By Luke Voogt
City Hall should sell Geelong Gaol for $1 after Barwon Health abandoned plans to buy the site, according to ex-mayor Darryn Lyons.
The token value could at least help the council rid itself of the gaol’s ongoing maintenance costs, Mr Lyons said.
“I’d sell it for a dollar to someone who could come up with a great idea – it bleeds the purse.”
In July City Hall entered negotiations with Barwon Health to buy the gaol amid a maintenance backlog reaching $3 million. But the Indy revealed last week that Barwon Health had backed out, citing heritage constraints on the site.
Mr Lyons said some of the gaol had fallen into “disrepair”.
“If you went in to some parts you’d be taking your life into your own hands.”
Mr Lyons said easing heritage laws for the “21st century” could help find a new life for the gaol.
“It’s an amazing building that could be turned into money.”
Mr Lyons cited Bendigo Gaol, now a 1000-seat theatre, as a successful repurposing of a similar heritage building.
Geelong Gaol could house anything from “another Little Creatures” to restaurants, he said.
“I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on it myself – I have one of the biggest private (photography) collections in the country.”
Mr Lyons said the previous council received a number of proposals for the gaol when he was mayor.
“There was everything from foundations to recording studios. They were batted away time and time again by officers really not willing to do the work.
“In this city there aren’t many people who think outside the box and are willing to work with local entrepreneurs.”
Mr Lyons said the gaol would deteriorate further without a public-private partnership.
“Unless you can make it efficient it becomes a relic of the past. Unfortunately, I think we’ll still be talking about it in 10 years’ time.”
Mr Lyons said allowing the Rotary Club of Geelong to continue using the gaol as a “cash cow” for fundraisers while paying “peppercorn rent” was unviable.
“As much as I admire what Rotary do, they’ve never been able to come up with any sustainable plans.
“The city is not getting a great deal.”
