The Terrace Gaol

"The history of Wellington 's gaol's is grim but vivid, nowhere more so than at the Terrace Gaol, which for nearly a century housed the region's thievers and murderers, drunks and lunatics, vagrants and prostitutes. Many inmates went on to become folk heroes, writers, social reformers or politicians, like Joe Pawelka, the only successful escapee ; Louis Chemis, who cheated the gallows but blew himself up on Mount Victoria ; Peter Fraser, who did time for opposing conscription but went on to become prime minister ; and fearless conscientious objector Archie Baxter. Te Aro School now stands where convicts once toiled and murderers swung, and few traces of the old gaol remain - except for the stories." -- Back cover.