Another era, and arguably its most important one, ended at the Dhurringile Mansion grounds last month when staff and prisoners were locked out of the almost 60-year-old prison for the last time.
Earlier this year, the Victorian Government made the decision to close the correctional facility and move its inmates to other facilities around the state.
It left more than 160 locals with a decision to either accept a redundancy package and seek alternate local employment or uproot their lives and relocate to an area for a new role with Corrections Victoria.
The government has said a team of around 50 staff will remain onsite for the decommissioning process, which is currently taking place, but has not made it clear how long it will take to complete.
The important historic site was established in 1877 and was originally a 68-room homestead for a farm.
During World War II, it was used as an internment camp for “alien civilians” and later for prisoners of war.
After the war, the Presbyterian Church used it as a training camp for English and Scottish orphans.
The Victorian Government purchased the site in 1965 to use as a minimum-security prison.
That prison serviced the community within and surrounding it until August 31 this year.
The doors have been locked up, but hopefully, the keys won’t be thrown away.
There has been much discussion by former staff, politicians and community members about what purpose the heritage-listed site should enter for its fifth phase. However, the decision will be left up to the owner.
State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said Corrections Victoria had informed her ahead of a community meeting held early in August to discuss potential future uses for the site that it would be put up for sale within the year
She said Corrections Minister Enver Erdogan and staff from his office had been invited to the meeting to discuss plans and hear concerns but had declined.
A government spokesperson told The News the government was continuing to work with the community and other stakeholders to determine what the site would become.
“We understand locals are keen to know what the future use of the Dhurringile site will be — we’ll make sure they’re kept informed of any major developments,” the spokesperson said.
Since the initial closure announcement in June, The News has received several phone calls and comments on social media suggesting the infrastructure at the site was “too good to go to waste”, with “impressive” and “modern” lodgings built in recent years.
State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe said at the community meeting that the government had spent $17 million on the site in 2012.
“We need to remind the government that they invested in that site,” she said.
Throughout the years, the site was reduced to 100-hectare area of land.
Accommodation consists of:
- 50 x two-man portable accommodation units
- 29 x six-man self-catering units
- 13 x six-man non-self-catering units
- 1 x 12-man non-self-catering unit
- 1 x 52-bed re-locatable cellular unit
- 1 x six-bed disability unit
The mansion itself had not been used to house prisoners since 2007, when new buildings were opened.
The main unit at the prison housed 54 prisoners in cell accommodations, while the two kinds of cottages housed up to six residents each and another unit catered to 12, prompting suggestions at the community meeting and on The News Facebook page that the site could be suited to accommodation for the homeless or people escaping violence or needing rehabilitation.
Others believe the best idea was to revert it to a pastoral property and working farm.
More envisaged it becoming a public tourism and recreational site, like Werribee Mansion or Noorilim Estate.
Above all, the general consensus is that the preservation of the history and heritage of the site, along with it becoming something that provided employment to locals was the most important.
After the closure in August, The News asked its Facebook followers to offer their Dhurringile reflections.
Felicia Morgan Peters called it “The best rehabilitation correctional facility in the world,” while Anna Tate expressed her despair: “Still devastated, will be for a long while I think!”
“I hope they have some great plans in place for its future,” Narelle McKenzie said.
“(It was) Our old neighbour of many years, lots of good memories!”
Jane O’Brien said she remembered going to an open day as a child where there were stalls selling products handmade by prisoners.
“It was a great day and I loved the leather bag I got with a horse etched into it,” she said.
“So sad to see this facility close.”
Louis Worm also recalled prison open days, saying it was a beautiful place to visit the four times he had many years ago.
“Fingers crossed they have an open day at the end of decommissioning to go look at the historic building out there,” he said.
The Shepparton Heritage Centre has kindly provided these rare historic photos of Dhurringile to share with our readers.
Anyone who would like to share their experiences or reflections during their time working at or visiting Dhurringile can email bree.harding@mmg.com.au