H.M. Pentridge Prison was built in 1850 and closed down officially in May 1997. Its nickname in the prison environment was "The Bluestone College".
Today, the prison is partially demolished to build some new housings. Main façade remains, and some detention camps.
During the local gold rush, criminality rates increase and a new prison is needed.
Many blue stones to break around here, so the prisoners can be kept busy, and also start to build the road from Melbourne to Sydney.
Due to an increasing number of prisoners, Pentridge is modernized around 1870.Surrounding walls are built, guard towers are raised. The capacity reaches around 650 prisoners and 100 employees.
Little by little the conditions get better. A monthly visit is allowed in 1945, and a fortnight letter. Several production sites are created inside the prison during the 60's.
In 1970 more than 1000 prisoners are detained, with new cool rights like: reading, acting, studying.
All the executions happened inside the prison. The last man killed was Ronald Ryan, in 1967. He was hung after having killed a guard during a prison escape. As a doubt remained and he might have been innocent, executions stopped.
After 1984, lots of scandals happen: strikes, riots, drugs... The privatization of the prisons a few years later does not help.
Finally, in 1997, Pentridge definitely closed down.
October 2005, Melbourne. Escaping from Pentridge was supposed to be difficult. What about the infiltration, 10 years after the prison is abandoned?
The site was still having active motion detectors and cameras. Security doors, welded or heavily locked bars.
Climbing the ramparts, security nets, rooftops, the attic and, a couple of hours later, finally inside!
The most total darkness, creepy atmosphere. Everything remains intact, cells furniture still here, prisoner's graffitis too.
The photos gathered here are probably not the best ones on this site, but this exploration is certainly the most intense one...
I returned to Pentridge after 40 something years of being a prisoner and I had heart palpitations and couldnt breath when trying to walk through her doors even after all those years, I had no idea how much those prison years had effected me until that day. For the record, I was close enough to see part of Ronald Ryans hanging peering through the peep hole, one cell back from the trapdoor walkway, we were given two cigarettes and locked up (except the prisoners at each end of the trapdoor)
Boo!!!!!! To you who wants to comment on Brad Bonica’s death.
Yeah my dads dead so what? Your obviously not a mate but you do know me my name is tony bonica and instead of being some little ***** and posting this ***** why not come see me u supposedly know were I am well what’s holding you back? I’ll be waiting not expecting much tho
To all of you who know Brad bonica and don't like him well I have some news for you guys, I am mates with brads son Tony the apple doesn't fall far from that greet both wanna bes fat *****, anyway brads been living in highett/Moorabbin area and I'll cut to the chase he passed away 2-3 weeks ago so all of you guys wanted to know where Brad is well his dead now.
Hi i have been in there for many a drunks time. but did several CRN 38999 I SORT OF MISS THE OLD PLACE.IN MY TIME I HAVE WALKED OVER ALL SECTION'S freely sometimes too. when doing sentences. i would like to tour or get to walk around the place.to take thousands of pictures before the place gets knocked down more. i toured when it first closed but at that time we had to use the old film type camera's now it's digital i can do more. so if anyone can help me in how to go through the old place please let me know Graeme Zerna
Hi looking for anyone Hi looking for anyone was in h decision around 1987-1990 that knew Lenny Miller and or Benny Williamson thanks in advance
just looking at those pictures of d division and the yards have giving me chills like I was there yesterday and its twenty years ive stayed out of jail it was a horrible de humanizing place that feeds of negative energy some of the cells do have very evil dark negative energy that can feed of you witch I will never forget it that place nearly drove me insane that place is haunted
Sorry you are wrong. What remains of Pentridge is a very peaceful place. I live there and it is wonderful. People have imagination, that coupled with stories and deserted buildings causes a psychological overload. Sure, seeing deserted buildings which appear to have been quickly deserted can conjure up a wild imagination. I camped on the yard where a prisoner was burned to death in H division. Sorry, It is peaceful. If you want to be disturbed then go Work at Barwon or PPP. There you will find Paul Haigh, Peter Dupas, Julien Knight, Paul Denyer who considers himself a chick etc. They are alive and well. The live one's are the one's you need to worry about. But, thankfully they will never be released.
Hi Lisa Cook, Im very much know your father he is my Uncle we called him Billy but everything you described about him is true. You have a brother Jeremy who is William Cooks son also. Please contact me for I will tell you all you wish to know. I also have photos of him. William Cook is my mums brother.
Hi Lisa cook, Im your cousin I new you when you were very little and you also have a brother Jeremy I was young too and I NEW YOUR FATHER VERY WELL. I grew up with all of my uncles, William was my mums 3rd oldest brother but was the 4th child my mum was second oldest she passed away 8th of June 2014. Her name was Sirrilian Cook your Aunty everyone called her Cheryl, Your mum new her well and my dad John Gale her husband. Any way if you want to contact me I have a work no,, 03 9747 5000. I no heaps about your father and what I dont know my father will he new your dad when they were both young.
I really don't have much information.... All I have been told is that my bio father called himself "Kenny Williams", he worked the tracks with racehorses and travelled around ?? I was born in June 1970 to bio mother Katrina at Mornington Vic. He knew she was pregnant but I think he went inside during it ?? I believe he was in a cell with a guy called Jim/Jimmy Sullivan, who later was invloved with Katrina (my bio). I was adopted out and am trying to trace some history. Appreciate and help.
Hi trying to find info on a B division prisoner Doug meagher who was sentenced to hang was later changed to 50 years min 40 he worked as a gardener and was on debating team
Here's a link to footage I shot inside H Division, I believe its the only footage ever shot inside (Apart from movie)
youtu.be/xGJisYF-iWA
Allan Cook ,billy cook , Raymond and Steven were the fuck are yous
I'm trying to track down information on Harold Peckman who was in H division. If anyone has any information, I'd appreciate it - kpeckman@telstra.com
Anyone come across Peter Keogh who murdered my sister in August 1987 and was in protective custody until transferred to Castlemaine in May 1989. Anyone remember me and others coming in for a couple of sports days with Peter Lawless in 1985 and 1986.
Phil Cleary
Hi Phil, I think he is dead. A jilted boyfriend turned into a horrific killer. I have seen photos of the car. My heart goes out to you.
I'm writing an eBook on H Division, focusing mainly on the bad bad days, i.e. prior to 1974, but not exclusively - if anyone with truthful information would like to contribute I'd be happy to assess and include with appropriate reference. I can be contacted on ray@raymooney.com
My Grandfather William Patrick Shields was sentenced to Pentridge for 7 years with hard labour on April 30th 1948. I have all the newspaper clippings from TROVE. PROV Pentridge records go up to 1948 but I am unable to find any info on his time in jail. He passed away in 1960 in Kew Mental Hygiene Facility. I would love to fill in the gaps between those times. Any ideas where I should be looking. Thanks e-mail carol_a_barnes@hotmail.com
My uncle spent a lot of time in that horrible place, his name is Graham Jensen, I loved him very much, my mum and I visited him alot, I loved going there because I could have what ever I wanted from the kiosk lol i also love the things he would make for me, so many memories
I knew your uncle before he was killed. His death triggered Walsh St. Now Victor Peirce his close friend has gone where his friend is. Your uncle never caused much trouble, his friends and associates did.
If there's anybody who did time with my dad and remembers him Peter Blake In the early 80s it would be really appreciated to hear any story's anybody may have. He passed away in 2010 and kept that part of his life separate to his family, so I'd really like to find anything I can. Thank you. Email: danielkblake1988@gmail.com
If anyone has any old photos, or info on girls from the annexe put up a comment please. I was the first girl sent there from fairly womans prison and would love to hear from some old mates. I also met my husband in there when cold chisel played in B division .
I worked for red cross late 1960s and use to go to pentridge to take blood I met a prisoner called Doug Meagher who I believed committed murder and was sentence to hang but was later changed to 50 years minimum of 40 years I often wonder what happened to him any one know of him
Doug Meagher like many others who were sentenced to death, such as, Leigh Robinson, David Crowley was possibly released only to murder again.
Only two nights ago my husband and I went on a ghost tour through D Division. The tour and stories were fantastic! Thank you to our Tour Guide. Our only disappointment was that the Developers have removed the original contents of the cells. It would of been much wiser to leave the cells or at least some of them complete in their original state. How will the next generation ever understand our history if they have nothing to look at. Day tours around the prison complex and other buildings (if they haven't all been destroyed) would be amazing!
Hi there, found this site and wanted to advise you that we have taken over the old D Division of Pentridge as an events venue. We are currently in the process of getting tours back up and running as we have had plenty of interest. For any details when these tours will be active feel free to contact us at events@petridgeprison.com or check out our website www.pentridgeprison.com.au
Anyone know/do time with Tony Zampaglione?
I hope this corrects my broken links. Victorian State Records and Australian newspapers online
PS: For those who want to trace the historical records of prisoners, Pentridge records up to 1948 are kept for men and women prisoners on the Victorian State records site. The main link is prov.vic.gov , then scroll down to the male or female link. These will take you to the volumes and 20 volumes are listed per page. Just click up the top to bring up the next 20 volumes. By way of warning, many of these records are very sad, some have only a little detail, and none of it is sympathetic. Newspaper coverage of Court cases up until 1955 are on the national newspaper site Trove, trove.nla.gov . Try the official name and all aliases, and put them in commas like "Joseph Leslie Theodore Taylor" or "Squizzy Taylor". The Victorian Police Gazette (State Library - free, or can buy these), contain many photographs of prisoners prior to their release from many gaols including Pentridge.
Convict-built Fremantle Gaol was kept despite the Liberals wanting to tear it down to make money for developers. It became a museum/art gallery with some great tours, one is a canoe tour of the underground tunnels, and now some of the cells are to become backpacker accommodation. From its beginning it was the prison for political prisoners, poor men and women, some rich ones, and some real bastards. It also housed Bon Scott for a time (carnal knowledge conviction). Gaol never deterred anyone, but demolishing the prison would have been to wipe away all that social and political history and the memory of the lives of the men and women who did it hard in there. It's your business if Pentridge Gaol will be allowed to remain, but preserving it will allow its tragic and cruel history to be known for generations to come. Too often the lives of Aboriginal people, poor people, people who've made a mistake, or have been born into unfortunate circumstances are written out of history. It's like we never existed at all. Good luck with the rest of your lives everyone. Hope you can look forward without forgetting the past.
As a 7 yr old I went door to door to collect dead matches & when I got a shoe box full I would send them to the jail. Just so I would get a Xmas invite to see what the prisoners made from them.
Funny how you claim to be such a big bad man , yet it's common knowledge ( even in the free world ) that you were in the boneyard . Please tell us what it was like , doing time with kiddy fuckers, coppers and that bald rat toothed bloke in the mirror ! You know the one , the informer tat robbed , lagged and put shit on everyone he met in the nick the minute he was released ! That thing being you ! And why do you keep bunging on ? You say " you broke into the place with 8 friends " thats a sad joke, you wouldnt have 8 friends , in the whole world. Not solid pnes at least ! Theyed be all rats and dogs like you, or coppers etc that you met in protection ! Big deal if ypu were there when Kremmin kicked in the windows in D division !If I were there Id have kicked the raping dogs head in long before he clibed up onto the roof ! But that's just me - some of us talk and some of us do ! You just pretend you know ,because you were in D division ?? BIG FUCKING DEAL. Youd have lasted a short second in B division or A duvision, but you were too busy making pegs or in special industries and WE ALL KNOW IT !
Little coward, bald headed , Danny Divito lookalike !, All mouth on here and in the police station. yes, I remember you well. I didnt mind you till you bailed into protection ! Remember that ?? I certainly do, and how you weazled your way back into mainstream, as a member of the RSL - what a fucking germ. The creepiest excuse for a human being Ive ever met, and quite illiterate too ! Do you still shake like a leaf when old adviseries walk in your cell and front you ? I wonder ? " YOUR MATES IN JIKA " Hmm thats a joke, but then again, considering the crumbs that burnt in that fire, you are of their ilk, but were never amoung them . Oakliegh was your home once , and yes mummy and daddy used to visit you at Ararat , if they are dead, they no doubt died of shame after giving birth to such a genetically challenged specimen like you. You truly are brave , i'll hand you that , after all your'e assuming you know certain peoples real names on here , and we definately know yours . Now crawl back under the rock you surfaced from ,you back stabbing, police informing wannabe back dooring woman bashing Junkie crumb ! If your so brave publish your adress ! But you won't be hard to find, its a small world, and you are a slimy little fish in a tiny little pond .
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