This cache is one of a series to highlight the history and development at Pentridge, known previously as H.M. Prison Pentridge and now identified as Penal Establishment Pentridge. Other geocaches in this HMPP series are:
- HMPP – Separate and Silent (GCAHNKT),
- HMPP – Industry and Education (GCAKPNR),
- HMPP – Guards Watching (GCAHNDV),
- HMPP – Precinct to work live and play (GCAHTPR),
- The series also includes the H.M. Prison Pentridge Ad Lab.
These caches can be done in any order except for HMPP - Precinct to work, live and play, which requires clues from the other caches.
The Pentridge Stockade was first built as timber structures north of Bell street in 1850 to assist with an increase in prisoners placing pressure on Melbourne Gaol. The Pentridge prsoners worked at the quarry breaking up the bluestone for use on Sydney Road.
After many escape attempts and claims of brutality, a new 'Model' prison was planned and built, starting in 1857. Made from the bluestone mined at the nearby quarry, and built in Ashlar fashion, the penal establishment was designed to be both secure and intimidating. The design included battlements or crenellated walls and watch towers as well as the imposing entrance on the East side of the area. About 4000 m of wall were constructed. The initial buildings included the administration biuilding and entrance way, A division building, B division building, E division building and the Warders Quarters. By 1865 Pentridge had around 700 prisoners (of which about 130 were female) and 110 warders. By 1948 the prison held 1000 prisoners.
The prison officially closed on 1 May 1997. In 2023 the site opened as a tourist attraction following development as a commercial retail and residential site or a place to ‘work, live and play’ according to the developers. This multi takes a look at some of the oldest buildings around the Pentridge Piazza (the Northern Pentridge site).
WP1 Administration Building Entrance S 37 44.223 E 144 58.055
The Admin was constructed around 1858 and was one of the original buildings of the Pentridge ‘Model’ prison. The Administration building was intentionally imposing, with the front exterior being in a medieval style common in England in the middle of the 19th century.
The Administration building originally housed the administrative offices, an armoury and possibly officers’ residential quarters on the first floor. The clock tower was added to the original design around 1861 and the 'Pentridge' sign appeared some time after that. The Admin building had a major internal update in the 1970s when an attempt was made to modernize the building, for example by installing electronic clocks.
Walk into Pentridge through the main entance and you will see circular plaues on the ground with some of the experiences that prisoners relate to Pentrridge prison.
The first circlular plaque on the left hand side has three words. A = the number of letters in the second word of the first plaque minus 4
WP 2 B Division building S 37 44.235 E 144 58.100
You are standing at the entrance to the North wing of the B Division biuilding which was built in 1858. The building is of a cruciform shape of 2 floors and a dungeon or lower floor. B Division has 176 cells. The building was known as the Panopticon after the prison layout in which a central tower is used to view a number of cells positions around the watch tower. B Division was built with two exercise or 'airing' yards for prisonsers to exercise in. A Chapel was built on the first floor of the Northern wing which you are facing. It was converted in to a recreational room towards the later part of the 1900s.
The B Division was considered modern in that the cells had toilets, and an overhead water cistern and gas. However water was rationed and the gas considered dangerous. Air vents allowed for heating to be added in the 1920s. The cells were also fitted with bells to allow for communications with the warders. The exercise yards were concreted over in the 1920s and electricity added some time after that.
Initially this building was known as A Division and was the building in which prisoners first arrived and undertook their stage of solitary or 'Model' confinement. The building was renamed as B Division in 1887 and was used for prisoners who had completed their solitary stage of inprisonment. By about 1960 B Division was used for well behaved and lower security risk prisoners (with the creating of H Division for high risk prisoners). The building was sectioned off in 1982 to allow for women prisoners.
Close by you will find the following text etched in conctrete: It is 4.15pm and the gangs are falling in at the end of the day. The date the text appeared in the Argus was 14 Jul 19M4.
B = M + 5
WP 3 A Division building S 37 44.183 E 144 58.125
The building just North of where you are, was built between 1860 and 1865 as the female prison. The female prison was a T shape with the Southern wing being built later. The female prison was contained as a separate prison with a separate gate into the prison and a wall between the male and female areas. Initially there were around 130 female prisons accomodated in this building. The building had one exercise yard in the North West corner of the area. The female prisoners were transferred out to Melbourne Goal in 1871.
From 1871 the building was used for the first solitary stage of confinement of male prisoners. After the South wing was built in the 1890s the building had the cruciform shape and could hold 197 prisoners. It was then renamed as A Division. From 1892 to 1896 the labour or rock breaking yards were added and they remained in use until about 1976. By 1901 A Division had four exercise yards, one of which was in the style of the B Division 'airing' yards. The airing yard ceased to be used by 1920 and was demolished sometime around 1952. The south wing of A Division was used to hold special prisoners considered highly likely to reform.
In 1959 The East wing was walled off and became H Division. H Division housed the most dangerous and high risk prisoners. The rest of A Division was used for first time and low risk offenders until Pentridge closed in 1997.
Close by you, adjoining the bluestone wall, you will find a set of narrow (<2m) stairs. The second stair contains the words: and are built of solid ... C = the number of letters in the last word of the line.
WP4 E Division Building S 37 44.214 E 144 58.100
At this location you will be standing just outside the former hospital of Pentridge. This building is now known as E Division. E Division was completed in 1859 and served as a hospital until 1959. To avoid 'malingering' (or pretending to be sick to avoid work) time spent in the hospital was not included as time spent towards serving a sentance.
The E Division building was extended to the rear around 1940 to add more dormatory space. E Division had 6 dormatories. In 1960 the hospital was moved and E Division was used for medium term, low-risk prisoners. In 1970 there were riots in the building which caused extensive damage. From 1980 until the prison closed it was used as an administration building. After the prison closed E Division was restored close to its original form. It opened as a pub in 2022.
D = The number of square and rectangular sections in the door of E Division - 6
WP5 Warders Quarters S 37 44.211 E 144 58.075
The building to your North was originally built as two joined quarters for the chief warder and overseer of works in 1858. The wall beetween the building and the parade ground was built in 1886. In 1926 the building became warders general quarters and included a mess and canteen. By 1990 the ground floor was used as a recreation centre and the upper floor was used to house the security monitoring system.
E = the number of cream wooden posts which are holding up the balcony of the warders and overseers quarters plus 4
WP 6 Pentridge History and Development Gallery S 37 44.200 E 144 58.134 (approximately)
The History and Development Gallery is on Level one of the shopping centre, opposite the cinema. The gallery is free and open "all day".
Prior to 1974 this was the site of C Division of H.M Prison Pentridge. The building conmenced construction in 1858 and consisted of 6 blocks of cells in rows, each opening onto a courtyard. When it was completed C Division had 361 cells. Around 1920 the building was identified for demolishing. However this did not happen for more than 50 years.
C Division
This is also a sign board at the base of the escalators with more information on C Division.
From the panel for C Division in the Gallery (not the sign next to the escalator), further additions to C Division were completed in 18F9.
For the cache, GZ can be located at:
South 37 44.ABC East 144 58.DEF
checksums A+B+C = 15, D+E+F = 15
The cache is a cammoed Bison tube. Please do not try to remove any of the bluestone rocks from the wall. Remember the clues for the final cache of the series. We suggest you allow at least an hour for this cache.