In 1872 the dashing, erudite, boastful and handsome Captain Moonlite - real name Andrew Scott - led a break for freedom from the bluestone walls of the prison, taking with him five other prisoners. Arrested and charged for a gold robbery in Egerton, he was on remand when he fled after tying up a warder and stealing his keys, causing fear among local graziers in nearby districts, although he was ultimately recaptured at Sandhurst (Bendigo).

Less romantically, but no less terrifying for Ballarat's residents, was the violent escape mounted by three prisoners in February 1950, who bashed the prison governor and fled on a stolen motorcycle towards Buninyong. Originally staged by five inmates, two of the attempted escapees were bailed up at gunpoint on the verge of getting out by a prison guard.

The similarities between the two breakouts are notable, although it must be said there are only three ways of escaping a prison: under the wall, over the wall, or through the wall.

Both the 1872 and the 1950 fugitives chose to go over. Moonlite's accomplices used a stolen rope to make their getaway, while the three in 1950 - named Bretherton, Smith and Norris - simply scrambled over the fence.

In both cases the ringleader was an experienced criminal. Moonlite was well-known as being silver-tongued and capable of convincing others to do his bidding at will. But the leader of the 1950 escapees 33-year-old James Bretherton, was no slouch either.

Having made four escapes from prison since 1938, Bretherton had made some attempt at planning his 1950 effort, ensuring a getaway vehicle was parked outside.

After brutally bashing the prison governor, Reginald Souter, the fugitives went up a drainpipe and over the wall.

Sadly, there must have been some miscommunication. When the three prisoners found themselves outside the gaol walls, a single motorcycle awaited them.

No doubt exchanging some 'disappointed' words, all three, still in prison garb, climbed on board and, in an approximation of clowns in a circus show, fled south towards Geelong. Sadly, their combined weight meant the tortured machine ran out of petrol at Buninyong, just seven miles south of the gaol.

Fleeing into farmland, they were observed by a young girl and her neighbour, farmer Colin James, who was gardening.

James told police that he thought they were 'painters' until one removed his coat, revealing his prison number. Passing something wrapped in a towel between them, James heard one say: "Don't lose that gun, Blue."

'Blue' replied: "She's right."

The three were recaptured in Deniliquin at the end of February, 1950

Moonlite was being held facing trial for forcing L.J. Bruun, agent for the Egerton's branch of the London Chartered Bank, to open a safe and give him the contents, and then write a deliberately misspelled note which was supposed to clear Bruun of involvement.

As in the 1950 case, he and his fellow convicts were soon recaptured, and Scott was sent to Pentridge for seven years. Released in 1879, he attempted to join the prison reform lecture circuit, but soon returned to crime.

After a fatal shootout at Wagga in NSW in November, Scott was convicted of murder and hanged in 1880.

An interesting footnote: it appears the builders of the Ballarat Gaol originally did a shoddy job in some areas and used secondhand material, meaning prisoners could easily dig through cell walls and find escape routes.