Unsustainable: Maitland Council votes to return Gaol back to NSW Government

Maitland City Council will formally advise the NSW Government that it will not be continuing with redevelopment work at Maitland Gaol and will request to relinquish its role as manager for the Crown Lands site.

At last night’s final ordinary council meeting of 2025, councillors voted to place a hold on the development work required at the site and open a conversation with the NSW Government around ceasing Maitland Council’s future role in the site’s management.

The historical Gaol site, which is owned by the NSW Government, has been managed by Maitland City Council since 2001, with millions in operating costs borne by Council to simply keep the doors open before the closure of the site in early 2024 due to fire and electrical safety issues.

Council has also developed a scope of works required to bring the site up to contemporary operating standards. This revealed a cost of over $30 million.

Maitland City Council’s General Manager Jeff Smith says “Council acknowledges the role the Gaol has played in the history of our city and the potential for future benefits from a tourism perspective.”

“At the same time, Council has a wide array of service delivery priorities, from road maintenance to addressing our infrastructure renewal obligations, and using ratepayer funds to bring the Gaol site up to standard is unsustainable and simply not a responsible option.”

“We are hopeful that the State Government may be in a position to realise the future tourism potential of the Gaol at some point in the future.”

Following last night’s vote, Maitland Council will now formally approach the NSW Government to engage in a dialogue about ceasing its custodianship of the Gaol site, whilst requesting to continue to manage the fenced portion of the site that the Barracks is situated on.

Mr Smith said Council’s long-term financial sustainability and resilience was “front of mind”.

“Our vision for Maitland is a connected city with thriving communities,” he said.

“To achieve this, we need to forge a resilient, sustainable future through informed planning and sound financial decisions that align with our community’s priorities and expectations.”