Cooma Correctional Centre, formerly known as Cooma Gaol, has been listed on the NSW State Heritage Register, recognising the site’s significant historical role in New South Wales. This decision acknowledges the harrowing legacy of incarcerating individuals based on their gender identity and sexual orientation, as well as the resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community affected by its past.
PHOTO: Cooma Correctional Centre – Vale Street, Cooma
Steve Whan, Member for Monaro, emphasised the importance of this recognition for the local community, stating, “Cooma Gaol’s imposing gate and towering granite walls have stood as an enduring feature of Cooma, serving as a visible reminder of our heritage as one of the state’s original prison towns.”
“The State Heritage listing is a recognition of the Gaol’s historical significance, not a change to its current operations and I want to assure the community that the prison will continue to function as a correctional facility, just as it is.”
Established in 1873, Cooma Gaol is New South Wales’ oldest operational prison. Between 1957 and 1984, it became infamous as the only known facility worldwide used specifically to detain gay men, transwomen, and non-binary individuals due to discriminatory laws at the time, which criminalised homosexuality until its decriminalisation in 1984.
Consequently, Cooma became a pivotal point in the early movement for homosexual law reform, which saw the emergence of organisations such as the Homosexual Law Reform Society in Canberra and Campaign Against Moral Persecution (CAMP) Inc in Sydney.
PHOTO: The ‘Crime through Time’ museum is a reminder of Cooma’s history.
Today, Cooma Correctional Centre still operates as a minimum and medium security prison and features the ‘Crime Through Time’ museum, which documents the evolution of correctional services in NSW since 1788. The heritage listing will be commemorated with a permanent tribute on site to mark its historical significance.
Minister for Corrections, Anoulack Chanthivong, highlighted the importance of this recognition, noting, “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 added that this step follows the NSW Government’s apology for past convictions under discriminatory laws.
The Cooma Correctional Centre’s heritage status is not merely a commemoration of its past but a step towards healing and acknowledging the injustices faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals during a challenging period in Australia’s history.