In 1962/1963, aged 16, Bon Scott was sentenced to nine months at Riverbank Detention Centre. He was charged and convicted for stealing petrol, giving a false name and unlawful carnal knowledge. Below is a series of images from Riverbank in Caversham, Perth Western Australia.
For a google map of where this is, click here. Riverbank is the square courtyard building if you zoom in.
The entrance and admin building:
The central courtyard:
Entrance to cells:
The cell block corridor:
Inside a cell:
A prisoners drawing:
The dark cell block corridor:
The courtyard under croft:
Dining room entrance:
The kitchen:
Bathroom entrance:
Showers:
The metalwork shop entrance:
The recreation room:
The cricket nets:
You can read about Bon Scott’s experiences at Riverbank here.
Any questions or comments? Please write below.
Novel 
Hi James, I have been researching Riverbank for my blog ‘The Light at the End’ and was wondering how you were able to gain entry and take photos? I would very much like to do the same but when I visited it was all locked up. Can you get in touch and let me know? It would be much appreciated. Cheers, Joe.
Hi Joe. Government departments should help you. I’ll dig up my records and get back to you. Cheers
Many thanks!
Gday Alan is the guy from corrective services that granted me access, but I don’t think he works there any longer. Here’s his details:
Alan Sanders
Project Manager
Infrastructure Services
Department of Corrective Services
Tel: 9264 1807
Fax: 9264 1269
Try the number?
Also, an ACDC fan messaged me on Facebook. Said he was an actor and SBS were filming there.
Hope this helps.
Thanks! I will do. Reading Mick Wall’s book ‘AC/DC: Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be’, I have just realised that my Dad was in Riverbank Juvenile Prison briefly at the same time as Bon. Bon was incarcerated there aged 16 from April til late December 1963. Dad’s last of several “visits” there commenced on the 19th of November 1963 when he was 17. So they spent a month together behind bars. Scrubbing floors, going “into orbit” (running around and around the perimeter of the prison for miles on end) and, I have it on good authority, being regularly beaten by the screws. Somewhere in the middle of all that I like to think that they might also have shared a gallows laugh and a cheeky cigarette. 🙂
a family member of mine spent time in there 1962-63 how can I find out more about her time in there
Hi. I don’t think women stayed there. Good luck with your search.
No women. It was a boys institution run by all male warders who were mostly all ex army navy and air force who were very brutal at times. I think the government gave these jobs to them because they thought we needed the military style treatment. I missed being there the same time as Bon Scott who at that time was Ron Scott but i did time with him later in 1968 in Fremantle when he was given a short sentence of about a month for possession of cannabis.
I noticed a flushing toilet in the photos, but they were not in the cells, you shit in a bucket overnight.
Hated the place.
I was there May ’64 until 21/2/66. Scott came in while I was there. I dont know if he had been there before , He was 18., just another guy. and very short. He worked in the kitchen with chef Ron Sara. and another inmate known as “blue” peterson. Most wards were there for roughly 6months., depending on behaviour., I went in with 2 others Dennis Locke and Kevin Mcgilvray. for a fixed term. Mcgilvray returned there later as an officer. Talk of beatings is fantasy. although you would be disciplined if you played up.I had an open hand shoved into my nose by senior officer Tim Connolly, for not learning my lines for the parents day play,Those days he used to call me “cunt” .Later he was friendly to me. ,But the incident forced my nose cartilege against the bone and really hurt. ,that was the only time anyone was physical with me… the term “in orbit” was true , running was used as punishment, along with early rises, main course only and segregation. The staff were many ex-servicemen, and normal civillians, mostly good blokes. The only women were the schoolteacher Colleen Stuart, and sick bay nurse Julie Richardson, sometimes females would come in with the sunday service and “young christian workers”.. There were buckets to be taken to the “cabins” overnight. they were not for solid waste (shit). ..you were supposed to bang the door flap if you needed the real dunny. Other inmates I knew were ,Brian Hemmett , Frank Stone, Romak serociak, john Drage, Ron Dodd, bob Cameron , Mick Pickett, dennis Locke , k. mcgilvray. alan birmingham, Brian Morley, Chris Hughes, , , George Jaglicic, Joe Vitkunienne, Ron Buckland, Ian Maskeil, terrence Berry, Tim Martin , Nigel Mcilraith, Ron Myers., Johnny Dodd ,Geoff Lewis ,.and Ron Martin. The woodwork shop was run by Lindsay Hywood, and Noel Fielding. metalwork shop by Ron Stagoll and Brian Edwards, print shop by Angus Golding.. the superintendent was Colin Cambell.. The “screws” were senior officers Ken Brown Tim connolly, Jim Boyle Noel Barratt. and another ex cockey named jim boyle. regular officers were Neil Staniforth ,Ron Smallpage, John Turpstra, Walter Romeyn, John Burns, Cecil Broome, Rod Price, and many others. We, (henderson, Locke & Mc Gilvray) were there for 21 months and got out 1 week after the decimal conversion. I was taken home in a ’62 falcon ,with my model plane & guitar.by my after-care officer Mr Atkins..
wow thanks John. never thought this would become a place for such a discussion. if you know any of the people you’ve mentioned maybe they can chime in. cheers.
note: mistake correction , the ex cockeys name was Jim Boyd not jim boyle. there was a senior officer named Jim Boyle , he was ex RAAF
Jim Boyle , my grandfather , was ex AIF . I think my mum Karen Hart nee Boyle has clarified this in her comment also . It’s heartwarming to read that he was a good bloke . Firm but Fair. I love reading also that my grandmother is remembered , yes , she worked at Tom’s. My grandad passed away in 1986 and is fondly remembered as a strong , kind , family man .
Agreed with you, Jim was ex army, Very fair & respected man. Boyd was RAAF
It was a typical typo mistake on my behalf, Yes The other Boyle was RAAF. He was typical toffee nosed , wouldn’t recommend him to the hall of fame for being fair.
hi john, wondering if you remember my dad at all? his name was dirk kapiteyn.
Hi John, wondering if you might remember my father, he was an inmate there in the early 60s. His name was Dirk (Derek) Kapiteyn.
Hi John, Your summary is very accurate according to my memory. It was run along military lines, very disciplined but fair. We were the three Rambler boys, bit naughty and cheeky but not bad. In hindsight I believe it did me a lot of good. Met Bon later on but he was on his own path.
Dennis Locke.
Was there during 1964 to 1966, Discharged Currency conversion day in Feb. Vividly recall those referred individual:Corrections Bill Brown, Ron Price, Lindsay Haywood was School teacher, Fielding & Jackson w/work shop. After Collin Campbell,l Don Andrews took over. Remember you making that electric Guitar & the Model plane Complements to Theo Merryfield, The 3 amigo ramble boys enjoyed their B/ball games. Thanks for the memories.
Jim Isailovich
Ronny Dodd, there’s a name I haven’t heard since the 70s at Freo. Ron was cool. Ronny Buckland is a mutt. Did 3 months at Riverbank and 5 or 6 at Hilston. Sadly did Freo as well, but have no involment with cops for 40 years now. Most of the screws at River bank were infact ex Army, Navy Airforce and Pommys. Are the buildings still around or deserted ??
I remember Bon Scott, he was one of my kitchen boys,he was very quiet & was no trouble & was always ready to help me. I was the cook at Riverbank from 1960 to 1973 then I was promoted to the position of Catering Manager for the Child Welfare Dept. I am now 84 yrs old & have happy memories of my time at Riverbank.
Hi Ron, thanks for your message. Let me know if you would like to do an interview at one point. Cheers
Hi Ron. Wondering if you remember my Dad, Dirk (Derek) Kapiteyn at all. He did quite a bit of time there in the early 60s.
Sorry I don’t remember him Regards Ron
I WOULD BE PLEASED TO BE INTERVIEWED CONCERNING RIVERBANK, MY MEMORY IS STILL OK
Perhaps we should organise a meet up if anyone is interested? I will directly message those who have added their contact email to the comments but if you could contact me that would be good as well: 10025739@student.uwa.edu.au
Hi Ron. Yes.I was at that wedding and my sister was a bridesmaid partnering Greg Brehaut,brother of the groom. She is my cousin. We dont keep in touch with very good reason. She and I are the last of our family. I nursed my dad for six months before he died and late at night he often spoke of old army days and Riverbank. I sometimes took dad to work so i could borrow his Anglia and later his bright yellow escort, that a police car backed into after dropping of a boy. So long ago but glad others remember my dear dad.
i was pleased to see my fathers name Jim Boyle on your comments. He was ex army. a school cadet instructor and i believe a very fair man. My uncle Charlie Jackson was a woodwork teacher there too. Dad left in around 1972 due to the changes in the way the place was being run by some new american superintendent. I was often with him when a boy/man would come up to make himself known and shake Dads hand. That confims my belief Dad was a respected officer. Dad was not the ex cocky Jim
Hi Karen I remember your Dad well & Charlie, they were good blokes, if I remember rightly you Mum worked for Tom the Cheap Grocer & I also remember Catering for one of Charlies daughters Wedding, it was in the VIctoria Park Town Hall @ a very hot day about 40c I had a lot of trouble keeping the food fresh as there was’nt any fans or air conditioning in the hall. kind regards Ron
Thanks JP, I saw dennis locke and k mac on the outside. in the 6os and 70s. not in touch with anyone now except the schoolteacher , Colleen Stuart., who is in her 80s. I attempted to contact chef Ron Sara, but his wife said he was sick . there was a picture of him on fb.. I called staff
member Neil Staniforth about 15 yrs ago to get Kevin Mcgilvrays contact details as he was still in the ministry of justice at the time. he did not respond to my message.. I did see blue peterson in a doctors waiting room in west perth. we just said g’day. thanks for the effort you put into the photographs JP. ..all looks different though. john.
I am available for an interview should anyone would like one, I started there in May 1960 until 1973 & was then made Catering Manager for the Child Welfare Dept & moved into Head Office Wellington Street West Perth.
Perhaps we should organise a meet up if anyone is interested? I will directly message those who have added their contact email to the comments but if you could contact me that would be good as well: 10025739@student.uwa.edu.au