It was used mainly for offenders with short sentences, as those imprisoned for long terms were sent to Goulburn Gaol. As the years went on Hay Gaol struggled to remain open, due to a lack of prisoners. The daily average number of prisoners at Hay during the period 1895-7 was 25 (1895), 17 (1896) and 14 (1897).  Ghiblim Everett eventually retired as the gaoler at Hay (probably in about 1896), “because of being over the superannuation age, on a pension”.  The Gaoler at Hay during 1897 was Benjamin Shaw.  On 14 December 1897 P. Phelan took over this position.  The first gaoler of the Hay Gaol, Ghiblim Everett, died in May 1898 at Hay.