There was much jubilation in the press when Wollongong Gaol received its ‘cat-o’-nine-tails’ in 1883. The Mercury declared: "LARRIKINS BEWARE – In the course of last week, the necessary “triangle” and “cat-o-nine tails” arrived from Sydney per steamer for flogging operations in the Wollongong Gaol whenever such may be ordered by the Bench. We understand that the warder for the time being will be the official to apply the lash. At anyrate, (sic) everything is now ready at our local gaol to commence the “cat” business as soon as patrons for the triangle may present themselves".[1]

There seemed to be some disappointment in the coming months as it was reported that “Larrikin” thinks he will be pretty safe from the lash for some considerable time yet, if the triangles are not set up until the new walls of the Wollongong Gaol are complete.[2] In 1884 Larrikinism once again was a sore point when a stone was thrown through the window of the Temperance Hall, nearly striking the piano player in the head and the ticket-box, at the front entrance was damaged on a separate occasion. "Perpetrators of this kind of misdeeds will not get their desserts until they fall under the cat-o’-nine-tails"!! [3] Nothing else was written about the ‘cat-o’-nine-tails’, so we may assume the gaoler never got to fulfil his ‘flogging operations’!

[1] Illawarra Mercury, 9 Nov. 1883, p.2.

[2] Illawarra Mercury, 11 Dec. 1883, p.2.

[3] Illawarra Mercury, 21 Jun. 1884, p.2.