Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01891:body:0:p24
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01891
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 77291–80167

Jean Rice Architect | CONTEXT | GML Heritage

By the time Major Joseph Anderson of the 50" Regiment arrived in April 1834, the place was known as
Kingston. Anderson directed construction of the Commissariat Store, the New Military Barracks, and in
1836 commenced work on a New Gaol based on the radiating-wing principle. Other works included
improvements to drainage and the creation of an ornamental garden. His administration was based upon
discipline and the use of informers within the convict population, supported by a loyal civil and military
staff, as well as a body of former soldiers now under sentence. He was a feared and hated
Commandant—the lash was freely used and many laboured in chains, some in the wet quarries. The use
of ploughs was forbidden and only manual labour was used. In 1836 Reverend Atkins refused to sign a
report on the death of a prisoner who he claimed died having been flogged while critically ill with
dysentery. The year 1838 saw the arrival of the Royal Engineer, Lieutenant Lugard, who surveyed the
settlement and later designed a number of the buildings. Lugard proposed improvements at the Landing
Place, and construction of the Kingston Pier commenced in 1839 and continued until 1847, but it was
never completed.

When Major Thomas Bunbury replaced Anderson in April 1839, there were 1200 prisoners and 180
soldiers. Bunbury reintroduced the plough, practical agricultural techniques and flax production. He
constructed two underground silos above the Commissariat Store, and made changes to the Watermill
dam system. He allocated easier labour to the well-behaved, encouraged church services and allowed
individual gardens. Bunbury's command was terminated abruptly in September 1839 after he attempted to
stamp out irregularities within the 80" Regiment by removing their private huts and gardens. This
precipitated a mutiny by the troops on 1 July 1839, resulting in the immediate recall of Bunbury and the
entire garrison and his replacement by a caretaker, Commandant Major Thomas Ryan of the 50"
Regiment. During his brief tenure, Ryan continued with building programs and was an enlightened
Commandant with a disciplined and humane approach.

Prison reformer, Captain Alexander Maconochie RN, took command in March 1840—a time when the
convict population reached its highest number of 1872. He found a lack of accommodation for prisoners,
inadequate mess facilities and an absence of schools and places of worship. Maconochie implemented
his system of reform among the English prisoners—that is, convicts sent directly from Britain as opposed
to the colonial convicts sent as the result of a second conviction. English prisoners were stationed at the
agricultural outstations at Longridge and Cascade, away from colonial prisoners in Kingston. Trusted
prisoners were also permitted to establish their own quarters and gardens