Sightseers or backpackers possible for Mt Eden prison

By EUGENE BINGHAM

Sightseers or backpackers could take over from inmates in Mt Eden Prison.

The Corrections Department is working on what to do with the central Auckland prison, and believes the best option is to move out of the Victorian-era building.

The prospect of the jail coming on to the market caused excitement among developers contacted by the Weekend Herald.

Ideas for its redevelopment included turning it into a novel backpacker hostel, or converting it into a tourist attraction like Alcatraz in the United States and Fremantle Prison in Western Australia.

Prison reform campaigners have for years been trying to have the 420-bed jail closed. ,

They condemn it as medieval, and say its bleak conditions have contributed to suicides, especially of young inmates.

In 2000, then-Corrections Minister Matt Robson indicated that Mt Eden Prison could shut within three years.

Papers obtained under the Official Information Act by National MP Tony Ryall reveal that the department has come up with three options for Mt Eden - building a new prison on the site, refurbishing the existing jail or leaving it and extending the Auckland Central Remand Prison next door.

A paper to Government ministers said the first two options had been discounted, mainly because of the costs.

Department chief financial officer Richard Morris told the Weekend Herald this week that it would be up to ministers to make a final decision. A report would go to the Cabinet this year.

"It's no secret that it's old and fairly tired, so ministers asked us to look at options," said Mr Morris.

"It looks like extending Auckland Central Remand is the most cost-effective option, but we've got no mandate to do that."

Mr Morris said Mt Eden was a category one historic place, "so nobody will be putting a bulldozer through it".

But the department had not given much thought to what would happen to it.


"It's a lovely old building, but also it's quite a specific-purpose building," he said.

"In years gone by we had a letter from a developer who had an interest in turning it into a backpackers but that was a general inquiry."

Mt Eden is on a 3.7ha site, which, combined with the 1.2ha Auckland Central Remand site, has a rating valuation of $58 million.

Auckland developer Tony Gapes, of the Redwood Group, said the location made Mt Eden "very desirable". He thought a backpackers' hotel or a tourist attraction were the best options, and did not believe its proximity to Auckland Central Remand was a problem.

"We have a development just across the road and it's never been a problem in terms of our sales," said Mr Gapes.

Ross Healy, of Phillimore Properties, which buys historic commercial buildings in Auckland City, said it was not the kind of building he would necessarily be interested in.

"The trouble there will be is making it commercially viable," he said. "There could be interest in having tourist groups and restaurants."

Lighting would be a problem in converting it into apartments.

HISTORY

* The Mt Eden site has been a jail since 1856.

* The present prison opened in 1900.

* Construction of its distinctive stone walls and towers began in 1872.

* Hangings were carried out there until 1957.