Greenough prison inmates to help restore historic hamlet

June 20,1997

Greenough's historic hamlet is to benefit from a comprehensive restoration program involving prisoners from Greenough Regional Prison.

Attorney General Peter Foss said 10 minimum security prisoners had started work on the historic Cliff Grange homestead site as part of a partnership with the National Trust.

The 1860s homestead, along with Clinch's Mill, the old Greenough Hotel and the cemetery, would receive attention from specially formed prisoner work teams.

Mr Foss said the program was a perfect vehicle for prisoners to give something truly worthwhile to the community while learning valuable and rare heritage restoration skills.

"In the early stages, prisoners will perform basic preparation work around the sites including the clearing of a path from Cliff Grange to Clinch's Mill, painting and securing the homestead's reception, construction of fences, general tidying and garden maintenance," he said.

"As the project progresses, it is expected that prisoners will learn specialised restoration skills such as stone masonry, heritage carpentry/joinery, painting and coachwork."

Mr Foss said selected prisoners would receive accredited training from TAFE with some medium-security prisoners also expected to take part in the restoration of historic coaches to be transported to the prison.

It was anticipated that the prison, with the assistance of the National Trust and the Geraldton Regional College of TAFE, would become a centre for heritage training.

"Even basic site clearance work has to be done with great care as the National Trust will soon conduct an archaeological study of the hamlet and its buildings," the Minister said.

"The study makes it imperative that all materials, with the exception of limestone and weeds, be left untouched on the site in their natural position.

"The Greenough Hamlet encompasses some truly significant but run-down properties, with many attractions of the area falling into disrepair and dereliction at the turn of the century."

Mr Foss said the National Trust began acquiring properties in central Greenough in the 1970s, with the help and generosity of the local people and assistance from both State and Federal Governments.

"I expect the restoration program to be a role model for similar projects by other prisons in the future," he said.

Media contact: Chris Morris 08 9321 2222