Pentridge was established in 1851 with 16 prisoners who were walked in shackles from Melbourne Gaol to Coburg. Its closure in 1997 marked the end of an era incompletely saved by its late heritage listing. The brutal stories of ‘Bluestone College’ from its building with basalt rock dug manually from Merri Creek to form Coburg Lake can still bring tears to the eyes of the most stoic.
The tour of the former prison evoked sad memories and emotional responses from Bearbrass members as they visited the notorious H Block, listened to the audio records and walked through the cells of such notable criminals as Kevin Joiner – shot dead while attempting to escape over the walls in 1952, and William John O’Meally – with 42 convictions before 1952 when he killed an unarmed constable patrolling around the Crystal Palace Theatre in Caulfield.
More graphically, members were reminded of Jean Lee - the last woman hanged in Australia in 1951, and Ronald Ryan - who shot and killed a warder as he escaped. Recaptured in Sydney 19 days later, he became the last person legally executed in Australia.
'Enjoyed' is hardly a word to describe the Pentridge visit with our amazing guide, Luigi. He brought back memories that re-ignited the history of the Victorian Prison system, its brutality and its legacy as we ponder its place in our lives today.