Stop Seven

Gaol Courtyard

This stop is inside the old Gaol courtyard, where you can see the gantry used by guards to oversee the prisoners. Captain Moonlite later met James Nesbitt after being sent to Pentridge Prison (see picture of Nesbitt). There is speculation about the nature of their relationship. James Nesbitt was 19 when he met Moonlite, and they lived together in Melbourne for a time.

Letters written by Moonlite to Nesbitt, expressing a wish to be buried beside each other after Moonlite’s execution, suggest a deeper connection than mere friendship. The language used in these letters is more intimate, resembling that of a romantic partner rather than a friend.

After his release, Moonlite gave talks aimed at warning youth about the dangers of crime. The Ballarat Courier noted in April 1879 that his speeches, which included criticism of Pentridge Prison’s conditions and opposition to the Flogging Bill, were interrupted by heckling from Ballarat wardens. Despite this, Moonlite continued with his speech, offering a different perspective on prison life to the 300 people in attendance.

Darlinghurst Gaol

19th January 1880

From Prisoner Andrew G. Scott

Alias Moonlight

My dearest Mrs# Nesbitt,

To the mother of Jim no colder address would be true, My heart to you is the same as to my own dearest Mother jim’s sisters are my sisters, his friends my friends, his hopes were my hopes his grave will be my resting place and I trust I may be worthy to be with him when we shall all meet to part no more, when an all-seeing God who can read all hearts will be the judge be long before I am with him and in his grave. Mrs Nesbitt Mother of my jim may the Great God enable you to bear the great loss you have suffered.

I send you some of his hair and will try to send you any thing else of his I can get Give the love of a brother to dearest jims Sisters and to his father

Farewell my dearest Mrs Nesbit I am ever to you a loving son in spirit

A.G. Scott

Letter to James Nesbitt’s mother, 19 January 1880, in Williams (ed), The Moonlite papers.

Other Information

Go out the gate you turned in from and turn right. The little area with the bars is the final stop of the tour.

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