Telephone
03 5479 8200
Other
Note: the email address above is the Corrections Victoria general email; the prison does not have its own general email address.
Fax
03 5479 8244
Postal address
Private Bag 1
Maldon
VIC
3463
Street address
9 Maldon-Shelbourne Road
Nuggetty
VIC
3463

Please also refer to the general information about contacting and visiting prisoners which is the same for all prisons in Victoria. 

 

Getting there

Car

Tarrengower Prison is 136km north of Melbourne, 2.5km from the Maldon township.

Access Maldon via the Calder Highway (State Route No.40, National Route No.79) by Keilor Park Drive, Tullamarine Freeway, Western Ring Road, Green Gully Road, or Sunshine Avenue, depending on your starting point.

The Calder Hwy bypasses most towns on the route. The first is Malmsbury, followed by Taradale. After Taradale, take the Castlemaine/Maldon exit (Pyrenees Hwy), clearly marked as the 'Goldfields Tourist Route'. The trip to this point is approximately 123km.

The Pyrenees Hwy leads through Chewton and into Castlemaine proper. In Castlemaine centre, turn left off the Pyrenees Highway at the traffic lights into Barker Street (also known as the Midland Highway).

Now travelling on the Midland Highway, pass under a railway bridge, turn right at the exit sign to Maldon. This is now the Pyrenees Highway (although it is known locally as Elizabeth Street). Follow this road for a few kilometres out of the Castlemaine township.

Turn right at the next intersection, clearly marked to Maldon. You are now on the Castlemaine/Maldon Road. Travel along this road for approximately 15kms. At the T-intersection turn right into the heart of Maldon. This is High Street, Maldon.

Remain travelling along High Street, past the visitor information centre and post office (on your left). This road becomes the Maldon/Bridgewater Road which leads directly to the Tarrengower Prison exit. After approximately 2km, turn right into Nuggetty Road. The driveway to the prison is approximately 60m on your left.

Public transport

A weekend bus service operates from Castlemaine railway station and travels directly to Tarrengower Prison.

Accommodation

For accommodation and regional information, contact the Maldon Visitor Information Centre on (03) 5475 2569 or Maldon@netcon.net.au (External link)

 

Visiting times

To visit a prisoner, you must be on their approved list. Once you are on the list, you and the prisoner can arrange a visit according to the visit session times listed below. 

It is recommended that you phone the prison before you visit to check there are no issues on the day of your booked visit. 

If the visitor has been approved and has a letter of authority to visit Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, this letter may be used for the initial visit to Tarrengower only. 

Visitors need to follow COVIDSafe visiting procedures.

Days Session times
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 10.00am - 12.00pm
10.30am - 12.30pm
1.30pm - 3.30pm
2.00pm - 4.00pm
 

Visit conditions

For conditions of entry that apply to all prisons, such as general behaviour and the search process, refer to the general information for contacting and visiting prisoners. The following additional details are specific to Tarrengower Prison.

Entry

  • car parking is available in the visitor car park at the prison 
  • visitors are to report to reception before proceeding to the visit centre
  • lockers are available at reception to store personal items
  • visitors are not permitted to return to their vehicles after they have been processed for a visit unless accompanied by an escorting officer

Food 

  • Visitors are not permitted to bring any liquids or foodstuffs into the prison. 
  • The visit centre canteen is currently unavailable to reduce touch points and help prevent the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). Food and drink (excluding water on request and baby formula/milk/drink for young children) will not be permitted during visits at this time. 
 

Dress standards for visitors

Prisoners are encouraged to maintain contact with their family and friends and one way to do this, is via visits.

As a visitor to a prison, you are required to follow prison rules, including complying with visitor dress standards, which assist in keeping prisons safe.

There are a range of factors that staff must consider when processing visitors, including the visitor’s clothing or items accompanying the visitor, and the suitability of these items for a prison environment.

Such considerations include clothing items that can be used to conceal contraband, conceal a person’s identity, or breach security, or clothing that could lead to unrest or cause incidents amongst prisoners.

Visitors are encouraged to refer to this list as a guide and to contact the prison directly where they are unsure if their attire will be suitable for a prison visit.

The following clothing items are not permitted for the purpose of a prison visit.

  • Gang affiliated clothing, colours or patches
  • Clothing displaying racist/derogatory/sexist or profane messaging, imagery or symbolism
  • Clothing that is considered to be inappropriately revealing of private body parts or sexually provocative in nature. This may include clothing that is:
    • sheer or see through
    • low cut
    • very short e.g. high cut shorts that reveal upper thigh or buttocks, football shorts, miniskirts
    • exposing e.g. midriff or crop tops
  • Gloves
  • High visibility workwear due to similarity in attire with contracted workers
  • Open-toed shoes
  • Scarves (excluding for religious purposes)
  • Watches including any type of smart watch or Fitbit activity device 

Visitors should also be mindful that the following items may pose a concern:

  • Boots and thick sole shoes
  • Hair pieces such as headbands, scrunchies etc
  • Hooded tops or jumpers
  • Jewellery, particularly where it is excessive
  • Sleeveless or strapless clothing
  • Windcheaters, track-pants or t-shirts that are bottle green (men’s prisons) or royal blue (woman’s prisons) due to similarity with prison issued clothing

Please note that there may be other circumstances where an item of clothing is considered to present a security risk or safety concern.

Staff may ask visitors to present an item to be searched, including the removal of hair pieces or jewellery where there are concerns that contraband may be concealed.

You may be asked to place any items of concern into a visitor locker for the duration of your visit.

You may also be required to wear a prison issued T-shirt for visitors.

Failure to follow the prison rules may result in sanctions. This may include entry to the prison being refused, non-contact visits or a possible visiting ban.

 

Property and money

Property

The following may be left for prisoners:

  • magazines and newspapers (no more than six)
  • fresh flowers
  • photos (no negatives, maximum of six can be provided to prisoner)

Additional property can be processed at reception prior to the visit, if it is on a Prisoner’s Private Property Request.

Any property to be taken out of the prison can be collected at the completion of the visit.

Money

Refer to the Sending Money section of the contacting and visiting prisoners page for details about how much money can be provided to a prisoner and in what format.

 

Prison profile

Security level

Minimum

Accommodation

Fifteen self-contained units providing single room accommodation, with shared kitchen and living areas in each unit.

History

Originally a farm, the prison was opened in January 1988 after the property was purchased and accommodation units were built. Tarrengower is the only minimum security female prison in Victoria.