In 1834 there were 800 men serving in ironed gangs; in 1836 there were 1,000, and in 1837 there were 700. From these, 16 ironed gangs were formed for work on the roads. The maximum number of men in irons in each gang was 70, with 7 out of irons and 14 working bullocks, all working under the direction of military officers acting as engineers, and supervised by constables, often themselves convicts.

There were 3 stockades in the immediate Lithgow area: Hassans Walls, Bowenfels and Cox's River. The stockade was made of split timber and bark and consisted of small huts or boxes to which the convicts in irons were confined at all times. In addition, there was a mess hut, a hospital hut, store and kitchen.

Every morning in the summer months the convicts rose at 5a.m. and during winter at day break. After inspection and roll calls, they went to work and it was hard work. If they tried to abscond or were lax in their work, they were punished by whipping. The maximum whippings allowed were 50. These whippings were not very frequent as the convicts appeared to be quite well behaved.

Many convicts were either pardoned or sentenced to be servants. Records show that in 1837, there were 137 servants assigned to district landholders in the Hartley area alone. At the same time, in N.S.W. there were approximately 28,000 convicts assigned as servants. Of these in the same year, 2,000 were brought before a magistrate and in all, 9,000 strokes were inflicted. Servants were punished for such behaviours such as drunkenness, disobedience, neglect of work, assault and insolence, stealing and absconding. For example, Ann Cahill, assigned to Phillip Mylecharane was charged with drunkenness and refusing to work. She was sentenced to 4 days of solitary confinement and later returned to her master. If the prisoner or servant committed a colonial offense such as murder or robbery, they were sentenced to the iron gang for work upon the roads in addition to the original sentences of transportation to another area.