Marngoneet Correctional Centre (Karreenga)

Car

Marngoneet Correctional Centre is approximately 60km from Melbourne.

Take the Princes Freeway to Geelong, turn left at the Avalon Airport exit, then turn right over the bridge and follow the signs to Barwon Prison.

Marngoneet is located next to Barwon Prison.

Public transport

A courtesy bus is available to transfers visitors from Lara train station to Marngoneet Correctional Centre and back again on Saturdays and Sundays at the following times:

Please note that the courtesy bus does not operate on public holidays. 

Geelong Taxi Network: 131 008

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

It is recommended that you phone the prison before you visit to check that there are no issues on the day of your booked visit. All visitors need to follow the COVIDSafe visiting procedures.

You may leave property and monies (no cash accepted) at Visitor Reception for prisoners.

If a prisoner has already reached their property allowance, no additional items will be accepted.

The following guidelines are provided:

Accepted clothing

Please note: All incoming property (excluding suits) will be put through a “hot” wash and dryer cycle.

• 4 sets of underwear (can be jocks, boxer shorts, or combination of both)
• 4 pairs of socks
• 6 handkerchiefs
• 2 t-shirts

Clothing for court or release (has to be approved by Neighbourhood Manager) these will be placed into the prisoner’s property, not issued.

Please note: Clothing will not be accepted unless it is clean.

Sending money

When in-person visits are available money can be dropped off at prisons. You must be on the prisoner’s visitors list to be able to send money.

To send money to prisoners, you can:

• purchase a money order at Australia Post
• send a bank cheque
• make an online transfer via Secure Payment Services (SPS), see below.

When sending a paper money order or a bank cheque to the prison, you must:

1. write the prisoner’s full name and CRN (if known) on the front of the envelope
2. write your own full name and address on the back of the envelope.

Prisoners can receive up to $140 per calendar month. Some prisoners may be eligible for an additional $50 per calendar month for phone calls.

Funds will be available to the prisoner on the following business day.

Cost for SPS

Currently, SPS is the most cost-effective way for family and friends (depositors) to transfer funds. Each transfer incurs a 3% processing fee, a 0.77% card payment fee and a processing fee of $0.94.

For example, a $10 transaction would incur an additional fee of $1.32 (total transaction cost for the depositor of $11.32). In comparison a money order would cost a total of $12.10.

Link to Secure Payment Services (SPS) website (External link)

Accepted items

• Maximum of 2 newspapers.
• Maximum of 2 reading books
• 6 photographs (no Polaroids. Up to A4 size only (computer generated photos, regardless of how many photos on it, are accepted as one photo)
• legal papers

Magazines

Maximum of 2 magazines

The following magazines will not be accepted:

• Restricted Magazines
• Weapons
• Excessive violence
• Hydroponics/Home Brewing
• Picture and People magazines
• Tattoo magazines

Please note: The disk will be removed from any magazine that has this as an inclusion.

Unacceptable items

• Cash and personnel cheques (only money orders or bank cheques will be receipted via the mail).
• Letter/Envelope/Card with the following:
  • Glitter
  • Paint
  • Glue
  • Stamps
  • Beads
  • Material/Thread/Ribbon/foam/wire
  • Lottery/racing tickets etc
  • Foam
  • Stickers
  • Any type of tapes e.g. Sticky, Masking, Electrical etc
• Graffiti/Tags/Personal Logs
• Gang related logos or slogans
• More than six photos / Polaroid photo/Small photos (Passport size)
• Laminated item/ Blank Cards / Musical Cards / Oversized card or paper (Up to A4 allowed).
• Blank envelopes / Blank paper / Home-made paper / Blank Postcards/ Pre stamped and addressed envelopes
• Naked Photos / Magazine with naked images / inappropriate pictures, photos or drawings
• Prohibited Magazine (tattoo, military, drug or magazines with naked images)
• Correction fluid/Tape or Blue tack

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 (women’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.

Security level

Medium

Accommodation

• 40-bed main unit with cell-style accommodation and meals supplied
• two six-cell flat-style accommodation with shared facilities and self-catering
• six six-room flat-style accommodation with shared facilities and self-catering

History

Officially opened on 3 March 2006, the centre is located near Lara approximately 70km west of Melbourne.

The name 'Marngoneet' is taken from the local Wathaurong community language and means 'to make new'. The development of the facility was supported by the local Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative.

Karreenga is a medium security facility accommodating a maximum of 300 protection prisoners, and is located adjacent to Marngoneet Correctional Centre.

The word Karreenga pays respect to the local Wadawurrung Community and is a Koori word meaning to grow.

Prisoners at Karreenga will undertake work/education during the week, in addition to Offence Specific Programs.

They will live in self catered, cottage style accommodation and will be responsible for budgeting and cooking their own meals.  

Karreenga was officially opened on Friday, 16 September 2016. 

Contact information

• email: corrections@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)
• phone: 03 5285 0000
• ​​​​​​fax: 03 5285 0106

Street address: 1200 Bacchus Marsh Road, Lara Vic 3212

Postal address: PO Box 1044, ​​​Corio Vic 3214

Visit times

Note: New dress standards for visitors in above section.

Property

You may leave property and monies (no cash accepted) at Visitor Reception for prisoners.

Accepted clothing

Only clean clothing will be accepted. All incoming property (excluding suits) will be put through a “hot” wash and dryer cycle.

• 4 sets of underwear (can be jocks, boxer shorts, or combination of both)
• Long johns/thermal (white only)
• Long sleeve thermal (white only)
• 4 pairs of socks
• 4 singlets (white only)
• 4 t-shirts/long sleeve (white/cotton only - no v-neck, no collar, no buttons, no pocket, no logo of any description)
• 6 handkerchiefs
• 2 pairs of pyjamas

Clothing for court or release (has to be approved by Neighbourhood Manager) these will be placed into the prisoner’s property, not issued.