Dozens of visitors poured into Building 22 on Jacksons Hill Saturday 15 February to take one last look before refurbishment works budgeted at more than $8m begin.
Hume City mayor and Sunbury councillor Jarrod Bell welcomed visitors, officially opened the event, and introduced the BoilOver Performance Ensemble whose members gave a living art exhibition – posing behind glass panels along a courtyard walkway.
Members of the BoilOver Performance Ensemble perform behind pains of glass. Photo / Steve Hart.
Among the attractions was a street theatre performance, artists created works while onlookers watched, and a short film about Jacksons Hill and its community was shown.
Giving some perspective to the building and its checkered history, it was once used as a women’s prison, was historian David Waldron who shared his research on the history of asylums in Victoria, including Building 22.
The building still features an original floor to ceiling padded cell that will soon feature a glass window instead of a door, so visitors can see inside but not enter.
Members of the Sunbury historic society were also on hand to share stories of the town’s past and sell a range of local history books.
When building work is completed in October, Hume City Council will rent rooms to artists.
Volunteers at nearby Sunbury Radio also opened the doors to visitors to show them around the town’s community radio station and studios.
Click here to see our previous reports on Building 22.
Hume City mayor Jarrod Bell officially welcomes visitors to Building 22.
BoilOver Performance Ensemble. Photo / Steve Hart.
Jackson Hill Building 22 cultural precinct plan. Source / Hume City Council.
