FAQs Archive | The Berrima Quarter

Q: Why is the Berrima Correctional Centre being developed?

In 2021 the New South Wales Government announced the sale of the Berrima Correctional Centre (historically known as the Berrima Gaol). The NSW State Government first called for expressions of interest, then followed with a competitive tender process. With its vision for an adaptive reuse of the site as a multi-venue precinct that could offer the community more value & utility the Blue Sox Group (Blue Sox) was the successful bidder. The sale was completed in February 2023. The site is proposed to be adaptively reused in order to serve a new purpose for the community of Berrima and the broader Southern Highlands region and bring new life & value to the site.

Q: Is there a vision for the site?

Our vision is to create a welcoming, thriving and lively collection of venues in the heart of Berrima. We want to attract and bring people from near and afar (locals and visitors alike) together with immersive experiences while being respectful and supportive of the history and heritage significance of the site. To achieve this we are working on a proposal to develop a boutique style hotel with venues which are designed and built to respect the history and heritage significance of the site. A fundamental principle for the project is to create a shared experience inside the gaol and an arrangement of uses that maximises appreciation of the site and its history. Our proposal will include boutique hotel accommodation, a restaurant and bar, event and wedding venue spaces, as well as a wellness centre, and other uses for day trippers and overnight visitors alike. We are yet to determine suitable supportive uses for the former Governor’s and Deputy Governor’s residences and invite feedback from the community on possible uses for these two buildings. While the core of our vision is to acknowledge, conserve and share the past we want to transform the site into a place of enjoyment, relaxation and education that everyone is welcome to come and experience.

Q: Is the site heritage listed?

The site has heritage listings at both state and local government levels. The site is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register as well as under the Wingecarribee Local Environment Plan (WLEP). The history of the site along with heritage elements are comprehensively covered in the Conservation Management Plan (CMP), which has been developed for the site. An important element of the CMP is its role in defining the adaptive reuse opportunities for revitalising the site. To ensure the proper management, conservation and protection of the site into the future it is widely recognised by the heritage profession and governments that the adaptive reuse model provides for significant beneficial and sustainable outcomes both for the site and the community.

Q: Is it true that a large hotel or residential development is planned for the site?

No. There are no plans for a large hotel or residential (private sale)development. Plans are being prepared that will include boutique hotel accommodation (approximately 60 rooms) the majority of which will be located at the rear of the gaol outside the gaol walls. This will allow for the maximising of the internal spaces of the gaol to be used as spaces for the community to enjoy. The hotel will also help to meet local demand for high-quality accommodation and help boost the local economy. Designed by award-winning architectural firm Turner, the architecture will be sympathetic to the local heritage context and complementary to the landscape both in materiality palette and scale. Following the natural contours of the land, the rooms will range from 2-3 storeys and will respect the prominence of the existing gaol walls, maintaining key historical views around Berrima.

Q: Will the community get a chance to have input into the process?

We strongly believe the success of the project lies in collaboration and engagement with stakeholders, community members, local interest groups, government and local businesses. Our first official community engagement event was held on Australia Day 2024, where we held an open day at the gaol and had an information stall at the Market Place green as part of the Wingecarribee Shire Council Australia day event. Since then we have established a mailing list of people interested in keeping up to date on the project and have sent out information newsletters. Once concept designs and technical (including environmental) reports have been developed the community and key stakeholders will be given an opportunity to provide feedback. This includes Wingecarribee Shire Council, Local Aboriginal Land Council, residents and businesses of the Southern Highlands, and Berrima Village itself. There will be a number of avenues for providing feedback including: This project web site, where there is opportunity to provide comments and feedback and sign up to the project mailing list; Project newsletters will be published as the project progresses and when major events occur or milestones are reached; Direct engagement with the community, stakeholders and government. Once plans for the site are developed we will also look at opportunities for publicly displaying the proposal in order to receive informal feedback from the community before lodging any formal development application.