Parramatta Correctional Centre, Prison complex in North Parramatta, Australia
The Parramatta Correctional Centre is a prison complex with sandstone buildings, watchtowers, and multiple cell blocks spread across its grounds on O'Connell Street. The layout includes exercise yards and various structures that developed over more than two centuries of use.
The facility was established in 1798 and remained operational until 2011, making it Australia's longest-serving correctional institution. The sandstone structures were added in the 1840s under architects including Mortimer Lewis.
The site was handed back to the Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council in 2015, reflecting its deep meaning for Indigenous communities. This return represents an important step in acknowledging the land's significance to its original inhabitants.
The site is now open for visitors to explore through guided tours of the cell blocks and former detention areas. It is best visited during dry weather, and allowing time to read the historical information displayed throughout helps visitors understand the stories behind the buildings.
The complex was designed by Mortimer Lewis and later modified by Captain George Barney, creating layers of different architectural styles visible in the buildings. These design changes reflect shifting approaches to prison architecture over the decades.
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