Entrance Building, Pentridge Prison (former)

1: All of the buildings marked on Diagram H1551 held by the Executive Director (Heritage Victoria) and known as:

B1: Main Gate and Administration Building;

B2: Former Chief Warders and Overseer of Works Residences;

B3: Former Hospital (former E Division);

B4: B Division;

B5: B Division Annexe;

B6: Industry Buildings;

B7: A Division;

B8: H Division;

B9: Walls, Gates and Lookout Towers;

B10: G Division;

B11: D Division including remnant exercise yard walls;

B12: F Division;

B13: Laundry;

B14: South Gate.

2. All of the land marked L1 and L2 on Diagram H1551 held by the Executive Director (Heritage Victoria).

How is it significant?

The former HM Prison Pentridge is of historical, social, aesthetic, architectural and technical importance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

The former HM Prison Pentridge is of historical and social significance as the largest prison complex constructed in Victoria in the nineteenth century, which operated as the central establishment in the wider prison system from the 1860s. The complex of buildings, which remains on site, demonstrates a number of phases in the development of the penal system, including the separate system, which dominated penology in Victoria in the nineteenth century. Pentridge is also significant in the history of child welfare in Victoria. It was the location of reformatories for both girls and boys established following the findings of the Stawell Royal Commission of 1870. The prison complex includes a purpose-built reformatory of 1875 (G Division), constructed as the Jika Reformatory for Protestant Girls, which operated between 1875 and 1893.

The former HM Prison Pentridge is of architectural importance as most of the major elements of the nineteenth century complex survive and are largely intact, and together clearly demonstrate the planning and functioning of the prison in the nineteenth century and the main functional elements of the separate system. The range of cell blocks, workshops and other buildings, the relatively dispersed layout of the buildings and the large scale of the site as a whole contrast with other nineteenth century prisons in Victoria and demonstrate the unique character of Pentridge as the principal penal establishment for long-term prisoners within the nineteenth century Victorian prison system. The planning of A, B and D Divisions are representative examples of the overwhelming influence and continuing development of British planning models and the separate system on prison design in Australia from the 1830s until the end of the nineteenth century. F Division is a rare surviving example of early nineteenth century prison and hospital design.

The former HM Prison Pentridge is of aesthetic and architectural significance because of the monumental scale and austere Classical style of the remaining nineteenth century prison buildings. The complex of buildings and walls are important for their expression of the requirements of containment and order and are typical of other prison buildings constructed in Victoria in the 1850s and 60s. The grim and imposing bluestone walls and towers are important landmark features.

The original ventilation systems in A, B and D Divisions and the surviving original cisterns and other elements of the water supply system in B Division are of technological significance. The apparently intact thermo-ventilation system in B Division is of particular significance.

Group

Law Enforcement

Category

Prison