Cooma Correctional Centre recognised with State Heritage plaque

27 JUNE 2025

Cooma Correctional Centre has officially been recognised with a NSW State Heritage Register plaque, unveiled in a moving ceremony attended by government officials and Corrective Services representatives.

The heritage listing acknowledges the site’s complex and painful history - particularly its use between 1957 and 1984 to incarcerate people based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. At the time, homosexuality was still a criminal offence in NSW.

Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong, who led the ceremony, said the listing was about more than preserving a building.

“It acknowledges and preserves the history of those who were unjustly treated, for generations to come,” he said.

“Let us be clear that the history of Cooma Gaol should serve as a stark warning of the perils of discrimination.”

Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Gary McMahon welcomed the recognition, noting the importance of preserving the site’s full history.

“Cooma Correctional Centre has a complex past, and its inclusion on the State Heritage Register ensures that this chapter of our justice system is not forgotten,” he said.

“It’s a valuable opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come.”

Local MP Steve Whan welcomed the State Heritage listing, calling it an important recognition of Cooma Gaol’s historical significance.

“Despite its challenging history, Cooma Gaol has been a prominent landmark for generations, reminding us of our heritage as one of the state’s original prison towns,” he said.

Cooma Gaol historian and journalist Patrick Abboud said the heritage listing is a meaningful step in recognising the experiences of those once held at the site.

“The practices that led to inmates being incarcerated at Cooma Gaol, and the treatment they received while they were there, had lifelong impacts for all of those involved,” he said.

“Along with the Minns Government’s formal apology for the criminalisation of homosexual acts, this acknowledgement is a step toward healing for those former inmates still living with past traumas, and the redemption of the memory of those we have lost.”

The current Cooma Correctional Centre will continue to serve the community as a modern facility for minimum- and medium-security male inmates.