Beechworth Correctional Centre

Car

From the Hume Highway take the Beechworth exit (Great Alpine Road B500). Turn left at Tarrawingee and head to Beechworth. As you enter the township (about 650 metres past the 60km per hour sign) look to the left for Malakoff Road and a red post box. Turn left into Malakoff Road. Beechworth Correctional Centre is located approximately 3.5km along Malakoff Road on the left.

Public transport

Transport for visitors is provided on weekends and public holidays from the V/Line bus stop. Prior arrangements must be made with the prison if you wish to be picked up. You must provide details of children and indicate if a car seat is required.

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

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

Visitors need to follow the COVIDSafe visiting measures.

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 comply with prison rules, may result in sanctions, such as refusal of entry to the prison; a non-contact visit or even a visit ban.

Property

Authorised private property for a prisoner's use can be left at the prison by visitors. The visitors must be on the prisoner's visit list.

The following items can be left without requiring "Governor's request":

Clothing - all clothing items must be new

• Tracksuit top and pants - bottle green 
• Windcheater - bottle green 
• T-shirts - white, crew neck, no pockets or logo, not sleeveless
• Shorts - plain black, no logo, not cargo style, no lower pockets
• Singlet - white 
• Thermal underwear - white
• Underwear
• Socks
• Cap - plain black or bottle green, no visible brand name or logo 
• Dressing gown 

No prisoner will be allowed to wear any clothing that has visible brand names or logos.

Bedding - all bedding items must be new

• Doona - single bed sized
• Doona cover - single bed sized
• Sheets - single bed sized
• Pillowcase - no pillow 
• Bath towel and/or face washer 

Personal

• Photographs standard size (80mm x 160mm)
• Reading glasses and case
• Coffee cup - one and new
• Personal and legal papers
• Books including hard cover - max 3
• Magazines/newspaper (not restricted category) - max 6

Any items not on the above list will require "Governor's request and complaints" approval before being accepted.

This will be determined in accordance with Schedule 4.8 (2) of the Operating Procedures and Regulation 28 of the Corrections Regulations 2009.

Property left at the prison by a visitor can be collected from the store window between 4.00pm to 4.30pm on Mondays. 

Money

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

At Beechworth Correctional Centre money may be brought in during visits, but only in cash.

Security level

Minimum

Accommodation

• 22 units: 15 eight-bed, 6 six-bed, 1 four-bed disabled
• 14 self-catering units
• 50 x 2 man portable accommodation units

History

The Beechworth Correctional Centre was commissioned in January 2005, after the historic 144-year-old Beechworth Prison closed in December 2004. Situated 270 kilometres north-east of Melbourne, Beechworth is the furthest from Melbourne of Victoria's prisons.