By Luke Voogt
Geelong Gaol’s future is back in doubt after Barwon Health abaondoned plans to buy the historic site.
“The site is heritage listed and with this listing comes inherent issues for future development,” Barwon Health’s Kate Bibby told the Indy.
“We currently have no need for this site beyond our current tenancy which is for car parking.”
In July City Hall published a statement saying it had entered into an agreement to sell the gaol to Barwon Health.
Barwon Health’s decision leaves City Hall without a solution to what Geelong administrator Kathy Alexander described in July as a “financial burden”.
“Reports commissioned by the City indicate a maintenance backlog will cost more than $1.5m and potentially up to $3m,” she said.
Dr Alexander said considering gross income of the site in 2015 was $159,000, development costs would provide a significant risk for the City.
The Indy asked City Hall about the gaol’s maintenance backlog, potential alternative uses and financial future in light of Barwon Health’s decision.
Strategy and performance general managed William Tieppo declined to comment, other than to say the gaol was “currently in the commercial-in-confidence stage”.
The sale failure also sent gaol head tenant Geelong Rotary Club back to the drawing board on its future.
“It’s very much up in the air,” said club gaol committee chair Neil Thomas.
“All this is very much beyond our control. We’re just tenants.”
The proposal for Barwon Health to buy the property had included an in-principle agreement for Rotary to stay on the site for at least 10 years.
The club was apparently unaware of the sale failure until the Indy called for comment.
“To my knowledge we haven’t been told,” Mr Thomas said.
“No doubt when we get told officially the committee will have to meet.”
Mr Thomas hoped any future owner of the gaol would allow the club to continue managing its tourist activities.
Barwon Health’s decision was unsurprising, he said.
“There were a lot of conditions on Barwon Health buying the gaol, like government grants.
“We were all aware there’d been a number of provisos.”
Gaol tour operator Deb Robinson said the site’s history must be preserved.
“We hope that whoever does buy it will recognise the benefits of us promoting the history of the gaol.”
