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Graffiti

The Prison retains a collection of graffiti from the convict-era through to the Prison’s closure. Graffiti occurs on internal and external walls, and is a powerful reminder of the prisoner experience, and of prison language and humour. Warder graffiti is also present in the watchtowers, providing insight into the tedium of watching prisoners, and the experience of the guards. The earliest extant graffiti, according to Kerr (1998), was likely drawn by the forger James Walsh, in pencil, and was preserved by being whitewashed over.

SPECIFIC POLICY 16: As a general policy, all remaining external and internal graffiti should be conserved and not removed or concealed (such as being painted or rendered over).


SPECIFIC POLICY 17: Works to the walls which contain (and surround) the graffiti, including maintenance and repairs, should take care to ensure that graffiti is not damaged or impacted by cleaning products and the like.


SPECIFIC POLICY 18: Any works, including conservation or restoration of the graffiti, should be undertaken by a professional qualified conservator.


SPECIFIC POLICY 19: Some renders contain graffiti. It is important to identify these elements to ensure that their significance is not diminished by removal of renders.


SPECIFIC  POLICY 20: Any treatments to the graffiti generally should ensure retention of the original medium.

SPECIFIC ACTION 16: If graffiti is damaged, obtain expert advice from a qualified conservator before undertaking any repairs.


SPECIFIC ACTION 17: If graffiti is identified for restoration, obtain expert advice from a qualified conservator before undertaking any restoration.


SPECIFIC ACTION 18: A perspex sheet or similar, standing proud of the wall to permit clear visibility and free circulation of air, can be utilised for the protection of graffiti. These items also require ongoing maintenance to maintain their transparency and to avoid a build-up of perspiration.


SPECIFIC ACTION 19: All existing graffiti should be recorded (to archival quality level) to maintain evidence of its location, condition and content, and to assist with future conservation and retention.

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