Or a place to stash possessions from the eyes of prison guards and fellow inmates?

An investigation has been launched into just why there was a man-made hole within the grounds of Goulburn's maximum security prison.

Corrective Services NSW said the "cavity" was found underneath a furniture workshop cabin in the prison, in southern NSW, on Friday.

It is not known if the hole was the start of a tunnel or if it was being used to conceal contraband.

If it was a bid for freedom the inmate responsible still had their work cut out for them.

The hole was 60cm deep, with an entrance of about 40cm by 18cm wide and more than 100 metres from the outside walls of the prison.

Corrective Services NSW said the furniture workshop would remain closed to inmates until an investigation into who made the hole and it's intended use was finalised.

News of the discovery of the man-made hole came on the same day it was revealed a prisoner escaped from another NSW jail just one day after it had re-opened.

The Kirkconnell jail, between Lithgow and Bathurst, was recommissioned last Thursday having been controversially closed in 2011.

At the reopening officials boasted of a complete upgrade of the facility, including extensive improvements to prison security and communications.

But just 24 hours later, Kyle Ashley Dale Baker escaped some time between 5:30pm on Friday and 7:30am on Saturday.

Baker was serving a sentence for aggravated break and enter and is not considered to be a risk to members of the community.

Police believe the prisoner may have already left the Chifley local command area.

With The Western Advocate