Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus.) Melbourne gaol.

1842		Port Phillip Gaz. (Melbourne) 7 Dec. 2/4: Mr. Wintle’s Hotel was relieved of twelve of its occupants, who were sent off, under escort, to be worked in the iron gangs, &c.
1843		Australian (Sydney) 10 Oct. 4/4: This place of wholesome discipline has been at last rendered effective [...] so that no fear need now arise of a sufficiency or labour being provided for the vagabondry of Melbourne, during their occasional sojourns at Wintle’s Hotel.
1855		C. Raffaello Eureka Stockade 118: to let, No. 33, lower cribs, in Wintle’s Hotel, North Melbourne.
1869		West Bourke & South Grant Guardian (Bacchus Marsh) 26 June 2/3: She [...] was arrested at Pentridge, tried and committed at Williamstown, and is now enjoying the comforts of Castieau’s hotel (late Wintles) .
1902		G.E. Boxhall Aus. Bushrangers 155: During the first two or three months of his residence at ‘Wintle’s Hotel,’ as the Melbourne gaol was facetiously called, Melville behaved very quietly.
1922		Labor Call (Melbourne) 8 June 2/1: The first governor was Wintle, and the gaol became facetiously known as Wintle’s Hotel.
1939		Argus (Melbourne) 4 Mar. 3/3: ‘Wintle’s Hotel’ was the term for the Russell street gaol when George (‘Daddy’) Wintle was the gaoler.
1950		Argus (Melbourne) 15 Dec. 22/2: So came into being the ugly oblong building of dark brown basalt named after the first gaoler, ‘Wintle’s Hotel’.