LGBTQ+ Rights and Reform
Cooma Gaol played a key role in early campaigns to decriminalise homosexuality in Australia. The injustices faced by those imprisoned there led to the formation of advocacy groups, including:
- The Homosexual Law Reform Society (1969, Canberra)
- Campaign Against Moral Persecution (CAMP) Inc (1970, Sydney)
Today, the prison is known as Cooma Correctional Centre and operates as a minimum and medium-security facility. Adjacent to the prison is the Corrective Services NSW Museum, which houses a Crime Through Time exhibition, detailing the history of the NSW prison system since 1788.
NSW Government Acknowledges Past Injustices
The NSW Government has committed to ensuring Cooma Gaol’s State Heritage listing includes a permanent commemoration honouring those unjustly imprisoned.
NSW Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong stated:
“The inclusion of Cooma Gaol on the State Heritage Register is important in that it ensures the stories of those who were unjustly treated are acknowledged and preserved for generations to come.”
He also referenced the NSW Government’s formal apology last year to LGBTQIA+ people convicted under discriminatory laws, adding:
“By acknowledging the past injustices faced by LGBTQIA+ people at Cooma Gaol, we take a vital step towards healing the past.”
State Member for Monaro, Steve Whan MP, further clarified:
“The State Heritage listing is a recognition of the Gaol’s historical significance, not a change to its current operations. I want to assure the community that the prison will continue to function as a correctional facility.”
A Growing Recognition of LGBTQ+ History
This listing follows the NSW Government’s recent addition of the graves of bushranger Andrew George Scott (Captain Moonlite) and his lover James Nesbitt to the State Heritage Register, further acknowledging the historical significance of Australia’s LGBTQ+ past.
