Pentridge Voices

02/07/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 #𝟮𝟭 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲!

The latest issue of the Pentridge Prison Online Museum Newsletter is now online.

Discover the fascinating history of Pentridge’s panopticons—the prison’s distinctive circular exercise yards—and explore the story behind one of the newest additions to our collection. As always, you’ll also find the latest research, recent discoveries and museum updates.

📖 Read Newsletter 21 for free on the Pentridge Prison Online Museum website.

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www.pentridgeprisonmuseum.com.au
[email protected]

29/06/2026

24/06/2026

Do you remember the memorial plaque that once stood near D Division?
We’d love to hear from anyone who has photographs or memories of it.

Get in touch with us: [email protected]
www.pentridgevoices.com

24/06/2026

𝗔 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱

For many years, the location of Pentridge Prison’s historic burial ground was uncertain. While a small triangular yard near D Division was widely believed to be the cemetery, archaeological investigations and historical research revealed a different story.

The investigations identified the historic burial ground that contained the remains of prisoners transferred from Melbourne Gaol, together with the graves of the nine prisoners executed and buried at Pentridge between 1932 and 1951. A separate burial area near D Division was later associated with Ronald Ryan.

Today, there is no visible marker, memorial or interpretive signage identifying the historic burial ground

Free to read online.

https://www.pentridgeprisonmuseum.com.au/newsletter

Learn, share + discover🟨
www.pentridgeprisonmuseum.com.au
[email protected]


𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: The former burial ground is situated on privately owned land adjacent to D Division. While both properties are privately owned, they are under separate ownership.

19/06/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼. 𝟮𝟬 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲!

This issue explores the history and rediscovery of Pentridge’s historic burial ground and features several exciting new additions to the museum collection.

Free to read — with previous editions also available online.

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘅.

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www.pentridgeprisonmuseum.com.au
[email protected]

16/06/2026

𝟭𝟲 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟭𝟵𝟲𝟴

On this day in 1968, John Killick and two fellow prisoners attempted to escape from Pentridge Prison’s E Division.

Using a smuggled hacksaw, the men cut their way out of a dormitory, overpowered a warder and triggered a major overnight police operation. After a tense stand-off lasting several hours, all three surrendered in the early hours of 17 June 1968.

As Killick later recalled:

“𝟓𝟖 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞…”

The incident remains one of the most dramatic escape attempts in Pentridge Prison’s history.

Photo: E Division, 16 June 2026.
Learn, share + discover🟨
www.pentridgeprisonmuseum.com.au
[email protected]
John Killick