Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney (NSW)
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The Villawood Immigration Detention Centre is located in a western suburb of Sydney approximately 27km from the CBD and 500 metres from Leightonfield Railway station (2km from Chester Hill Railway Station).
Originally constructed between the early 1960s and 1970s as a migrant hostel, the buildings have been progressively adapted into a secure immigration detention centre, which was opened in 1976.
Villawood Immigration Detention Centre mainly caters for people who have over-stayed their visa permit or those who had their visa cancelled because they have failed to comply with their visa conditions. People refused entry into the country at international airports and seaports may also be detained here.
Villawood Immigration Detention Centre Redevelopment
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and the Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance) jointly propose to undertake a major redevelopment of the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre. The redevelopment proposes to replace the existing higher security accommodation together with all central services buildings with purpose designed permanent construction. The proposal also includes the extension and refurbishment of the existing brick and tile lower security accommodation buildings.
The Statement of Evidence including a Concept Plan was lodged with the Joint
Parliamentary Standing Committee in August 2009 and is available to read on
the Committee's website.
See: Committee's Website
Interested parties are invited to contact the department directly for further
information.
Email: vidc.redevelopment@immi.gov.au
Accommodation and facilities
The Villawood Immigration Detention Centre comprises three separate accommodation compounds, known as Stage One, Stage Two and Stage Three.
Stage One is a purpose-built facility which accommodates single males, predominantly in large dormitories. It has three building wings with integrated enclosed courtyards and other shared facilities including a kitchen, dining room, washing facilities, laundry and recreation rooms including computer facilities.
Support facilities include reception and processing, administration and visits facilities.
Stage Two and Stage Three comprise twelve two-storey, brick residential buildings, grouped around central grassed courtyards. The accommodation units have either two or three bedrooms and share a bathroom with WC, shower and vanity basin. The buildings vary from four to eight accommodation units per floor and share a common staircase. Stage Two also accommodates single women and couples.
There are a number of support buildings which include:
- visitors reception
- outdoor visits area
- central kitchen and dining room
- laundry facilities
- multi-purpose rooms for programmes and recreation
- dedicated education facilities
- a medical centre and multi purpose medical building
All operational and maintenance aspects of the centre are undertaken by the Detention Services Provider.
See: Detention Services Provider Contract
Capacity
The Villawood Immigration Detention Centre has an operating capacity of 358 people with the ability to expand by a further 158 ('surge capacity').
Contact details
Contact details and visiting hours information is available.
See: Contact Details for the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre