What do you think should happen to the Dhurringile Prison site once it’s decommissioned after it closes at the end of August?
The News has received 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 that have been built in recent years.
The Victorian Government purchased the site, which was originally a 68-room homestead for a large farm, completed in 1877, in 1965 to use as a minimum-security prison.
During WWII, it was used as an internment camp for 'alien civilians' and later for prisoners of war. Afterwards, the Presbyterian Church used it as a training camp for English and Scottish orphans.
Throughout the years, the site has been reduced to a 100-hectare area of land and the accommodation now 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 has not been used to house prisoners since 2007 when new buildings were opened.
The main unit houses 54 prisoners in cell accommodations, where medical hold prisoners are held permanently and new prisoners are held temporarily before being moved to the cottage accommodation on site.
The prison has two classes of cottages: units with a main lounge room area for six prisoners, each with their own bedroom, and; fully self-catered units with separate bedrooms, a large kitchen and living area, two bathrooms and two toilets.
There is also a 12-bed unit for prisoners nearing the end of their sentences, which includes separate bedrooms, each with a private ensuite.
To have your say on what you think the site should be used for, head to The News’ Facebook page and leave a comment, or email editor@sheppnews.com.au.