History
Correctional facilities were first established in Parramatta in 1798, being "a strong logged gaol of 100 feet in length, with separate cells for the prisoners ... and paled around with very high fence", housing eight prisoners. In 1799, a fire destroyed this facility and it was rebuilt in 1802 on the same site (now occupied by Riverside Theatres). A more substantial stone structure was built between 1837 and 1843 by James Houison and Nathaniel Payten on the North Parramatta site. Parramatta Gaol was formally proclaimed on 2 January 1842 with progressive opening of wings up until approximately 1910. It was closed in 1918 and was used as a mental hospital. Re–established in 1922, the centre became a major industrial prison with inmates working in the fields of tailoring, bookmaking and carpentry, tin smithing and bakery. The centre closed briefly between 3 September 1997 and 1998.
In 2004, there were calls for the centre to be closed after two inmates escaped by scaling the prison wall using ladders, and were unsighted by prison authorities.
Prior to its closure on 9 October 2011, Parramatta Correctional Centre was Australia's oldest serving correctional centre. Corrective Services NSW have not determined the future use of the property.
Read more about this topic: Parramatta Correctional Centre
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