Window glass from Female Prison (D Division)

This piece of glass is from a window in D Division (back then the Female Prison), dating back to the late 19th century.

The new Female Prison at Pentridge was designed in 1887 by the Public Works Department. The contract drawings were initialled by Henry Bastow, Senior Architect of the Department, George W Watson, Assistant Architect in charge of the Central District and Charles Gilchrist, Assistant Architect. The construction contract, for £49,900, was signed by contractor James Downie on 25 April 1889.

The new building was handed over by the Public Works Department on 27th April 1894, and proclaimed a prison for females on 15th May 1894

Detail, 1889 plan, held by Coburg Historical Society

The original cells are 10' 0" (3.05 m) x 6' 0" (1.83 m) and have timber boarded floors, with concrete fill under, painted pick-faced bluestone ashlar walls, and painted brick segmental-vaulted ceilings. Floors in some cells have been replaced recently With compressed cement sheet. The small segmental-arched windows have sloping inner sills. The glazing to the windows has been painted. Built-in sink, bench and cupboard units have been constructed below the windows. Apart from the sink units, each typical cell contains a stainless steel toilet, a loose steel-framed bed and a fixed wall mounted desk*.

*CMP 1996

Entrance to the Female Prison, Nicholas Caire, 1896, SLV

A brief history on the building and its use over the time

Building of the Female Prison at Coburg began in 1889. The Female Prison, Pentridge was proclaimed in May 1894 under the Gaols Act 1890, as a separate establishment for female prisoners, operating within the walls of Pentridge Gaol.

Female prisoners held in the Melbourne Gaol were transferred to the new prison, and the Matron from Melbourne Gaol was appointed its first Governor.

This agency was known by several other names, such as Female Penitentiary, Female Prison Coburg, Female Division.

In 1909 a Reformatory Prison was established, which operated as a division within the Female Prison (or the Female Penitentiary, Coburg as it was then known). The Reformatory Prison (Female) was proclaimed under the Indeterminate Sentences Act 1907. The Reformatory Prison (Male) was established in September 1909. The Indeterminate Sentences Act 1907 established reformatory prisons. Prisoners deemed to be habitual criminals could be held at the Governors pleasure in Reformatory Prisons, until they demonstrated that they were eligible for release on probation. This legislation established the Indeterminate Sentences Board as a part of Inspector Generals Office.

In 1924, the Female Prison, Pentridge was reproclaimed and part of its area was taken to form the Metropolitan Gaol for male prisoners (following the closure of the Melbourne Gaol).

Following the resignation of the Governor of the Female Prison in 1926, the position of Female Governor was abolished and the Female Prison was placed under the control of the Governor of the Metropolitan Gaol. Female prisoners were immediately under the charge of a Matron.

In 1932, the Female Prison was incorporated, along with the Metropolitan Prison and the Penal Establishment Pentridge, into His Majesty's Gaol, Pentridge. The proclamation of HM Gaol Pentridge revoked the proclamation of the Female Prison of 1924.From 1933, female prisoners were held in the Female Division within HM Gaol Pentridge, under the charge of a Matron, and under the control of Pentridge's Governor. (The Metropolitan Gaol became D Division, the receiving division for the whole of Pentridge. The Annual Report of the Inspector General for 1933 noted that, following the amalgamation, clerical work was now mainly carried out in the office at D Division, rather than separate record keeping systems being maintained by each prison.)

The Reformatory Prison for female prisoners continued as a division of Pentridge until 1957 when it was closed by proclamation. Reformatory prisons were abolished by the Penal Reform Act 1956.

However, prior to the closure of the Reformatory Prison, its female prisoners and those housed in the Female Division of Pentridge had been transferred to Fairlea Female Prison, which was officially opened by the Chief Secretary on 22nd June 1956*.

*Public Record Office Victoria

D Division cell, 2024.

The first female prisoners arrived at the Female Prison on 1 June 1894, reports the The Herald. Retrieved via TROVE

Who were the women incarcerated in the Female Prison?

You can find out more in the Central Register of Female Prisoners, held by the Public Record Office Victoria.

To explore this subject in greater depth, visit the links and references provided below:

Vagrants and Murderesses - Melbourne's Criminal Women

https://prov.vic.gov.au/about-us/our-blog/vagrants-and-murderesses

Prisoners Offence Book reveals stories of Female Prison inmates in early 20th century

Wayward Women