Riverbank Prison

The old Riverbank Detention Centre in Caversham holds a complicated history, remembered by many former residents with mixed feelings. Established in 1960, Riverbank was designed to be Western Australia’s first maximum-security reformatory for boys aged 13 to 18. It was operated by the Child Welfare Department (which later became the Department of Community Development) and aimed to house young offenders, most of whom were Wards of the State.

 

Why Riverbank Was Built

The State Government bought the land in 1957, which was previously owned by local market gardener Rafaelle Masolini. The idea was to offer an alternative to adult prison and give boys a second chance through structured training programs and aftercare supervision, similar to parole.

 

Life Inside Riverbank

When Riverbank officially opened in May 1960, it had space for 33 boys and a team of 21 staff, including a matron and several tradesmen teachers. It later expanded over time. By 1970, the capacity grew to 43 boys, with upgrades to living spaces and classrooms.

 

Despite its intentions, many peopl (especially those with lived experience) remember Riverbank for its harsh conditions, strict discipline and reports of institutional violence and abuse. Over the years, stories have circulated among the homeless and ex-inmate community about the trauma suffered inside those walls. Even Bon Scott, the future frontman of AC/DC, spent time at Riverbank as a teenager.

 

Facility Changes and Expansions

Riverbank went through several renovations:

• 1969 - new cabins, classrooms, and hobby areas were added.

• 1978 - major upgrades included a new kitchen, air conditioning, improved cells with toilets and writing desks and the addition of a secure sallyport to manage transport in and out of the centre.

 

By 1993, control of the site was transferred to the Ministry of Justice, shifting the role of Riverbank more towards managing juvenile justice in a wider capacity.

 

Closure and Reopening as Adult Prison

After 36 years, Riverbank was shut down as a juvenile detention centre in 1996 but it didn’t stay closed for long. It was re-commissioned in 1998 as a 50-bed adult prison, specifically for vulnerable prisoners, including people with intellectual disabilities and sex offenders. The opening of Acacia Prison in 2001 saw most prisoners transferred out and funding for Riverbank was cut off.

 

Later Years and Uncertain Future

The site’s 50th anniversary was marked in 2010, with adult prisoners on work orders brought in to refurbish the site for $2 million. It was intended to convert Riverbank into a place for training programs and community work schemes. Despite these upgrades, Riverbank was effectively vacant by 2015. Since then, the site has remained vacant, just many other former institutions such as the McCall Centre in Cottesloe.

 

In 2016, the government announced Riverbank as one of around 21 sites to be prepared for public sale but it seems no progress has been made since then. Now abandoned and fenced off, it remains a decaying symbol of an era when young offenders were locked away instead of being given proper support.