After closing in 1996 due to privatisation of sections of the prison system, Fairlea was demolished and the site converted to parkland.

[4] In January 1980 prisoners staged a riot in the mess hall where furniture and crockery were smashed and fittings ripped from kitchen walls.

Torn up papers, bedding and mattresses were set fire at about 8.00 pm, and Wright threatened violence against any prisoner who pressed the buzzer to summon an officer.

The hearing heard that two prisoners were rescued by officer Roy Ansfield who crawled into the burning building to retrieve them.

At the hearing it was suggested by the counsel for Vigano's parents that the building's wooden construction was unsuitable for its purpose as a locked dormitory; he called it "a potential fire hazard and a death trap".

The new complex was opened in 1986 and 3.7 million dollars was spent on the rebuilding, which allowed the prison to hold up to 106 women at a time.

[4] The old asylum and clinic structures were demolished and one of the 1860 gate pillars was relocated to a site opposite the original entry to Fairlea.

[14] Fairlea Women's Prison finally closed in August 1996, with the majority of structures demolished shortly thereafter.

During its forty years of operation nearly 18,000 female inmates served time at Fairlea Women's Prison.