Castlemaine (Gaol 1861-1908, Reformatory Prison 1908-1951, Gaol 1954-1972, Prison 1972-1986, Her Majesty's Prison 1986-1991)

Full description

Castlemaine Gaol was proclaimed in October 1861, replacing the watchtower that had been proclaimed as a goal in in 1852. The new gaol was constructed between 1857 and 1861. Like other Victorian prisons built during this period, the new gaol employed the Pentonville model of prison design, and prisoner punishment and reform.

In November 1908 the gaol was declared a Reformatory Prison under the provisions of the Indeterminate Sentences Act 1907 (No. 2106). Under the Act, the role of reformatory prisons was to train prisoners determined to be 'habitual criminals' in vocations, trades or other employment. Prisoner's were held until the Indeterminate Sentences Board (VA 4161) determined that they were eligible for release on probation. Although it was initially intended to be a temporary appointment, it remained a reformatory prison until 1951.

Upon opening of the French Island Reformatory Prison (VA 2682) in 1916, Castlemaine became a reformatory prison almost exclusively for boys and men aged 23 or under. The prison held prisoners aged 17 to 23 who were sentenced under the Indeterminate Sentences Act 1907 as well as younger prisoners aged 15 and 16. By 1918 a prison farm had been established in the nearby township of Muckleford that accommodated 13 to 14 prisoners, although it wasn't officially proclaimed until November 1939. A reformatory school (no. 4233) was established on 21 September 1924 to educate the younger prisoners and a schoolroom was built by prisoners in 1925. The facility was deemed unsuitable as a reformatory prison and was replaced by the Langi Kal Kal Training Centre (VA 2545) in 1950. In July 1951 the reformatory prison's appointment was revoked and the school was closed.

The gaol was re-proclaimed in August 1954 and in the following October renovation of the gaol began and a new hospital unit was built to hold elderly and infirm prisoners. The work was completed by prison labour, and the gaol reopened as a semi-hospital unit in 1957, replacing HM Prison, Geelong (VA 1003) as a hospital prison.

The gaol was renamed Castlemaine Prison in 1972, H.M. Prison, Castlemaine in 1986, and operated as a medium security prison until 1990. Prisoners were relocated to the newly built H.M. Prison, Loddon (VA 5754) by August 1990. The prison's appointment was formally revoked in April 1991 and the prison was sold to private owners. The former gaol has since been used for a range of purposes, including museum, accommodation, radio broadcast station, an artist studio.