Overview
You've likely caught a flick at the cinema there (indoors and out) or maybe even sipped beers in the courtyard of its newest resident, BrewDog. But come autumn, Melburnians will have a brand-new — and somewhat eerie — reason to visit Coburg's historic bluestone Pentridge Prison precinct.
From Wednesday, March 1, the prison itself will be throwing open the doors and kicking off daily guided tours, diving deep into the heritage-listed site's dark past. There'll be two 90-minute experiences running, touring B-Division and H-Division (also known as Hell Division), both delivered in collaboration with the National Trust Victoria and award-winning creative tech company Art Processors. The latter's work has featured at the likes of Mona, the Australian Sports Museum and the Sydney Opera House.
Visitors are in for an intriguing humanised history fix, with immersive audio elements and voiceovers by the likes of the late Uncle Jack Charles, a former inmate, and celebrated Indigenous Australian actress and director Rachael Maza.
You'll hear first-hand accounts of time spent within the walls of the prison since it opened in 1851, encountering plenty of grisly truths and out-there history along the way — including the questionable treatment of its First Nations prisoners.
Both tours will kick off exploring the multimedia exhibition in the former Warders' Residence, before heading off on a guided jaunt where the site's notorious history is brought to life via original scores, true stories and engaging installations.
You'll have the chance to see the prison's panopticon, known as the 'airing yards', and to wander through the original cells of B-Division. And, if you're ok with getting a little darker, you can tour the somewhat grimmer high-security unit of H-Division, with its observation cells and breaking yards.
"The National Trust Victoria believes that for too long, these stories have been shrouded in mystery and although the past is confronting, it is crucial that we do not forget the realities of those who were incarcerated, and we respectfully learn and share their truths," says Simon Ambrose, CEO National Trust Victoria.
Pentridge Prison Tours will launch daily from Wednesday, March 1 at Pentridge Prison, Coburg. Tickets are available online from Thursday, February 23.