In 1888, Deputy Sheriff (and later Government Resident) John George Knight collected sketches and drawings made by Aboriginal prisoners to be displayed at the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition under the title, The Dawn of Art.

[1] Dr Philip Jones, Senior Curator, Department of Anthropology, South Australian Museum, has called this the first exhibition of Aboriginal art.

The last executions in Darwin were held at Fannie Bay Gaol in 1952, when Jerry Coci and Jonus Novotny, Czechoslovakian immigrants, were hanged for the murder of a taxi driver.

A pit was dug into the floor at one end of the building, with brick walls either side to support the beam.

[2][3] On 1 September 1979, prisoners were relocated to the newly-built correctional facility located in Berrimah and the gaol was officially closed in October 1980.