A prison isn’t your usual tourist attraction, but Pentridge Prison is a critical part of Coburg’s identity; the suburb was even called Pentridge back in the day. It’s no longer an actual prison – the site was sold in the '90s and has since been redeveloped. The epic bluestone facade of the building remains, however, as a testament to its fascinating and terribly sad past.
There is so much history within the prison's walls. In 1967, Victoria’s last hanging occurred at Pentridge, and in 2011 almost all of Ned Kelly’s skeleton was found in an old wooden axe box there. The Coburg Historial Society has a collection of memorabilia in the Bluestone warder's cottage.
The heritage-listed D Division and the prison's rose garden has now been taken over by Pentridge Prison Events, who put on corporate events, gigs and fashion shows.
Want to explore the ghosts of the infamous D Divison? Lantern Ghost Tours can help you out!