Title from cover.

CONTENTS
Foreword by Superintendent Gerry Myers p1.
Introduction by Bert Buckley, Gov II p1.
Prison identification p3.
Brief history: Victorian penal code before the turn of the century p4.
Domestic intelligence p8.
Pentridge in the 1980s: what is behind the walls? The contemporary Pentridge (pictorial) p11.
Summary p32.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Front cover: Sketch of Pentridge Prison.
Back cover: Photo of Pentridge Prison.
Inside front cover: Photo taken of early prison officers believed to have been about 1880 vintage with the pill box caps, pepper box pistols, cutlasses and large moustaches.
Superintendent Gerry Myers p1a. Governor II: Bert Buckley p1b.
Plan of Pentridge Prison 1981 p2.
The Pentridge Stockade 1853 p4.
Photo taken of early prison officers believed to have been about 1880 vintage with the pill box caps, pepper box pistols, cutlasses and large moustaches p5.
An early photo of Pentridge Main Gate area taken around the turn of the century p6.
A sketch by J.R. Ashton entitled ‘The old age of a bushranger, [Harry] Power in Pentridge’; this appeared in the Australasian Sketcher on 6 August 1881 p7a.
A group of early history prison officers and officials taken somewhere in Pentridge about the turn of the century p7b.
Colonel W.T.N. Champ, from a portrait in the possession of his granddaughter p8.
The examination and remand of Ned Kelly in the Melbourne Gaol p9.
An authentic facsimile of a Ned Kelly letter p10.
P.O. Stewart Hill outlined against the morning sky, stands watch on the main gate tower p11.
The perimeter of the prison is guarded by strategically located towers which provide security surveillance. Bill Sisley and Bob Johnson maintain careful watch p13a, b.
Squad of prison officers with senior officer reporting completion of duty to the governor; carried out just inside the historic main gate of Pentridge p13c, d.
‘E’ Division which in very early days was the Pentridge Infirmary, is now a temporary home for some 55 convicted prisoners accommodated in 6 dormitories p14a.
Mr George Clark, Chief Prison Officer in charge of ‘E’ Division confers with Senior Prison Officer Bill Brennan p14b.
The magnificent bluestone façade at the prison is classified as an historic building by the National Trust of Victoria and presents a beautiful example of the stonemason’s craft p14c.
The attractive gardens outside Pentridge main gate in Champ Street are well maintained by a small group of selected prisoners under the supervision of prison officer Brian Fenton, himself a keen gardener p14d.
Three photos taken in 1977 during the demolition of ‘C’ Division, are the same area as the cricket practice pitch depicted below 15a, b, c and d.
The central prison square inside the prison is utilised for sport and recreation and has a large in-ground swimming pool, running track, basketball and tennis courts and lawn areas p16a.
The building at the rear is ‘B’ Division housing some 150 prisoners in single cell accommodation p16b.
Boxing and weightlifting are popular pastimes and most men work hard to maintain their physical fitness p16c and d.
A large outdoor swimming pool constructed by the prisoners with assistance from various benefactors provides a welcome relief in hot weather and is extensively used by most prisoners p17a, b, c, d.
Prisoner George plays Father Christmas to a visiting Vietnamese refugee p18a.
The men of ‘E’ Division enthusiastically entertain children at Christmas and Easter each year, providing good fun, ice-cream, coke and cream cakes p18b.
One of the most important aspects of any prison is the food and central kitchen prepares meals for some 460 inmates each day, the kitchen is staffed by selected prison cooks, butchers and bakers and their work is supervised by several overseers skilled in both culinary art and management and training of prisoners: Diet cook ‘George’ prepares special meals for those prisoners on medically prescribed meals, such are the arrangements made for diabetics, hepatitis, nutritional or weight loss patients p19a, b.
Men working on the various wood working machines in the carpenters’ shop p20a, b, c.
Overseers Noel Sayers and Colin Thresh at work in the carpenters’ shop p20d, e.
Mr Max Symington, supervisor of prison industries, has a wide range of manufacturing and service industries under his control, the major industries located in Pentridge train and employ prisoners in the following occupations: printing and bookbinding; brush and broom manufacture; carpentry and cabinet making; boot and shoe manufacture; number plate steel pressing and finishing; textile, woollen and cotton manufacture; coir mat making; tailoring; engineering and sheet metal shop; laundry; silk screen printing; bakery p21a.
Pentridge Central Prison welfare officer Bill McCall provided counselling services for prisoners and their families on a wide range of matters of concern to a man in prison p21b.
Staffing officers Paul Carter and Ron Salter working out rosters for the central prison p21c.
Secretary of Pentridge Bob Goodwin with his deputy Joe Wiegerink p21d.
Prison officer Brian Edgar and one of his men share a joke in ‘E’ Division p22a.
All divisions have pool and billiard tables. Here prison officer Colin Nash watches a tricky shot p22b.
Three men relax on the lawn after a swim p22c.
The well-equipped hobby shop provides facilities for those interested in craft work p22d.
Each division has a hobby shop and in ‘E’ Division David shows prison officers Nash and Willison some of his latest work, two in-laid and turned lamp bases p23a.
Carpentry overseer Colin Thresh and senior prison officer Bill Brennan in the industry overseer’s office p23b.
Senior prison officer Wally Kaye in the clothing store with a group of working inmates. Each prisoner’s private clothing is carefully recorded and stored until its owner’s release p23c.
Catering overseer Jack Jones prepares trays of rock buns for distribution throughout Pentridge p23d.
The Pentridge Hospital extends a comprehensive health service to men in prison and in addition to a modern, well-appointed 20 bed ward care facility provide extensive ‘outpatient’ care in medical, dental, optical X-ray and health counselling services p24a.
Prison officer Brian Chinn monitors security in the hospital complex p24b.
Medical staff conference: Dr John Wolstenholme, director of prison medical services and Dr Peter Rennie with members of the nursing staff p24c.
Sister Lynn Wallace attends a patient at the outpatient clinic p25a.
Pharmacist Bruce Gibson with Helen Cass, a member of the medical records team p25b.
Two satisfied customers with prison officers Gary Bye and Lionel Jones p25c.
Sister Judy Geer and Sister Anne Sheedy with a prisoner patient p25d.
Dr Roderick Robinson with dental nursing Sister Asciak at work in the dental surgery p26a.
The inmates are well cared for in many ways by the Rev Father John Brosnan, pictured here with Central Prison Governor Bert Buckley p26b.
Prison officer Jim Graham in the central communications office p26c.
Radiographer Mr Basil Corr in his well-equipped X-ray room p26d.
Overseer Graeme Beer at the loom with a prisoner p27a.
‘Look what we made’: footwear for use by all prisoners is made in this shop under the supervision of overseer Ray Bennett who was too busy to get into the picture p27b.
Stencilling ‘E.R.’ on completed coir door mats p27c.
Young prisoner working the bobbin winding machine p27d.
Prisoner tradesman at work in the electrical shop p28a.
Electrical overseer John Craigie works with one of his prisoner tradesmen in the electrical maintenance shop p28b.
Men employed in the engineers’ shop p28c, d.
Prisoners at work in the carpentry shop p28e.
Prison officers Tony Toler and Margaret Jackson on duty in the contact visit garden area p29a.
Prisoners in the central and northern prisons enjoy a regular visit from families and friends in a pleasant garden setting p29b.
The men of ‘E’ Division keep the visit area in good shape and staff a small kiosk for the men and their visitors p29c.
‘E’ Division entrance near closing time p29d.
Overseer Jim Reed, an experienced textile man, keeps the antiquated woollen mill machinery running with admirable skill and ingenuity p29e.
Group of off-going ‘E’ Division officers p30a.
Chief prison officer Colin Woods and chief prison officer George Clark. Fifty years prison experience between them and still smiling p30b.
Prison officer Sam Inserra rings the ten-post bell which regulates much of the daily routine at Pentridge p30c.
Chief prison officer Colin Woods with prison officer Owen complete a closing muster p31a.
Chief prison officer John Fraser assisted by senior prison officer Bruce Douglas and prison officer George Briggs conduct the closing muster in ‘B’ Division p31b.
Chief prison officer George Clark and senior prison officer Bill Brennan check the ‘E’ Division closing muster p31c.