Wooroloo Prison Farm is located on Great Eastern Highway, Wooroloo WA 6558. Postal address: PO Box 100, Wooroloo WA 6558.
Contact Details
Phone: 08 9573 3000
Fax: 08 9573 1113
Visit bookings: 08 9573 3088
Official visits email: WoorolooVisits@justice.wa.gov.au
About the Prison
Wooroloo Prison Farm is a minimum-security prison for adult males operated by the Western Australia Department of Justice, located approximately 65 kilometres east of Perth in the Swan Valley hinterland. Originally built in 1914 as a tuberculosis sanatorium and later converted to a district hospital, the site has operated as a prison since 1972. It is one of three minimum-security prison farms for men in the WA custodial system and also serves as the host prison for the Dowerin Work Camp, located 110 kilometres further east.
The prison accommodates several hundred men across four separate units, each offering progressively greater autonomy and self-care arrangements as prisoners demonstrate compliance and rehabilitation progress. Prisoners at Wooroloo can work under supervision in the local community, participate in reforestation and environmental programs, undertake traineeships, and access workshop-based industry programs. For the majority of its population, Wooroloo represents the final stage of custody before release.
Who Is Held at Wooroloo
Placement at Wooroloo reflects a minimum-security classification — men held here have typically progressed through the custodial system and are in the later stages of their sentence. Transfer to a minimum-security facility is not automatic and depends on conduct, risk assessment, and sentence length. If someone you know has been assessed as suitable for minimum-security but has not been transferred, or if you believe a transfer has been unreasonably delayed or refused, a lawyer can assist in understanding what options are available.
Legal Matters That Remain Active During a Sentence
Being housed at Wooroloo does not mean all legal avenues are closed. Several issues commonly arise at this stage of a sentence that warrant legal attention.
Parole Applications
Eligibility for parole is determined by the Prisoners Review Board, which considers factors including offence history, conduct in custody, rehabilitation program participation, and post-release plans. A well-prepared parole application — one that clearly presents housing stability, employment prospects, and community support — significantly improves the prospects of a favourable outcome. An unsuccessful parole application can mean months of additional time in custody. A lawyer can advise on what the Board looks for, help structure the application, and represent a prisoner’s interests in the process.
Appeals
Time limits for lodging appeals against conviction or sentence are strict and do not pause during incarceration. If there are grounds to argue that a conviction was unsafe or a sentence was manifestly excessive, those options must be pursued promptly. A prisoner nearing the end of their sentence who has not explored appeal options may be foreclosing rights that are still available.
Outstanding Fines and Orders
Fines, compensation orders, and other financial obligations imposed at sentencing continue to accrue and can affect release conditions and post-release obligations. A lawyer can identify outstanding matters and advise on how to address them before release.
Visiting Wooroloo Prison Farm
All social visits are by appointment only and must be booked by 3:00pm on Thursday for the following week. Visits are available Monday to Thursday between 10:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 3:00pm, and on weekends from 9:15am to 11:15am and 1:00pm to 3:00pm. A maximum of three adults and five children are permitted per visit. There are no visits on Good Friday or Christmas Day. All visitors and their vehicles are subject to search, including drug detection dogs.
Our criminal lawyers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1300 331 331 for a free first consultation.