Maitland Gaol has made an unexpected discovery while completing upgrade works

It is something the inmates of Maitland Gaol would’ve known all too well.

In fact, a recent discovery has given an insight into the ingenuity of the prisoners locked inside the walls of the infamous gaol. 

Operations and interpretation service delivery officer Zoe Whiting said a number of deteriorated tennis balls were uncovered during recent upgrade works.  

And interestingly, they have all been cut open. 

“There’s certainly been a story told in our oral history stories about how contraband got into the gaol,” she said. 

“There is a story, and certainly from ex-prison officers, that people [on the outside] would buy tennis balls and fill them with contraband such as drugs. 

 “And then throw it over the wall and the inmate would pick it up, cut it open and then dispose of the tennis ball.

“We found eight in total, so obviously someone had used the same method multiple times.” The discovery was made after a blockage was found while the site was undergoing works on the roof which included the connecting of a series of downpipes to stormwater pipes. 

All of the tennis balls have been cut open at some point during their life, which further adds to the belief they were used for smuggling contraband into the facility. 

The series of items discovered during the renovation works around the site will be put on display in an exhibition entitled Treasure Trove next year.

"It will feature the stone work and any more contraband that we come across,” Ms Whiting said.

“It will also display drone shots of the gaol so it will give a view that people don’t usually get to see.

“The exhibition will be mid next year and will run for about three or four months.”

The Mercury asked if the any tunnels had been found during the works but the gaol confirmed there hadn’t – yet. 

Ms Whiting added there was one tale of an attempted tunnel escape.

“In 1980, a tunnel was discovered in C Wing which was dug by two prisoners from their cell,” she said. 

“It was about one and a half metres deep and three metres in length. 

“Obviously those prisoners were in a lot of trouble, and the myth is the governor had a lot pleasure in making the prisoners watch as the cement truck came in to fill the tunnel.”