2020 Maitland Gaol Activities Program
Contents SELF GUIDED AUDIO TOURS
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GUIDED TOURS
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SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM
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EXHIBITION PROGRAM
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ANNUAL PROGRAMMED ACTIVITIES 15 UNIQUE SPACES
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EVENT PROGRAM JANUARY Summer School Holiday Program
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FEBRUARY Exhibition: The Punishment Period Seniors Festival: Morning/Afternoon Tea and Tour
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MARCH Workshop Series: Bee Involved
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APRIL Snitch’s Easter Egg Hunt Autumn School Holiday Program
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MAY Sew Relaxing
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The program, times and dates are correct at the time of publishing. Prices are subject to change after 30 June 2020. Maitland Gaol reserves the right to delete or alter any item in the program without notice. Bookings are essential for all events and activities. Visitors to Maitland Gaol are advised that exhibitions and interpretation throughout the site may contain images of persons who have died.
JUNE Exhibition: Nothing But Time Workshop Series: Bread and Butter
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JULY Winter School Holiday Program
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Workshop Series: Prison Preserves
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AUGUST SEPTEMBER Father’s Day: A Bite Behind Bars Spring School Holiday Program
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OCTOBER Spring School Holiday Program Kids Halloween Disco Battle of the Zombies Halloween Haunt (Sleepover)
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NOVEMBER Bitter & Twisted Boutique Beer Festival Exhibition: Captain Moonlite: The Desperado Workshop series: Pinot and Pencils
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DECEMBER Christmas at the Gaol
Bookings essential, charges apply to most tours and activities. Please check availability, pricing and details online or phone Maitland Gaol.
02 4936 6482 info@maitlandgaol.com.au maitlandgaol.com.au
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SELF GUIDED AUDIO TOURS Unlock the gates of Maitland Gaol by taking one of three daily self guided audio tours of the facility. These tours give you a different perspective of the Gaol as you explore the site at your own pace. Wander the Gaol’s grounds, walking in the steps of prisoners of the past, weaving in and out of the cells that some of the country’s most notorious criminals called home. Maitland Gaol Revealed gives you an insight into the history of the Gaol and what it was like to work and live inside, Escaping Maitland Gaol explores the numerous successful and unsuccessful escapes from the Gaol’s walls and Snitch’s Gaol Exploration is specifically designed for children aged 4 – 12 years. Each tour takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. Auslan and captioned tours also available. Daily 9.00am – 4.00pm Monday to Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays Last entry 3.00pm
MAITLAND GAOL APP A discounted entry price is available for visitors who have downloaded the tour to their own device. Search for ‘Maitland Gaol’ in the App Store or Google Play Store.
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GUIDED TOURS Maitland Gaol offers a variety of themed guided tours where you can hear firsthand, captivating stories of working and living behind bars inside the maximum security prison. The guided tours are offered regularly throughout the year. Please check availability, pricing and details online or by contacting Maitland Gaol on 4936 6482.
150 YEARS UNDER LOCK AND KEY Immerse yourself in the history of Maitland Gaol on this 90 minute tour, discovering stories of all sorts of heroes and villains. Delve into all parts of the site and learn of the changes that have occurred in prisoner treatment throughout the life of Maitland Gaol, the longest continuously operating correctional facility in Australia. This tour is presented regularly as a public day tour and occasionally presented as a public evening torchlight tour. It is also available for private groups where it may be adapted to highlight particular aspects of the facility at the request of the group organisers. Family Friendly Tour
ESCAPES TOUR Hear stories of the escapes from Maitland Gaol, from the unbelievable and amazing to the outright ludicrous. Your guide will escort you around the site, hearing stories of often short lived freedom as well as how the site developed over its 150 year history. Presented regularly as a public day tour and once a month as a special evening edition. Family Friendly Tour Bookings essential. Book online at maitlandgaol.com.au
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EX-WARDER TOUR A 90 minute escorted tour through the site from the perspective of those responsible for operating the facility. Be warned, there are some stories which are not for the feint hearted. Your guide will provide you with information on the history of this maximum security facility and what it was like to look after some of the ‘worst of the worst’. Be prepared for some harrowing tales. Suitable for ages 15 years and over
A PSYCHIC EXPERIENCE Do you believe in the paranormal? Both believers and non-believers alike are fascinated by the psychic stories and phenomena described by our resident psychic guide. To really be immersed in the psychic experience, you will need two and a half hours to hear the history of Maitland Gaol and the people who have passed through its walls. Suitable for ages 15 years and over
CRIMES OF PASSION Crimes of Passion, they shock and horrify us, but in almost equal measure they intrigue us. Listen to Maitland Gaol come to life with a series of stories focused around Crimes of Passion that ended in incarceration or worse. The stories are entwined with love, suspicion, greed and envy with almost all culminating in a brutal ending. Available only by torchlight, this tour is sure to leave you with the urge to double check your doors are locked at night. Suitable for ages 15 years and over
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GHOST HUNTING 101 Starting with the basics, Ghost Hunting 101 will teach you how to use a K2 Meter and voice recorder, before you get time to do some investigating on your own. You’ll experience a vigil, an era cue, use a spirit box as well as have time to chat about experiences. To finish the group will have a discussion on the topics of ghosts, poltergeists and residual and intelligent hauntings. What better place to do it than at Maitland Gaol? Suitable for ages 15 years and over This is designed as an introduction to paranormal investigation, not for experienced ‘ghost-hunters’.
PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR EXPERIENCE Work with the latest paranormal equipment in one of Australia’s most haunted locations. During this four hour experience you will learn what ghosts are and what they are not, plus all about the different types of hauntings. This is NOT a tour, rather an opportunity to dive deep into investigating what lies in the dark cells of Maitland Gaol. Suitable for ages 18 years and over This experience is only offered bimonthly, is for a maximum of 20 people and does not include a tour of the site.
JUSTICE PRECINCT TOUR The Justice Precinct Tour explores the complex relationship between Maitland Gaol and it’s surrounds including the East Maitland Courthouse, Mounted Police Barracks and the many locations of the East Maitland Police Station. Enjoy a 90 minute guided walking tour of the land that surrounds Maitland Gaol, learn about the buildings, their uses and their importance to the major justice centre that was East Maitland. Suitable for all ages. This tour is offered on a quarterly basis and includes access to Maitland Gaol but does not include a guided tour inside the walls. Bookings essential. Book online at maitlandgaol.com.au
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SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM
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SUMMER SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 19 December 2019 – 28 January 2020
WORKHOUSE WOES: LAUNDRY LASS Ever wondered what Maitland Gaol’s female prisoners spent their days doing? Enjoy a one hour guided tour of the gaol, learning all the ins and outs of the prisoner’s routine, before getting a chance to do washing, just like they did in the good old days. With buckets to carry water and washboards to clean the clothes, we’ll have the kids working like a human washing machine. 11.00am on 7, 14 and 21 January $10 per child, $5 per adult Suitable for ages 5 – 12 years
JUNIOR SLEUTH: TATTOO TALES Junior Sleuths will learn about how prisoners lived in the Gaol over the 150 years of its operation on this one hour guided tour. Afterwards they’ll delve into the work of prison tattoos and what these symbols represent (don’t worry its family friendly). Using some of the oldest tattoos recorded in Australia, children will learn what they mean and tell a story using them. As a bonus they receive a temporary tattoo to take home as a souvenir of their time behind bars at Maitland Gaol. 11.00am on 2, 9, 16 and 23 January $10 per child, $5 per adult Suitable for ages 5 – 12 years
Bookings essential. Book online at maitlandgaol.com.au
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AUTUMN SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 10 April 2020 – 26 April 2020
JUNIOR SLEUTH: FINGERPRINTING Before a prisoner is put behind bars, you first have to be able to catch them and then process them. Fingerprinting makes up an important part of both processes. Junior Sleuths will take a mini tour of the Gaol before learning how to dust for fingerprints. Children will also learn when fingerprinting was introduced and what gaols had to do with fingerprinting. Once they’ve caught the perp, we’ll process their fingers as a special souvenir to take home. 11.00am on 14 and 21 April $10 per child, $5 per adult Suitable for ages 5 – 15 years
WORKHOUSE WOES: BUTTER MAKING Ever wondered what prisoners get up to behind bars? Come along to Workhouse Woes: Butter Making to learn all about one of the jobs undertaken by prisoners in the earliest days of the Gaol’s history. Children will undertake a mini tour of the site before getting the chance to get hands on and make their very own butter. Using all their muscles to make the butter means they’ll probably be a little hungry. Well not only will they make it, but they’ll get to taste it. 11.00am on 16 and 23 April $10 per child, $5 per adult Suitable for ages 5 – 15 years Not suitable for vegans or gluten intolerant persons.
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WINTER SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 4 July 2020 – 19 July 2020
JUNIOR SLEUTH: WORD DETECTIVE In order to solve crimes, detectives often have to sift through a series of clues first. During this activity children will be given a puzzle, the clues for which will be provided by the guide during the one hour mini tour of the site. At the conclusion of the tour, children will have the opportunity to piece together the clues to solve the crime. 11.00am on 7 and 14 July $10 per child, $5 per adult Suitable for ages 5 – 15 years
WORKHOUSE WOES: METALSMITHING With hours to while away whilst locked up in Maitland Gaol, many prisoners turned their hands to different sorts of work. The metal shop offered lots of opportunities, for good and bad behaviour. Enjoy a one hour guided mini tour with a tour guide to hear all about the sorts of work that prisoners completed in the gaol, in particular the metal shop. At the completion of the tour children get the opportunity to make a special metal tag, just like the one’s prisoners made. 11.00am on 9 and 16 July $10 per child, $5 per adult Suitable for ages 5 – 15 years
Bookings essential. Book online at maitlandgaol.com.au
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SPRING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 26 September 2020 – 11 October 2020
JUNIOR SLEUTH: DECODING LETTERS Sleuthing is a tough job, with so many different activities required to catch the baddy. These school holidays children get the opportunity to decode prison letters and learn how prisoners slip their secrets out under the very nose of their watchers. Enjoy a guided tour of the site where you get to explore the cells once inhabited by prisoners followed by an activity where you learn the prisoner’s code. Read through a letter and see if you can find out what the prisoners were really up to. 11.00am on 26 September and 6 October $10 per child, $5 per adult Suitable for ages 5 -12 years
WORKHOUSE WOES: BUG HOUSE Gardening was one of the most important jobs at Maitland Gaol, as the produce not only fed the prisoners in Maitland but also in other gaols around New South Wales. Pesky pests can often destroy a whole crop and a great way to combat this is to entice lots of other bugs into your garden. Hear all about the gardens at Maitland Gaol on a one hour guided tour and then learn how to build your very own bug hotel. This small bug hotel will go home with you to hang in your garden and help encourage lots of bugs into your backyard. 11.00am on 1 and 8 October $10 per child, $5 per adult Suitable for ages 5 - 15 years 12
EXHIBITION PROGRAM Throughout 2020 Maitland Gaol will host a series of temporary exhibitions. All exhibitions will be on show for an extended period and provide a strong link to the many fascinating stories and years of history at Maitland Gaol. Entry into all exhibitions is included in the entry price for Maitland Gaol.
THE PUNISHMENT PERIOD The period between 1867 and 1905 saw some of the harshest punishments reintroduced to New South Wales since the convict era. Known as the Separate System, this era physically enforced compliance and silence throughout the gaol system, including here at Maitland Gaol. This exhibition explores the punishments used throughout the state and touches on the effects this had on prisoners incarcerated during this period. February 2020 – June 2020
Bookings essential. Book online at maitlandgaol.com.au
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NOTHING BUT TIME With weeks, months and years locked behind bars whatever did prisoners get up to with their ‘free’ time? This exhibition explores the opportunities prisoners had or took, to help while away the hours. It will explore education and other learning activities as well as artistic endeavours. Take a peek behind bars and explore some of the solitary and group activities prisoners undertook of their own choosing. June 2020 – October 2020
CAPTAIN MOONLITE: THE DESPERADO Captain Moonlite was a well educated gentleman who became a bushranger in Australia during the 1860s. He was the sort of bushranger that made the country seem small, as he travelled frequently between New South Wales and Victoria. Sentenced to Maitland Gaol over 150 years ago, explore some of the rare documents that relate to Moonlite’s story in this unique exhibition. November 2020 – February 2021
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ANNUAL PROGRAMMED ACTIVITIES
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SENIORS FESTIVAL: MORNING/ AFTERNOON TEA AND TOUR If only these walls could talk. As part of the annual NSW Seniors Festival, Maitland Gaol is offering our senior citizens the opportunity to explore Maitland Gaol with one of our experienced guides. Visitors will learn how the site changed operationally over the 150 years it operated and about some of the daring escapes. Offered over two sessions, either morning or afternoon tea, will be provided after the tour. This is a great opportunity to ask in depth questions about the site and get a sense of Maitland Gaol’s history and future. Wednesday 26 February $5 per person
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WORKSHOP WONDERS Ever felt the urge to create something yourself, learn a new skill or meet some likeminded people? Come along and join us at one of our quarterly creation workshops. Each workshop will include a different themed DIY activity and a guided tour of Maitland Gaol. March: Bee Involved - Banish the cling wrap from your life and learn how to make your own reusable beeswax food wraps. June: Bread and Butter - Learn the art of sourdough and butter making in the Maitland Gaol kitchen, the same kitchen that was once used to prepare food for the inmates. August: Prisoner Preserves – Learn about the lost art of preserving with a hands on class delving into the processes of making jams, marmalades, pickles and relishes using some produce from the Maitland Gaol gardens. November: Pinot and Pencils – Indulge in a glass of wine and cheese platter as you learn the basics of illustration, drafting sketches encompassing the beautiful building facades and local fauna of Maitland Gaol. Bookings essential.
Bookings essential. Book online at maitlandgaol.com.au
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SNITCH’S EASTER EGG HUNT Come along to Maitland Gaol this Easter to take part in Snitch’s Easter Egg Hunt. Children will explore the site looking for coloured Easter eggs. Follow the map to find specially marked locations to complete the code word puzzle. Look out for a very special guest and make sure you keep your eyes peeled for the golden egg. Once you’ve completed the code word puzzle, return your map to receive a chocolate Easter surprise. At the completion of the hunt you’re welcome to stay onsite and explore the site with Snitch’s self guided audio tour via the Maitland Gaol app (using your own device). Saturday 11 April 9.30am and 1.30pm $10 per child, $5 per adult
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SEW RELAXING This event is for all the mums out there, to celebrate everything they are and give them an opportunity to escape the kids, housework and nagging husbands for a few hours. Grab the girls and join us for an afternoon learning the lost art of cross stitch, indulging in a decadent afternoon tea, a glass of bubbles and talking about anything but the kids. No mention of Peppa Pig or the Wiggles here. Saturday 16 May 3.00pm Bookings essential.
Bookings essential. Book online at maitlandgaol.com.au
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FATHER’S DAY: A BITE BEHIND BARS Enjoy the sunshine and time with your dad this Father’s Day. Enjoy a scrumptious picnic breakfast on the Exercise Field, relax on our beanbags while you bask in the springtime sun. Challenge Dad in one of our many lawn games before embarking on a guided tour of the Gaol, making it a Father’s Day he truly won’t forget. Sunday 6 September 9.00am Bookings essential.
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KIDS HALLOWEEN DISCO We all know how much children love dressing up and what better occasion than Halloween. Maitland Gaol is organising a Halloween Disco like no other, complete with a spooky cell to take selfies (enter if you dare), a fun disco with games and a fancy dress parade for all those little ghosts, gremlins and zombies with prizes for the best dressed. It wouldn’t be Halloween without a trick or treat bag full of goodies. Saturday 31 October Session 1: 4.30pm – 6.00pm Session 2: 6.30pm– 8.00pm Suitable for children aged between 4 and 12 years, all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Bookings essential. Book online at maitlandgaol.com.au
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BATTLE OF THE ZOMBIES Join Maitland Gaol and Battlezone Playlive this Halloween as we run an exhilarating zombie laser skirmish session. The apocalypse has happened, zombies now run the world, and it has become survival of the fittest. Bring along your zombie friends and battle against others to find out who is the top dog. We can’t expect you to fill your zombie bellies with only brains so join us for a picnic dinner following the epic laser skirmish battle. Saturday 31 October 6.00pm – 9.00pm Suitable for ages 13 years and older Bookings essential.
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HALLOWEEN HAUNT Guys, gals and ghouls. Join us at Maitland Gaol this Halloween for our only public sleepover of 2020. Come dressed as your favourite scary villain and participate in a two hour ghost hunt, run by Newcastle Ghost tours. If that hasn’t given you enough scares, Halloween themed trivia in the auditorium will certainly make you want to leave your light on all night. Following trivia, you’ll spend the night in a cell which once housed some of Australia’s most notorious criminals. Rally your friends, get ready for a fright and book your tickets to Maitland Gaol’s Halloween Haunt. Saturday 31 October 9.00pm – 8.00am (the following day) Suitable for ages 16 years and older An accompanying parent or guardian must be in attendance for attendees under the age of 18 years.
Bookings essential. Book online at maitlandgaol.com.au
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BITTER & TWISTED BOUTIQUE BEER FESTIVAL The Bitter & Twisted Boutique Beer Festival is held inside the walls of the former maximum security prison, Maitland Gaol, over the first weekend of November. The festival is a celebration of beer, music and food with festival goers treated to over 80 craft beers, the best line up of bands, food from across the globe, home brew masterclasses and a few twisted surprises! 7 and 8 November bitterandtwisted.com.au
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CHRISTMAS AT THE GAOL Looking for a unique way to celebrate Christmas with friends? Why not wrangle your buddies and kick up your heels at Maitland Gaol’s Christmas Party. Enjoy a Christmas dinner including drinks, mini tour of the site and best of all finishing the night on the dance floor. Available as a public activity for a number of small groups or a private group activity for over 40 people, experience a unique celebration this Christmas. Saturday 12 December (public activity) 6.00pm Minimum combined number of 40 people required on the public activity for the event to proceed. Private group bookings available on other dates, please contact 4936 6482 to discuss your requirements.
Bookings essential. Book online at maitlandgaol.com.au
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UNIQUE SPACES A VENUE WITH A DIFFERENCE Maitland Gaol offers flexibility and diversity across a 2.5 hectare site and provides a range of spaces to cater for varying activities. From a meeting for a select few, an intimate wedding, a conference for two hundred, to a dinner for six hundred or a music festival on the grassed exercise field, the Gaol houses the most unique spaces available in the region. Our helpful team is on hand to offer suggestions and support to ensure you and your group have a positive and memorable experience. Hire of the spaces can be arranged within or outside normal business hours.
A AND B WING The historic former cell blocks are the perfect setting for a dining experience like no other and one that no prisoner could have ever dreamed would be served within the solid walls. The cell blocks are matchless and offer an exclusive point of difference for your next corporate dinner, wedding reception or celebratory occasion. The hire of A or B Wing includes the use of trestle or round tables (where available) and white plastic lawn style chairs.
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THE EXERCISE FIELD This open space once held a building for female inmates, prison farm inmates and the hospital together with the Cookhouse. The foundations of these building have been laid out within what is now a lush grassed area, familiar to prisoners who were held within the site during its final 20 odd years and provides an oasis within the Goal walls. The area is perfect for team building activities, an alfresco lunch, a portable marquee suitable for a distinctive gala dinner or a music festival‌..think Johnny Cash, Far from Folsom.
MARQUEE The Marquee is located in the heart of the Gaol, overlooking the Exercise Field and in close proximity to amenities and the commercial kitchen, which is also available to hire for functions. The space provides a blank canvas and the possibilities for its use is only limited by your imagination. Hire of the marquee includes the use of trestle or round tables (where available) and white plastic lawn style chairs.
Bookings essential. Book online at maitlandgaol.com.au
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CHAPEL Located opposite the heavy metal gated entrance, the Chapel is situated in the first building prisoners saw upon arrival. The Chapel is bathed in natural light with raked, cedar lined timber ceilings and majestic painted windows, an ideal space for medium sized presentations, exhibitions, conferences, book launches, author talks, functions and wedding ceremonies/receptions. Offering a range of room layouts and capacities, the hire of the Chapel includes the use of round or trestle tables (where available) and white plastic lawn style chairs. Self service tea and coffee can be organised for meetings and conferences at an additional charge. Please note the Chapel is an upstairs space accessible by stairs or a mobility lift.
AUDITORIUM With an area of 168m², the Auditorium is an ideal space for large scale presentations, exhibitions and conferences. Offering a range of room layouts and capacities, the hire of the Auditorium includes fixed AV, air conditioning, tiered seating in addition to the floor space allowing for various setups and the use of round or trestle tables and white plastic lawn style chairs. Self service tea and coffee can be organised for an additional charge.
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THE READING ROOM Offering 27m², The Reading Room lends itself perfectly for small group activities such as interviews, small training sessions and meetings. The suggested room layouts and capacities are boardroom (12), theatre (24), classroom (12) and U shape (9). Included in the room hire fee are a fixed whiteboard, mobile flipchart and pens, air conditioning, cold water, wrapped mints. Self service tea and coffee are available for an additional charge. Hire of the Reading Room can be arranged during normal business hours as a one off or regular activity.
THE MEETING ROOM Offering 27m², The Meeting Room lends itself perfectly for small group activities such as small training sessions and meetings. The only room layout available is boardroom for up to 12 people. Included in the room hire fee are a smartboard, mobile flipchart and pens, air conditioning, cold water, wrapped mints. Self service tea and coffee are available for an additional charge. Hire of the Meeting Room can be arranged during normal business hours as a one off or regular activity.
Bookings essential. Book online at maitlandgaol.com.au
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COMMERCIAL KITCHEN A fully functional commercial kitchen can be hired in conjunction with a catered for function or independently for mass production of produce upon request. The use of the kitchen does not include tools, utensils, combi oven, storage space or refrigeration and it is a condition of hire that the space be fully cleaned after use.
CHAPEL MEETING ROOM A new addition to our large list of function areas available to hire is our Chapel meeting room. Situated underneath the chapel is a unique room previously used as the administration office during the Gaol’s operating period. It can comfortably fit 20 people in a classroom style setting. This meeting room can be hired with the use of an additional boardroom or break out room with table seating eight people and a kitchenette as well.
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LOCK IN YOUR CHRISTMAS PLANS (PRIVATE GROUPS) After something a little unique for your staff Christmas party or social get together this Christmas? Why not take over one of our function spaces within the gaol. We can accommodate anything from a small intimate dinner to a cocktail party for over 150 people. The Gaol team can assist with suggesting suitable operators to make your Christmas celebrations special. Mini guided tours can be arranged to accompany this option or book in for a Battlezone laser skirmish or escape room session. November and December Packages available upon request. Please email info@maitlandgaol.com.au for further information.
Bookings essential. Book online at maitlandgaol.com.au
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6 – 18 John Street East Maitland 2323 02 4936 6482 info@maitlandgaol.com.au
maitlandgaol.com.au Monday to Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays 10.00am - 4.00pm Last entry at 3.00pm