guided tour Archives - Destination's Journey

5 March 20241 March 2024

Maitland Gaol NSW Australia

Maitland Gaol NSW Australia

Although outdated and no longer in use, the Maitland Gaol in NSW Australia is now a tourist attraction. Several options are available when visiting, guided tours, self guided tours or a guard tower tour. We chose the last option, as this takes you up onto the walls of the gaol, providing better views over the buildings. The guide also gives a commentary full of interesting information. Additionally, you can do the self guided tour when you finish on the walls.

Getting There

Located in East Maitland NSW Australia, the gaol has its own car park, so self -drive is usually not a problem.

Watch Towers

Before undertaking the tour, a safety talk ensures that you understand the risks and behaviour expected. The main risks are heights and enclosed spaces. These are all managed with guard rails, but if you suffer from heights and enclosed spaces, the guard tower tour might not be for you.

Climbing to the top of the tower is via a modern metal spiral staircase inside one of the towers. Once at the top, you are safely enclosed by a metal frame and mesh wire. The view from the top is amazing, providing views over the gaol. The hour long tour took us along the walls where guards used to patrol and through several towers.

Stairs up to the watch tower — Guard Tower

Prison Cells

Originally opening in December 1848, Maitland Gaol did not close until January 1998. By this time it no longer met community standards.

The cells and exercise yards are open for visitors to explore where you get to see the conditions the prisoners were held in. The rooms are small and basic reflecting the times in which they were built.

Buildings

Built of sandstone, the buildings are impressive in size and certainly look substantial and difficult to escape from.

In addition to the cell blocks, there is a chapel with stain glass windows where religious services took place weekly.

As the number of prisoners increased over time, the gaol expanded. This is best seen from the guard towers where the original wall now runs down the centre of the gaol forming a dividing wall.

At this time a building for female prisoners was added. It originally had a balcony and doors facing into the gaol. Later, the women were relocated to another facility and the balcony was removed and the doors filled in. Different coloured sandstone in the walls shows where this happened.

Other Buildings Nearby

Opposite the gaol is the East Maitland Courthouse. This building is still operating as a children’s’ court, so access is restricted. However, if the court is closed, you can enter the carpark and see the front facade.

Located next to the gaol on Lindesay Street are the old Mounted Police Barracks. Used by the Maitland and Beyond Family Heritage, it is generally closed to the public. However the outside of the buildings can be viewed from the road.

East Maitland Court House Maitland Gaol — East Maitland Court House

Mounted Police Barracks Maitland Gaol — East Maitland Court House

4 July 202320 June 2023

Norah Head Lighthouse

Located at Norah Head on the Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia, Norah Head Lighthouse is still active after 120 years of operation. Built in 1903 it was the last lighthouse of the James Barnet style constructed. The lighthouse is 27 metres (89 ft) high and has a light characteristic of two white flashes every 15 seconds. This distinguishes it from other nearby lighthouses which will have a different number of flashed or separations.

Getting There

Parking is available onsite but is quite small and during busy periods fills quickly. Once the car park is full, visitors can park on the access road, or walk in from town which is a 10-minute walk.

Opening Times

The lighthouse is open to the public for guided tours every day (except Christmas Day and Anzac Day) between 10 am and 3 pm. Arriving early we were the only customers for the 10 am tour. This was great because we had the undivided attention of the guide. Our guide was great and being a volunteer, very passionate about the lighthouse. He kept up a running commentary for the whole tour, even while climbing the steps (there are 96 of them).

Ground Floor

On the ground floor we saw the weights that used to turn the light. Wound up and then released, they slowly moved down, with their movement turning the light. Not surprisingly, this was a laborious job and has been replaced by an electric motor.

Spiral staircase Norah Head Lighthouse — Weight system to turn the light

Balcony

At the balcony level, we saw the unique markings used by the lighthouse. Each lighthouse had its own unique design, so that during the day, if the light couldn’t be seen, sailors could still determine their location.

Norah Head Identification Shape Norah Head Lighthouse — Norah Head Identification Shape

The Light

At the light deck, our guide explained how airflow to the original kerosene that fuelled the lamp was controlled. Incorrect airflow would result in black soot deposits on the glass lens, restricting it’s visibility. Brass air inlets could be opened or shut depending on wind speed and direction, ensuring the light burned correctly.

Air vent used to control light brightness

Climbing the 96 steps was not difficult as there were many breaks for explanations. One was about the stairs themselves which are made is slate with brass fittings, so that sparks are not generated. Although not significant now, it was a vital consideration when the lighthouse burned kerosene.

The view from the top was spectacular, with views up and down the coast. This also gave us a bird’s eye view of the lighthouse keepers’ cottages, which are now used as guest houses.

The light Norah Head Lighthouse — The light

View from the top of the lighthouse looking south — The light

Following the tour, we walked over the rock platform below the cliff that the lighthouse is built on. On returning, we saw a long queue waiting to do the tour, making us very pleased that we had come early.

Looking up at the lighthouse from the beach Norah Head Lighthouse — Looking up at the lighthouse from the beach

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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14 February 202310 February 2023

Fullerton Hotel Post Office Building

Colonnade on Martin Place side of the building

Fullerton Hotel Post Office Building

Originally Sydney’s Post Office (GPO), this beautiful building has been repurposed into the Fullerton Hotel. Completed in 1891 after 25 years of construction, it served as the GPO until 1996 when the main post office relocated. Instead, Australia Post operate a smaller Postal Shop from the George Street end of the building. At this time, a refurbishment of the building took place. This entailed enclosing the courtyard into an atrium and turning the remaining building into retail shops and offices. With its prominent position on the corner of George St. and Martin Place, it’s a beautiful building and easy to find.

Tour of the GPO

Our tour of the Old-GPO took us through the building, while learning about its history. Originally designed by James Barnett, the building was later expanded as postal services grew. If you look at the exterior photo, you will see that the lower two floors have arched windows, while the upper floor’s are round. Apparently Barnett thought that the later architect ruined his design by not continuing with the arches on the upper floor.

We were able to climb the interior spiral staircase to the upper floors, but access to the clock tower is restricted. This is because the stairs are no longer safe for visitors and are in need of repair. We did see the smaller George Street clock from the round windows on the third floor. From here you are able to see the clocks mechanical workings.

The old GPO courtyard is now covered, forming an atrium where natural light streams in from the glass ceiling. This is a great sight, even from ground floor, but is much better on the access bridge from the third floor. From here you are able to look down onto what was once a bustling courtyard, but is now a relaxed open space.

Even if you do not enter the building the exterior is worth looking at because of it’s carvings and colonnade. At 114m long, it’s still one of the largest sandstone buildings in Sydney.

What Did We Think?

This was an interesting and informative tour, accessing areas usually off limits. We especially liked the atrium and internal staircase as well as the colonial sandstone architecture.