Latest news with #PeterHutton
News.com.au
07-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Old Castlemaine Gaol sold to school for $2.6m
A once notorious regional Victorian gaol has been sold for close to $2.6m to an alternative schooling group. The old Castlemaine Gaol, between Melbourne and Bendigo, had been used most recently as a museum for celebrated artist David Bromley, will now be turned into an educational hub by Global Village Learning. The educators plan to accommodate students aged 12-20 at the former prison before the end of 2025, with 50 families having expressed interest this week, as well as using it to house creative residences. GVL executive director Peter Hutton said the former gaol would provide an expansion from their current site in New Gisborne for pupils aged 4-20, with hopes it would host up to 200 people as learners or guides in two hubs. The rest of the space would be available for community engagement, with plans to also reopen the old Governor's Cafe. Mr Hutton noted that their goal was not to be seen as a school, but a community education space where students would pursue their interests through programs like a zookeeper-like one working with reptiles at their New Gisborne campus, working with farm animals, making jewellery, learning 3D printing or martial arts. 'Traditional schools are more like a gaol than this will be, with a lot of time sitting down,' Mr Hutton said. 'This will be about real world learning, and learning through doing.' McQueen Real Estate's Kim McQueen handled the sale of the property and while she would not comment on the price, noted that all parties had been happy with the result. Ms McQueen noted that other interested buyers had considered a Pentridge-style redevelopment as happened to one of Victoria's most notorious prisons in Coburg, but it had been unclear if heritage protections would allow for this. David and Yuge Bromley said they 'couldn't be more delighted' at the gaol's 'perfect' next step, and added that it was what they believed the building needed. The pair had initially listed the site with hopes of a $10m sale including Mr Bromley's art in 2023, but have subsequently sold most of the sculptures and other medium works in separate online auctions. The 1.73ha property was recently relisted with a $2.6m-$2.8m asking price, and industry sources have indicated they achieved a figure close to that sum. It came with jail cells still in place, as well as its walls and towers. The Castlemaine gaol was opened in 1861 and closed in 1990, but prior to that had housed inmates including multiple murderer and rapist Peter Dupas, while its governor from 1868-1875 was Thomas Francis Hyland who went on to found Penfolds.
ABC News
02-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Old Castlemaine Gaol once used as art space by David Bromley set to become independent school
A former prison and art studio in Central Victoria will be transformed into a independent secondary school amid growing demand for alternative education in the region. The Old Castlemaine Gaol was sold to Gisborne-based Global Village Learning yesterday. The heritage-listed building was closed to the public for years after being trialled as a creative centre by artist David Bromley. "I think most traditional schools are like jails, so we're just joining the party," Global Village Learning director Peter Hutton joked. Children at Global Village Learning in New Gisborne, in the Macedon Ranges. ( Supplied: Global Village Learning ) He described Global Learning Village as an independent school that tailored its approach to children individually. Children do not wear uniforms and are not categorised into year levels. Mr Hutton told the ABC he was not deterred by the history of the building, which operated as a jail until 1990. "We want to embrace the best of the past — we don't want to tear it down," he said. "I do love what the Bromleys have done with it, in terms of reclaiming something that had such a dark past and turning it into something that's so joyous and hope-filled." Castlemaine has a thriving arts and music scene. ( ABC Central Victoria: Josie Taylor ) 'Humane' approach Mr Hutton said there was a desperate need for different education models throughout the country. "We only need to look at the number of kids who are currently homeschooled," he said. " They've fallen outside the system post-COVID. " "We want to educate young people in a more humane way that doesn't involve sitting down for the majority of the day." Peter Hutton says scores of children are likely to attend the school in the next year and a half. ( Supplied: Peter Hutton ) Fees for the Global Learning Village school in operation now are about $7,800 per year. The jail has been for sale since last year, when it was listed with a $10-million asking price. That figure was reduced to between $2.6 and $2.8m, including sculptures and art work. The final price paid has not been disclosed. Mr Hutton estimated about 70 young people could attend the school over the next 18 months. "As an interim step, until we get our official registration for that campus, we will be operating a bus service … and rail service from the New Gisborne campus," he said.
ABC News
02-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Old Castlemaine Gaol once used as art space by David Bromley set to become Montessori school
A former prison and art studio in Central Victoria will be transformed into a Montessori secondary school amid growing demand for alternative education in the region. The Old Castlemaine Gaol was sold to Gisborne-based Global Village Learning yesterday. The heritage-listed building was closed to the public for years after being trialled as a creative centre by artist David Bromley. "I think most traditional schools are like jails, so we're just joining the party," Global Village Learning director Peter Hutton joked. Children at Global Village Learning in New Gisborne, in the Macedon Ranges. ( Supplied: Global Village Learning ) He described Global Learning Village as an independent school that tailored its approach to children individually. Children do not wear uniforms and are not categorised into year levels. Mr Hutton told the ABC he was not deterred by the history of the building, which operated as a jail until 1990. "We want to embrace the best of the past — we don't want to tear it down," he said. "I do love what the Bromleys have done with it, in terms of reclaiming something that had such a dark past and turning it into something that's so joyous and hope-filled." Castlemaine has a thriving arts and music scene. ( ABC Central Victoria: Josie Taylor ) 'Humane' approach Mr Hutton said there was a desperate need for different education models throughout the country. "We only need to look at the number of kids who are currently homeschooled," he said. " They've fallen outside the system post-COVID. " "We want to educate young people in a more humane way that doesn't involve sitting down for the majority of the day." Peter Hutton says scores of children are likely to attend the school in the next year and a half. ( Supplied: Peter Hutton ) Fees for the Global Learning Village school in operation now are about $7,800 per year. The jail has been for sale since last year, when it was listed with a $10-million asking price. That figure was reduced to between $2.6 and $2.8m, including sculptures and art work. The final price paid has not been disclosed. Mr Hutton estimated about 70 young people could attend the school over the next 18 months. "As an interim step, until we get our official registration for that campus, we will be operating a bus service … and rail service from the New Gisborne campus," he said.
