This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE NSW government has taken the feature part of the Grafton Correction Centre to the market, just a few months after Clarence Valley Council was circling the iconic facility.
The site, situated in the heart of Grafton, is billed by agents as an opportunity for “visionary investors and developers to repurpose a significant piece of Australian heritage into a vibrant community asset”.
The former medium and maximum-security prison, with origins dating back to 1893, is renowned for its Federation-style architecture with a gross building area of around 4,972 sqm, and spanning 9,085 sqm of land.
It was closed in 2020 as the $800 million Clarence Correctional Centre opened up a few kilometres south east of town. At the time, Clarence Valley Council had knocked back an offer to purchase the entire site as it did not have the means to run it. The jail has since been split into four sections; one run by NSW Health and a further two portions transferred to the Ngerrie Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Clarence Valley Council explored purchasing the heritage precinct of the jail late last year, the Daily Telegraph reported, before it resolved to not submit an expression of interest considering information from Property NSW.
Grafton Correction Centre is poised for adaptive reuse to cultural, educational, residential, or commercial spaces, subject to planning approvals. The property’s listing as a NSW State Heritage Item ensures that any development will “preserve the site’s historical integrity while allowing for modern reinterpretation and use”, the agents said.
Colliers’ Thomas Mosca and Nick Estephen have the listing. Expressions of interest close Wednesday, 24th April.
“This is more than just a sale; it’s a once-in-a-generation chance to revitalise a piece of Australian history. We envision the future of the Heritage Precinct as a vibrant community hub that pays homage to its past while driving forward the economic and cultural growth of Grafton and the broader Clarence Valley region,” Mosca said.
Estephen said the transformation of the Grafton Correctional Centre into a multifaceted development “will serve as a catalyst for regional development. It’s an unparalleled opportunity to blend historical preservation with innovation, creating a legacy project that benefits the community and investors alike”.
Grafton – also known as “Jacaranda City” for its purple-flowered tree-lined streets – is the key cultural and economic hub within the Clarence Valley and the local government area on the North Coast, Clarence Valley is home to over 52,000 residents and has seen steady population growth as city dwellers look for an affordable lifestyle change.
