Maitland Jail upgrade plan: Boutique accommodation, tower experience, activity hub
Boutique and 4-star accommodation and a premium tower experience are just some of the plans proposed for a major upgrade to the iconic Maitland Gaol —which has formerly been the home to notorious inmates such as Ivan Milat and the Murphy Brothers. GET YOUR FIRST LOOK AT THE PLANS.
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It’s one of the state’s premier heritage listed sites, attracting thousands of visitors to the Hunter Valley each year to learn about 150 years of inmate history.
But, a $15 million maintenance backlog, deteriorating structures and dwindling visitor numbers at Maitland Gaol means big changes are now on the cards to ensure it’s viability.
The iconic tourism destination — which has housed some of the countries worst offenders including Ivan Milat and the Murphy Brothers — is in store for a major upgrade with a number of exciting and ambitious proposals set to bring it back to life.
“We couldn’t continue on, the cost of operating and maintaining the site is such that we couldn’t continue moving along at the pace we were moving,” Maitland Gaol coordinator Gordon Sauber said.
“We needed to revitalise the product into a premium product to make it more attractive for people to come to and for more things for people to do when they get here.”
The Maitland Gaol draft development plan has proposals for new boutique and four-star accommodation, and a premium tour to value add and create an “authentic” tourism experience.
A tower experience will look to create an opportunity to see a guard’s perspective of the gaol providing visitors with sweeping views of the gaol and East Maitland.
An activity hub with bring together a new reception, retail and ticketing location as well as enhancing access areas to the gaol.
And just like the popular ‘Bitter and Twisted’ boutique beer festival at the gaol, there’s plans to host more themed events, wine and food festivals.
“Both boutique style accommodation, which is a repurposing of the two residences at the main entrances to the jail, and a major 4 star accommodation option which is on the vacant land adjacent, will assist with the accommodation Maitland is lacking and help fund the gaol’s operation into the future,” Mr Sauber said.
“Events and festivals were an item considered and enhanced service areas to allow those to be more easily produced and presented.
“It’s taken a long time to get together, it’s a major milestone.”
Maitland councillors will vote to have the draft plan go to exhibition at tomorrow nights council meeting.
Deputy Mayor Philip Penfold expects it will receive unanimous support.
“I look forward to community feedback on the future of Maitland Gaol,” he said.
“Maitland Gaol is an important historic feature of Maitland’s landscape and is presently underutilised.
“The prospect of a future 4 star motel accommodation and improved tourism features and access would be broadly welcomed.”
If approved, the draft plan will go up for public exhibition for a 28 day period for community feedback before it is sent back to council for adoption.