Rodney Stevens
Clarence Valley councillors have voted unanimously to support investigating whether the council can buy one quarter of the historic Grafton Gaol site.
Built in 1893, the Grafton Gaol operated as a prison until the new Clarence Correctional Centre was opened in July 2020, and since then the subdivision of the Gaol has been registered and the site divided into four quarters.
The two western sections of the site are subject to a land claim by the Grafton Ngerrie Local Aboriginal Land Council, and NSW Health will receive one quarter of the property, with the Heritage Listed portion to be sold.
When the NSW Government asked council in November 2020 whether it would take over the site, the then General Manager declined due to budgetary considerations and the high cost of site remediation, upgrading, and asset management.
At the November 28 Clarence Valley Council meeting at Grafton chamber, Cr Debrah Novak put forward a three-part motion, which was seconded by Cr Allison Whaites to 1. Note the Gaol information update on planned usage. 2. Ask the General Manager to write to NSW Museums and Galleries General Manager Brett Adlington seeking advice on the Gaol’s restoration status and 3. Report the feedback received to council as soon as possible.
“I’d love for us to retain some portion in posterity for the people, but I don’t see how that is possible at this late hour,” Cr Ian Tiley said.
“That’s the purpose of this motion is to find out if we can actually do anything at this late hour,” Cr Novak replied.
When Cr Karen Toms asked Cr Novak what the point of writing to Museums NSW General Manager Brett Adlington, she said he would provide a report to council’s general manager about what could be done with the gaol.
Cr Novak said she brought the motion about the gaol, which was similar to a motion before council in 2020, back before council to see if council was potentially interested in purchasing the historical portion of the jail.
Cr Tiley said whilst the intentions of Cr Novak in moving the motion are highly commendable and it has been discussed previously, he feared that because the quarter of the jail to be sold will go on the market in December 2023, thus “the horse has well and truly bolted”.
Cr Greg Clancy then moved an amendment to point two of the motion to ask the General Manager to write to the NSW Government to explore the possibility of council purchasing the historical section of the gaol and what financial support the government would give for its ongoing maintenance, which was seconded by Cr Toms.
When councillors voted on the amended motion it was defeated five votes to four, with Cr’s Clancy, Day, Johnstone and Toms in support.
Councillors then voted to unanimously support the motion by Cr Novak, which was seconded by Cr Whaites that Clarence Valley Council:
- Note the information provided in Item 07.23.221 Grafton Goal Update on Planned Usage.
- Ask the General Manager to write to NSW Government to explore the possibility of Council purchasing the historical section of the goal and what financial support the government would give to its ongoing maintenance.
- Ask the General Manager to write to the NSW Museums and Galleries General Manager Brett Adlington seeking advice on the restoration status for this state heritage listed facility.
- Report the feedback received back to Council as soon as practically possible.