The Old Kilmore Gaol is a bluestone building in Kilmore, Victoria. It was originally built as a gaol and is located at 8 to 12 Sutherland Street.[1]
History
Old Kilmore Gaol was built in 1857 under the supervision of Charles Pasley.[2] It was a gaol from 1859 until 1891 when it was decommissioned and used as a butter factory.[3][4][5] In the 1960s it became a private home and was a restaurant in the 1990s before reverting again to a private home in 2004.[6] Today, the gaol is used for commercial purposes.[3] Its bluestone walls and exterior appearance are the only original features that have been retained.[3]
Heritage significance
It appears on the Heritage Council of Victoria's Victorian Heritage Database, for being "one of a small group of early Victorian prisons to be built outside of Melbourne." and "for its long use as a centre of dairy production and distribution ... and for its contribution to Kilmore's rare group of Basalt public buildings."[2] and is listed on the Register of the National Estate.[7]
^"The Kilmore Gaol: The Building to be Handed Over to the Dairy Company". The Argus. 13 July 1891. p. 10. Retrieved 16 August 2017. Mr. Wheeler [Minister of Public Works], after a careful inspection of the buildings, was not altogether in favour of granting their use to the dairy company, as the occupation of some of the cells would interfere with prisoners who may be locked up temporarily, it being pointed out by the police that easy communication would be available between outsiders and those engaged in the dairy factory with prisoners. Later on Mr. Wheeler was shown the court-house lockup, which provided ample accommodation for all prisoners in Kilmore, besides quarters, and on this the Minister will recommend the gaol buildings being handed over to the dairy company.
^"Gaol (former), 8-12 Sutherland St, Kilmore, VIC, Australia". environment.gov.au. Australian Federal Government. Retrieved 16 August 2017. The former Gaol is important as one of seven places representing early government/service buildings in Kilmore and part of the early character and development of Kilmore in the mid nineteenth century.
