The prison hulk Success, used to house prisoners in Hobsons Bay, Victoria. JW Beattie, State Library of Victoria

Escapees were common from Adelaide’s Yatala Labour Prison, and in the 1870s warders regularly shot at the escapees. The above cartoon, ‘The Yatala Hunt Club—A View Halloo!’, was published in 1877.

Philanthropic Chinese businessman Quong Tart was assaulted by escapee Frank Flood with a lead pipe in August 1902, and died of pleurisy eleven months later. Mitchell Library, Library of New South Wales, circa 1870–1910

Darcy Dugan, teenage criminal and active escapee throughout the 1940s and 1950s. National Library of Australia

The front entrance of Boggo Road Gaol, Brisbane, circa. 1936. State Library of Queensland

Arthur ‘Slim’ Halliday in 1950, one of Queensland’s most active escapees. National Library of Australia

‘Peter the dog’, skinned and stuff ed and key evidence against Arthur ‘Slim’ Halliday, when he was charged with the 1952 murder of taxi driver Athol McCowan. Courtesy Queensland Police Museum

Brian Kane, believed to be the killer of Chuck Bennett, was shot and killed in 1982. H Bateson

The front wall and main gate of Pentridge Prison, Melbourne, in 1900. Courtesy Coburg Historical Society

The exterior of the Old Melbourne Gaol, where many criminals were housed and hanged. The prison operated from 1842 until 1929. Susanna Lobez

The exterior of the Old Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. Susanna Lobez

1974 mugshot of Jockey Smith, criminal, escapee and murderer of Lloyd Tidmarsh.

Raymond Denning in police custody in 1981. Denning was a serial escapee from prisons across New South Wales. Joanna Bailey/Fairfax

‘Red Rat’ Roy Pollitt pictured shortly aft er he was captured by police on the banks of the Hunter River, NSW, in 1982.

Criminal Julie Wright née Cashman with her daughter aft er her release from Mulawa Jail, NSW, 22 September 1990. Frank Violi/Newspix

‘Mad Dog’ Russell Cox (carrying jumper) before his extradition to Queensland in 1991. News Ltd/Newspix

Graham Gene Potter, convicted of the murder of Kim Barry in 1980, was photographed leaving jail in Cooma, NSW with his wife Sheree aft er being granted parole by the NSW Off enders Review Board. Michael Jones/Newspix

John Killick, who was caught in a suburban caravan park aft er 45 days on the run in 1999. Nick Moir/Fairfax

Brenden Abbott, also known as ‘the Postcard Bandit’, leaving Darwin Magistrates’ Court in the custody of Queensland Police, 1998. Anthony Weate/Newspix

Simone Farrow, also known as Simone Cheung, Simone Starr and ‘The Penthouse Pet’, was convicted of traffi cking ice in 2016. Rohan Kelly/Newspix