Plans are underway to transform the historic Berrima Gaol in New South Wales into a luxury hotel and entertainment precinct. Blue Sox Developments aims to convert the former correctional facility, which was the oldest operating prison in Australia, into a 55-room hotel. The project, estimated at $55 million, seeks to revitalize the site while attracting visitors to the quiet village of Berrima.

The development will include guest accommodations in the former cells of notorious criminals, along with a wellness center, restaurant, and function space. Some interior buildings and cells will be removed to make way for these new amenities. The site, which closed in 2020, was sold to Blue Sox Developments for $7 million in 2023.

Local residents have expressed concerns about the project. Leo Sayer, a pop star from the 1970s and a member of the advocacy group Berrima Heritage Matters, voiced his worries about the potential impact on the village's charm. "The town relies on business and tourists coming in, but I think that if it goes as upmarket as the developers plan, it'll lose the magic of the village," he said. Sayer also highlighted the potential increase in vehicle traffic and its effect on the community's tranquility.

Sayer has called for the site to be converted into a museum and has initiated an online petition urging the New South Wales government to reject the development plans. He noted the ecological significance of the area, particularly the presence of rare platypus in the nearby Wingecarribee River.

Berrima Gaol, established in 1839, has a rich history, including housing German prisoners of war during World War I. It was also used for munitions storage during World War II and later served as a training center for inmates nearing the end of their sentences.

Development manager Jonathan Thompson stated that the project is inspired by successful adaptive reuse projects across Australia, such as Pentridge Prison. He emphasized the unique opportunity the site presents, saying, "These sorts of venues all work together with the tourism drawcard of the gaol itself."

Blue Sox Developments has conducted community information sessions and commissioned studies for its environmental impact statement (EIS). Thompson mentioned that an early aquatic study of the Wingecarribee River indicated that the designs would not significantly impact the environment. The EIS is currently on public exhibition and will undergo a thorough review by heritage organizations, including the National Trust.

The company has made adjustments to address local traffic concerns and described the hotel design as suitable for the area. Historian Linda Emery from the Berrima District Historical Society praised the revised plans as "really impressive" and "sensitive" to the site's historical significance. If approved by the state government, the project could be completed by 2029.