By Luke Voogt
Old Geelong Gaol’s new owner has unveiled a 130-space carpark for the site after purchasing it from council for $1.5 million.
Montgomery International yesterday unveiled plans to the Indy to resurface part of the heritage-listed gaol for commercial parking.
“Obviously, being next to Geelong’s largest hospital there’s a strain on car parking in the area,” said company owner Dean Montgomery.
“I’ve worked out I could fit around 130 car spaces in if we resurface the entire car parking area and appropriately line mark the spaces with numbers on the bitumen surface.”
Mr Montgomery also shared plans for an interactive museum based on the gaol’s history, operating daily except Christmas Day and Good Friday.
“By using around 35 per cent of the total site area for the museum we can create a dynamic, full-time, major tourist attraction for visitors to Geelong,” he said.
An audio tour guide system would escort visitors through the notorious prison’s history, Mr Montgomery said.
Ghost tours and escape rooms would continue at the gaol to test visitors’ nerves and cunning, he added.
Montgomery International agreed to undertake almost $1.6 million in maintenance over the next three years, including works to preserve the gaol’s turret and roof.
“We’d remove some of the more-modern fittings to provide that authentic experience,” Mr Montgomery said.
The sale will allow Rotary International and Lazarus Community Centre to remain as tenants until 2020 and 2022 respectively.
Lazarus provides support to homeless and isolated people in Geelong.
The gaol housed some of Victoria’s most notorious prisoners from 1853 until its closure in 1991. Council has owned it since 1994.
Mr Montgomery is a local resident and his company owns a several historic buildings in Geelong.
He was committed to following council’s and Heritage Victoria’s recommendations to preserve the gaol’s history, he said.
“I’m a great lover of heritage buildings.“
Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood welcomed Mr Montgomery’s vision for the gaol.
“The sale also releases some pressure on our budget as the gaol has been a very expensive property to retain,” he said.
The sale followed Geelong’s former state-appointed administrators’ failed attempt to sell the gaol to Barwon Health in 2016.
Council approved the sale at its fortnightly meeting on Tuesday while also voting to keep North Geelong’s historic Osborne House in public hands.
Council would develop a master plan including the lease of part of the land surrounding the historic house, councillor Eddy Kontelj said.
The site could host exhibitions, small-to-medium conferences and performances, and house businesses and retail outlets, Cr Kontelj said.
“We have an opportunity and the ability to be both community-minded and commercially astute.”
