Tricia Little

This prison is one of the oldest working prisons. We visited & met those who are forced to be there & those who choose to be . It was built in 1870,& located only 100 metres from Cooma’s main streets, you would be forgiven for thinking it’s a historical museum instead of functioning penitentiary. There are 2oo inmates serving from murder to assault.They spend 18 hrs a day in their cells, & the cells are locked each day at 3-45pm & don’t open again till morning. The old prison still with heavy metal doors under iron lock & keys. The last time major renovations was close to 60 yrs ago. They’re 70 staff to keep the men in line. In the textile wing prisoners make underwear, prison greens, & other garments. This prison opened on 1st Nov 1873 with 31 cells , in 1876 it was reduced to a police jail & a temporary lunatic Asylum. It then re opened on 8th March 1957 & closed again in 1998. Re opened yet again Nov 2001 after 20% increase in prison population between 1995 & 2001. This prison is Minimum & medium security for inmates held in protective custody. Like... former police officers, prison officers & other high profile inmates who would be at risk in a general prison. Very interesting to visit & given a tour with a inmate.Read more