The Belconnen Remand Centre

Until recently, to get into the Belconnen Remand Centre, you need to have been taken in to custody, be visiting someone in custody, or work there.

But, after more than 30 years the centre has been decommissioned, and for the first time ever, it's having an open day.

Opened in 1976, The Belconnen Remand Centre was initially built as a maximum security facility for just 18 detainees.

When it closed it held up to 60 people, and those inmates could be in the centre anywhere from 2 nights to 12 months.

To make space for the growing prisoners over the years, BRC had to acquire property from the police station next door, add bunk beds to cells which were designed for just one bed, turn laundries in to rooms and even put fold out beds in the recreation/art room.

On the outside, it looks like a regular brick building. At first glance, the only thing that separates it from the other regular brick buildings in the area is the barbed wire that's strung along the top.

Once on the inside, you know you are somewhere that you would only want to be on an open day.

A lot of it smells like a public toilet. The walls and the carpets are a discouraging colour, and many surfaces have graffiti.

Minister for Corrections John Hargreaves describes the remand centre as "a deplorable facility with small cells, a bleak outlook, and limited space to run training and education or provide recreation opportunities.

"Last week I signed the decommissioning of the BRC as a correctional facility, my wish is to see the building demolished."

To visit the Belconnen Remand Centre before it gets demolished, go along to the open day on Saturday May 9, 2009 between 10am and 2pm.

If you're interested in where everyone will be going now that the Belconnen Remand Centre is closed, have a look here.

Visitors should enter from the Rae Street side of the Belconnen Remand Centre.

Limited parking is available at the Belconnen Remand Centre or on Rae Street. Parking is also available off Josephson St and off Lathlain St adjacent to the Belconnen Mall and office buildings