Geelong Training Prison

Geelong Historic Buildings

The Geelong gaol is the oldest, continuously inhabited penal building in Victoria and an outstanding work of Colonial Clerk of Works, Henry Ginn. The complex is most notable for its precise and traditional plan layout, finely detailed and crafted masonry cell blocks and Italianate style entrance gates and Governor`s House. The buildings are representative of the style of institutional architecture of the Victorian Colony prior to and after, separation in 1851.

H M Training prison Geelong was originally designed by Colonial Clerk of Works, Henry Ginn, in 1848 and constructed in various stages between 1849 and 1864. The penal complex, consisting of the two storey brick Governor`s House, brick and bluestone walls and gates and central cruciform plan, three storey bluestone cell blocks and kitchen/hospital wing, was built by a variety of contractors assisted by prison labour.