Below is some information on Victorian based Prisons. Unfortunately, we do not have photographs of every prison within Victoria so if you have any photo's of any prisons within Victoria, and wouldn't mind sharing them, please email us and let us know. Full credit, of course, will be given to you.

Please click here to view standard rules applying to most Australian Prisons. Remember to always check with the facility you are planning on visiting to find out about their procedures and what is expected of you as each centre is different.

HM Prison Ararat

Ararat provides accommodation for prisoners with low to medium protection requirements, including a high proportion (50%) of sex offenders and (50%) protection/special needs prisoners. It includes a treatment facility for sex offenders, the Wimmera Unit.

• Address: PO Box 431 Ararat VIC 3377

• Telephone: (03) 5352-2111 Fax: (03) 5352-4404

• Capacity: 397 Prisoners

• Security Rating: Medium

• History: The opening of Ararat in 1967 allowed the closure of Ballarat Prison. Built at an initial cost of $1.25m, an ongoing redevelopment program has included a new external security fence, new kitchen and mess room, major industries complex, new accommodation and program areas, and a new Visit Centre. The prison is located 200 km west of Melbourne.

• Accommodation: Ararat consists primarily of single, two and three bed accommodation, with single bed accommodation in the Wimmera Sex Offenders Intensive Treatment Unit.

HM Prison Barwon

Accommodation and services for maximum security mainstream prisoners including a 20 bed facility for high security prisoners and a 60 bed facility for maximum security protection prisoners.

• Address: Locked Bag 7, LARA VIC 3212

• Telephone: (03) 5282-3777 Fax: (03) 5282-3406

• Security Rating: Maximum

• Capacity: 428 Prisoners

• History: Barwon was the first new prison in Victoria to be designed specifically for "unit management". Construction of the prison commenced in 1986. It was completed in October 1989 and the first prisoners were received in January 1990. Situated 6 km from the township of Lara and some 70 km south-west of Melbourne, Barwon is the only maximum security prison located outside the metropolitan area.

• Accommodation: Includes the high security Acacia Unit, the protection units Banksia and Hoya and mainstream Cassia, Diosma and Eucalypt Units.

HM Prison Beechworth

Aiming to provide meaningful work, offending behaviour programs and education, the prison provides a bridging service for prisoners who need to develop independent living skills within a mainstream correctional environment.

• Address: Locked Bag 3, BEECHWORTH VIC 3747

• Telephone: (03) 5728 0055 Fax: (03) 5728 0082

• Security Rating: Medium

• Capacity: 132 Prisoners

• History: Situated 272 km north-east of Melbourne, Beechworth is the most distant of the Victorian prisons from Melbourne.
  Beechworth was originally built in 1860 and accommodated both male and female prisoners until its closure in 1910. The prison was re-opened in 1927 for male prisoners only, and a workshop and dining room were added. A multi-purpose hall, built in 1983, is used by prisoners for visits and activities and also by local community organisations and schools. A major refurbishment undertaken in 1994 included sewering each cell.

• Accommodation: Accommodation comprises 83 single cells and a small number of shared cells (3 x 5 bed cells, 11 x 2 bed cells, and 4 x 3 bed cell), 2 lockup cells & one observation cell.

HM Prison Bendigo

Accommodation for prisoners assessed as suitable for treatment in the area of substance abuse and addictive/compulsive behaviours.

• Address: PO Box 503, BENDIGO VIC 3550

• Telephone: (03) 5442 0000 Fax: (03) 5442 0099

• Security Rating: Medium

• Capacity: 85 Prisoners

• History: Located 150 km north of Melbourne, Bendigo was opened in 1863 after building began in the 1850's. A major refurbishment which included sewering each cell was undertaken in 1993-94.

• Accommodation: Accommodation is mostly in single cells, with a small number of shared cells.

HM Prison Dhurringile

Pre-release focus which involves prisoners engaging in both on-site employment and meaningful community reparation via community assistance programs.

• Address: Locked Bag 1, MURCHISON VIC 3610

• Telephone: (03) 5824 8800 Fax: (03) 5826 6386

• Security Rating: Minimum

• Capacity: 174 Prisoners

• History: Situated 160 km north of Melbourne, the 68-room mansion, completed in 1877, was originally a homestead for a large farm. During the war it was used as an internment camp for 'alien civilians' and later for prisoners of war. After the war the property was used by the Presbyterian Church as a training camp for English and Scottish orphans, until it was purchased by the Victorian Government in 1965 for use as a minimum security prison. Over the years the grounds have been reduced to just over 100 hectares (one square mile).

• Accommodation: 10 x 6 man cottage units, 18 self contained units & 3 x 6 person self catering units and one x 52 bed Relocatable Cellular Unit.

Fulham Correctional Centre

Predominantly mainstream prisoners, with drug and alcohol treatment unit and protection unit.

• Address: Private Bag 30A, SALE VIC 3850

• Telephone: (03) 5142 3800 Fax: (03) 5142 3801

• Security Rating: Minimum/Medium

• Capacity: 777 Prisoners

• History: Fulham Correctional Centre was the second private prison, and the first privately operated men's prison to open in Victoria. Officially opened on 20 March 1997, the first prisoners were transferred to Fulham on 7 April 1997.

• Accommodation: Accommodation is a mix of medium security cell blocks, medium security lodges and minimum security cottages.
  Medium security accommodation is provided in four, two storey buildings housing up to 78 prisoners in each. Each building is divided into two blocks containing 39 cells. Medium security lodges each house 17 prisoners. In each lodge there are 17 bedrooms, communal kitchen/dining room, lounge and laundry. Minimum security accommodation for 100 prisoners is provided in cottage units. Each cottage has four single bedrooms, bathroom, laundry, lounge, kitchen and dining room. Prisoners in cottage accommodation prepare and cook their own meals and manage their own household budget.

HM Prison Langi Kal Kal

Accommodation for minimum security prisoners with low to medium protection requirements. It is a large working farm and is a minimum security pathway for protection prisoners from Ararat.

• Address: Private Bag 4, BEAUFORT VIC 3373

• Telephone: (03) 5349 2200 Fax: (03) 5349 2732

• Security Rating: Minimum

• Capacity: 110 Prisoners

• History: Langi Kal Kal is situated on the Western Highway at Trawalla, some 140km west of Melbourne. Langi Kal Kal was first settled as a 70,000 acre farming property in about 1838. A substantial farmhouse was built in approximately 1900. After World War II the land was subdivided and the central area, including the farmhouse, was set aside for prison purposes. The first prisoners moved in in September 1950, and the prison was officially opened in February 1951. In 1965 the prison became a Youth Training Centre, but again became an adult prison in June 1993.

• Accommodation: Each of the two accommodation units, Rippon and Lexton, are divided into two sections. Each unit accommodates prisoners in a combination of single and shared rooms, the majority being shared.

HM Prison Loddon

Mainstream prison which emphasises release preparation and drug-free lifestyles. Also offers placement and support for HIV positive prisoners, and for intellectually disabled prisoners undergoing release preparation.

• Address: Locked Bag 3, CASTLEMAINE VIC 3450

• Telephone: (03) 5471 1211 Fax: (03) 5471 1222

• Security Rating: Medium

• Capacity:399 Prisoners

• History: Loddon was the second new prison after Barwon to be designed specifically for unit management. Construction commenced in February 1988, at a cost of $29m. The first prisoners were received in August 1990 following the closure of Castlemaine Prison. Loddon is located 4 km from the centre of Castlemaine and some 128 km north-west of Melbourne.

• Accommodation: Cottage accommodation is provided in a series of home style self contained units, each with four single bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, laundry, communal bathroom and living room. Medium security single cell accommodation is in three larger two storey buildings. Each of these buildings are further divided into units holding either 34 or 36 prisoners. The cells contain a toilet, shower, hand basin, bed, desk, chair, shelving, bed light, notice board, mirror, floor carpet, window, curtains, television, heating and intercom.

HM Melbourne Assessment Prison (MAP)

The state wide reception facility providing assessment and orientation services for all male prisoners received into the prison system.

• Address: 317 Spencer Street, West Melbourne Vic 3003

• Telephone: (03) 9321 4111 Fax: (03) 9321 4167

• Security Rating: Maximum

• Capacity: 280 Prisoners

• History: Previously known as the Melbourne Remand Centre, the Melbourne Assessment Prison (MAP) was originally built to accommodate remand prisoners. In 1997 the prison became the reception prison for all male prisoners in Victoria. Initial planning for the prison commenced in 1974. Construction commenced in December 1983 and was completed in 1989 at a cost of $80m. The prison was officially opened on 6 April 1989, and received its first prisoners on 29 May 1989.

• Accommodation: MAP is divided into a number of units, many of which have different roles or functions (e.g. protection, workforce). Where possible, prisoners with similar status are accommodated together (e.g. remand, sentenced). A 15 bed secondary psychiatric facility (the Acute Assessment Unit), which caters for all of the State's male prisoners, is also located at MAP.

Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (DPFC)

The first privately designed, financed, built and operated prison in Victoria, DPFC was opened on 15 August 1996 and received its first prisoners on 22 August 1996

• Address: PO Box 497, ST ALBANS VIC 3021

• Telephone: (03) 9217 8400 Fax: (03) 9217 8480

• Security Rating: Maximum

• Capacity: 260 Prisoners

• History: The first privately designed, financed, built and operated prison in Victoria, DPFC was opened on 15 August 1996 and received its first prisoners on 22 August 1996

• Accommodation: Accommodation is provided in single cells with ensuite facilities or cottage style units. DPFC also has two special cell blocks housing 20 prisoners each. One is designed for protection prisoners, and the other houses prisoners with a history of poor behaviour. Unit accommodation is divided into three separate living entities. Medium security units house 10 prisoners in separate rooms while minimum security units house only 5 prisoners. Each unit has individual kitchens and dining facilities and prisoners are required to cook and prepare their own meals and do their own washing, ironing and housework. Groups of prisoners share activity areas, and a quiet area for reading and writing.
  On 2 November, 2000 the Minister for Corrections Mr. Andre Haermeyer announced the transfer of ownership and management of the Deer Park Metropolitan Women's Correctional Centre (MWCC) to the public sector. It is now being manager and operated by Corrections Victoria and is called the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre. The Government had stepped in to take control of the facility on 3 October this year at which time, it appointed an administrator under section 8F of the Corrections Act, and section 27B of the prison contract to operate the prison.

Port Phillip Prison

Mix of remand and sentenced, mainstream, protection and specialist accommodation for high, maximum and medium security prisoners.

• Address: PO Box 376, LAVERTON VIC 3028

• Telephone: (03) 9296 2200 Fax: (03) 9296 2218

• Security Rating: Maximum

• Capacity: 710 Prisoners

• History: Port Phillip Prison was the third of the privately operated prisons to open in Victoria. It received its first prisoners on 10 September 1997

• Accommodation: There are 13 accommodation units. Each cell has a shower, hand basin, toilet, desk, chair, television, kettle, storage shelves, intercom and bed. Each accommodation unit has its own 'kitchen-servery', tea room, laundry, day room, recreation area and outside courtyard. All units are centrally heated and every cell has ventilation and a large window. In addition, the prison operates a 20 bed inpatient hospital unit.

HM Prison Tarrengower

Minimum security women's prison with an emphasis on release preparation and community integration.

• Address: Private Bag 1, MALDON VIC 3463

• Telephone: (03) 5475 2011 Fax: (03) 5475 2103

• Security Rating: Minimum

• Capacity: 54 Prisoners

• History: Originally a farm, the prison was opened in January 1988 after the property was purchased and accommodation units were built. Tarrengower is the only minimum security female prison in Victoria. It is situated 136 km to the north of Melbourne, 2.5 km from the Maldon township.

• Accommodation: The prison has ten self-contained units affording the women single room accommodation, with shared kitchen and living areas in each unit.

HM Prison Won Wron

Minimum security prison farm focusing on reparation and community work.

• Address: RMB 7445, WON WRON VIC 3971

• Telephone: (03) 5186 1200 Fax: (03) 5186 1290

• Security Rating: Minimum

• Capacity: 127 Prisoners

• History: In November 1963 a group of prisoners and prison officers from Morwell River Prison (closed in 1997) established a temporary camp at Won Wron to build a new prison farm. The prison was built over the following year almost entirely from prisoner and prison officer labour, and was opened in 1964.
  Won Wron is located 12 km from the township of Yarram in the Gippsland region, some 238 km south-east of Melbourne.

• Accommodation: Small dormitories which hold 4 prisoners, and a limited number of single cells.

Contacts

Corrections Victoria
GPO Box 123A
Melbourne VIC 3001 Australia
Telephone (03) 9627-6600
Facsimile (03) 9627-6611
Email: corrections@justice.vic.gov.au

Australasian Correctional Management
Address: Level 18, National Mutual Centre
44 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000
PO Box 134 QVB Post Shop, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9262-6100
Fax: (02) 9262-6005

Group 4 Corrections Services
Address: The Fawkner Centre
Level 16, 499 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3182
Phone: (03) 9864-4044
Fax: (03) 9866-8568
 

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Thanks to the Victorian Department of Justice for this information and photographs.