HM Prison Beechworth facts for kids
The main gate of HM Prison Beechworth (1940).
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| Location | Beechworth, Victoria |
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| Coordinates | 36°21′28″S 146°41′24″E / 36.35778°S 146.69000°E |
| Capacity | 132 |
| Opened | 1864 |
| Closed | 2004 |
| Managed by | Corrections Victoria |
HM Prison Beechworth, also known as Beechworth Gaol, was a historic prison in Beechworth, Victoria, Australia. A gaol is another word for a prison, a place where people who have broken the law are kept. This prison was designed to hold people who were considered a medium security risk.
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Beechworth Gaol: A Look Inside History
Beechworth Gaol was an important building in Australian history. It served as a prison for many years. Today, it is no longer used as a prison but remains a significant landmark.
Building the Gaol: Its Construction
Work on the main prison building started in 1859. It took five years to complete, finally opening in 1864. Building the gaol cost a lot of money for that time, about £47,000. This was a huge amount of money in the 1800s! The prison was built to hold up to 132 people.
What Happened to the Prison?
After many years of use, Beechworth Gaol closed its doors in 2004. The land and buildings were then bought by private companies. This means they are now owned by individuals or businesses, not the government. A new prison, called the Beechworth Correctional Centre, opened nearby in January 2005 to take its place.
Images for kids
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Main gates of HM Prison Beechworth in 2022
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A guard tower at HM Prison Beechworth in 2022 at sunrise
