Tuesday, 4 March 2025

Ministers statements: Dhurringile Prison

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:34): I rise today to acknowledge the success of our recent community open day at the former Dhurringile Prison. Dhurringile served as a minimum-security prison for almost 60 years, but its history goes back much further. It served as an internment camp in World War II, and the Dhurringile mansion dates back nearly 150 years to 1877.

For the past 60 years all of that history has been kept behind a prison fence, with very few opportunities for the local community to see the site and particularly the mansion for themselves. That is why I am pleased that last month we were able to hold a community open day at the site. Over 400 local community members spent a Saturday having tours of the mansion and the former prison buildings. Volunteers from the Retired Prison Officers Association and the local historical societies were on hand to provide information about the history of the site, and I want to thank them for making this open day the success it was. It is not often that we get to open the doors and let people into a prison facility. This was a unique opportunity and one that was embraced by the community in the Shepparton region.

The decommissioning of the former prison facility is nearly complete. Prison-specific equipment has been repurposed across prisons, and a number of other items have been donated to local community groups. In particular I am pleased to share that Corrections Victoria are supporting the local Murchison–Toolamba Football Netball Club with the transfer of some relocatable buildings at the request of the footy club. I know a number of members in this chamber have been passionate about that. It is great to get an outcome, with Corrections Victoria delivering for the broader northern Victoria region. Planning is still underway for the future of the site, but I have no doubt it will continue to play an important role in the life of those communities for many more years to come. Thank you to all the volunteers and Corrections Victoria staff who have given the local community a chance to see the site for themselves and learn more about the history of the Dhurringile Prison site and its importance to our local community.