Pentridge Prison online Museum

28/05/2026

A Pentridge prison cell attracted the eye of a surprising off-shore buyer as it made history at auction > https://bit.ly/4dIRIHz

25/05/2026

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽?
via Pentridge Prison online Museum:

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗹𝘀
𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲?

A question for former staff, prisoners or anyone with knowledge of Pentridge Prison:

When were metal knives and cutlery replaced with plastic or alternative utensils?

25/05/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼. 𝟭𝟴 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲!

The latest issue of the Pentridge Prison Online Museum newsletter is now available, featuring new research, collection updates and stories connected to Pentridge’s history.

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.

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

21/05/2026

Did you know in Pentridge Prison’s D Division, daily routines were strictly structured? After meals, tables were removed to allow access to individual cells. Dinner was typically served around 4:30pm, after which prisoners were locked in their cells until the following morning.

To learn more about this fascinating past book a tour via pentridgeprisontours.com.au

21/05/2026

𝗕 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹

This mural was discovered during restoration works in B Division in 2020.

Hidden behind a shelf inside a prison cell, it may have remained concealed for decades. The artwork appears to depict a carnival or fairground scene, featuring a striped tent, rollercoaster, lights, and figures gathered beneath a large tree.

If you have any information about the mural or its creator, please get in touch with us!

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

20/05/2026

𝗔 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗹

This towel, marked “Victorian Government” and “A106,” was used by prisoner in A Division.

A Division contained 156 cells, and the number “106” indicates it was issued to Cell 106.

All bedding and towels were laundered in the central prison laundry.

Work in the laundry was highly sought after, as it offered comparatively better pay and provided a warm environment during the colder months.
Learn, share + discover🟨
www.pentridgeprisonmuseum.com.au
[email protected]

18/05/2026

𝗔 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗽𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲’𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Philip Glover, grandson of Australian cartoonist Tom Glover, who had discovered an original cartoon connected to Pentridge Prison and its brass band. After extensive research — with assistance from the AAustralian Cartoonists' Association the NNational Library of Australiaand the SState Library Victoria— the cartoon was traced to The Sun (Sydney), published on 19 June 1935.

The drawing appears to reference Chief Warder J. Bowen boasting that Pentridge had the finest prison music programme and brass band in the state.

What makes this find remarkable is that photographs of the Pentridge Prison Brass Band have so far not been located. Tom Glover’s 1935 cartoon may therefore be the only known visual depiction of the group found to date.

I’m pleased to share that, with Philip's permission, the cartoon has now been added to the Pentridge Prison Online Museum collection, helping preserve another small but fascinating piece of Pentridge Prison’s history.

A wonderful reminder of how family archives, libraries, and community collaboration continue to uncover overlooked parts of Pentridge’s history.

THANK YOU to Thank you to Philip Glover, Jeremy de Korte and all those who assisted with the research behind this remarkable discovery.

Learn, share + discover🟨
www.pentridgeprisonmuseum.com.au
[email protected]
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05/05/2026

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗷𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 | 𝟳𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦

https://www.realestate.com.au/property-other-vic-coburg-150978256

5 likes. "Inside a jail cell for sale in Melbourne’s north | 7NEWS"

05/05/2026

𝗛.𝗠. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 – 𝟯𝟭 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟳

As Pentridge closed after 144 years, staff gathered for one final farewell at the Grand Finale Dinner Dance in Taylors Lakes. This menu captures that night — a formal meal of lasagna, chicken wellington, roast beef and pavlova, shared among colleagues marking the end of an era.

More than a menu, it reflects a community built over generations, coming together one last time as Her Majesty’s Victorian Prison Service drew to a close.

Donated to the Pentridge Prison online Museum by Greg Howden.
Learn, share + discover🟨
www.pentridgeprisonmuseum.com.au
[email protected]
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pentridgeprisonmuseum

05/05/2026

𝗛.𝗠. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 – 𝟯𝟭 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟳

As Pentridge closed after 144 years, staff gathered for one final farewell at the Grand Finale Dinner Dance in Taylors Lakes. This menu captures that night — a formal meal of lasagna, chicken wellington, roast beef and pavlova, shared among colleagues marking the end of an era.

More than a menu, it reflects a community built over generations, coming together one last time as Her Majesty’s Victorian Prison Service drew to a close.

Donated to the Pentridge Prison online Museum by Greg Howden.
Learn, share + discover🟨
www.pentridgeprisonmuseum.com.au
[email protected]