1912: Establishment of separate institution for women

Women were not sentenced to gaol during the colonial period, although some women were locked up. Later, women were incarcerated in separate sections of jails built for male offenders.

Pressure was put on the provincial government to establish a separate institution for women. In 1911, officers of the Council of Women argued in favour of it.

The attorney general decided to locate a women’s section on the grounds of Oakalla Prison Farm. Construction started in the fall of 1912.

Oakalla Prison Farm