Unless you did time there or worked there, chances are you’ve always been outside Dhurringile Prison’s fence.
Victorian Corrections Minister Enver Erdogan has this week committed to opening the prison’s gates to the public for an open day once decommissioning has been completed.
Curious community members will get an inside glimpse into the buildings and grounds of this historically significant site, which has been a pastoral property, an internment camp during World War II, a training camp for orphans and, most recently, the minimum-security prison.
The prison closed permanently on August 31 after almost 60 years of operation.
It is currently being decommissioned by a team of around 50 remaining prison staff. The government has not made it clear how long that will take, though talk at a community meeting at the Dhurringile Hall last month suggested it might be around six months.
State Member for Northern Victoria Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell questioned Mr Erdogan about the Dhurringile site during question time in parliament this week and sought a commitment to hold an open day at the prison once the decommissioning was completed.
Mr Erdogan agreed to an open day of the prison grounds for locals and interested members of the public.
Mrs Tyrrell described the announcement as “a win for the local community”.
“The Dhurringile Prison site is an icon of the Goulburn Valley, and its historical significance means a great deal to the local community,” she said.
“It will allow them (the local community) to see the site for themselves and understand the results of the decommissioning process.”
Mrs Tyrrell asked Mr Erdogan to explain the decommissioning process to alleviate community members’ concerns.
Mr Erdogan said it meant removing equipment, fixtures and corrections-specific tools on site that could be repurposed or reused, possibly at other correctional facilities.
“It is like moving house, so we are packing up and removing the stuff that we can use elsewhere and taking that,” he said.
“I want to be very clear that there will be no demolition of buildings. I know a matter that is of great interest is the heritage mansion on site, the homestead, and that will be protected.”
Mrs Tyrrell said visiting the former prison site would help community members to imagine what it could be used for in the future.
“The local community will be able to visit and come up with their own ideas on how the site can be utilised moving forward and provide these thoughts in future community consultations that the government must ensure occurs,” Mrs Tyrrell said.
“We know that the best ideas do come from local communities and we are taking the opportunity ... we will be consulting the community,” Mr Erdogan said.
“I think a community open day is a good opportunity for the community to see firsthand the potential for the site.”
Mrs Tyrell she was looking forward to attending the open day and pledged to let the community know when it was going to happen.