Australia's Most Infamous Jail: Inside the walls of Pentridge Prison

by James Phelps

'Pentridge was a place of murder and mayhem. A bluestone hell. The worst prison Australia has ever seen.' Andrew Kirby, former inmate


Welcome to Pentridge, Australia's most infamous prison.

In the long-awaited return to his bestselling true crime series on life behind bars, James Phelps has finally turned his attention to HM Prison Pentridge - the bluestone behemoth that was home to Victoria's worst criminals for more than a century.

Beginning with a gang of guards and a handful of convicts, for more than 145 years Pentridge housed a who's who of Australian criminals and Melbourne's underworld including Ned Kelly and Mark 'Chopper' Read.

From solving the mystery of Ned Kelly's missing skull to the shocking truth about who really cut off Chopper's ears - Australia's Most Infamous Jail includes true and uncensored accounts of inmates (including a convicted serial killer, a mass murderer and the real Romper Stomper), guards, archaeologists and even a former governor-general. This is gritty, true crime storytelling, on steroids - about what life was really like behind the bluestone walls of Pentridge.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Audiobook, History, Crime

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2023

About the author

James Phelps is an award-winning senior reporter for the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph in Sydney.

He began as on overnight police rounds reporter before moving into sport, where he became one of Australia's best news-breaking rugby league reporters.

James became News Corp Australia's Chief National Motorsports Writer and travelled the world, chasing F1 stories as well as becoming Australia's number one V8 Supercar reporter. James is also a senior feature writer for the Sunday Telegraph.

Following the bestselling Dick Johnson: The Autobiography of a True-Blue Aussie Sporting Legend, James returned to his roots to delve into the criminal underworld with a series of crime books: Australia's Hardest Prison: Inside the Walls of Long Bay Jail; Australia's Most Murderous Prison; and Australia's Toughest Prisons: Inmates. James is a twice V8 Supercar media award winner and a former News Awards 'Young Journalist of the Year' and 'Sport Reporter of the Year'.

Reviews

[TheBookWarren · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️ (round 🆙) — There should be more books about Australian History. It’s a severely underused realm for authors & I hope that there will be a resurgence of the telling of our short but eventful past. This was a nice easy read, albeit a little bland & perhaps lacking the real verve & detail that could’ve made it a bit more engaging. But it does tell a tale of a historic prison that’s worth hearing.

I’d forgotten I’d read this one, probably not a great sign but in fairness I did read it for my grandmother who wanted to know my thoughts. Like I told her, it’s a great read for anyone wanting a casual reading experience they can easily jump in and out of, the prose is befitting of the topic but there was a little lack of urgency or something more intrinsic.

I grew up not too far from this prison, in Eltham and it remains picturesque, somewhat albeit with a bit of tacky commerce attached. I even met Chopper Reid, its most famous or infamous ‘tenant’ — there is so much history here that cold be told in a more detailed manner and that for embeds this one back a bit. But it’s all covered, and well. It’s just a little transactional for me.

But I stress, it’s a nice read for anyone wanting to know the overall story of Pentridge — it’s fairly well written, avoids being too fanciful, which I respect.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is a definite need for more Australian history, and given the subject matter, I had pretty high hopes. Unfortunately, this just felt a little flimsy.

While it retells personal experiences and the author went to the source at times, there was no critical balance.

An easy read, in part due to the author’s often conversational tone, but never particularly gripping.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable, easy read in part to Phelps’ ability to tell a good story. I am a big fan of Phelps’ work for some time. I would say this is not his best book to date but again is still really enjoyable.
For me I had really high hopes which this didn’t live up to, as he seemed to have only used 2-3 sources.
Overall though it’s a good book, easy to read and adds to his collection of very well written true crime.

[Casey (caseyreadss) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25☆

[Sarah Cole]

Before I started reading this book I actually had no idea how much information would be in it - James Phelps you have certainly done a lot of research here.

From the history of Pentridge including the building itself to personal stories from inmates returning to the grounds you need to be prepared to learn all about life inside the walls of Pentridge Prison - even some stuff you don't want to know - it's in here.

Some of the stories are brutal, some are sad and some make you wonder - how on earth did that actually even happen?

The most stand out were stories about Mark 'Chopper' Read, Ned Kelly and how the film Romper Stomper came about.

Definitely an interesting read, although tough at times, you will learn a lot.

[Marles Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pentridge Prison was known as Australia’s hardest and worst prison for about 145 years. Its dark formidable walls haunted many who resided there to pay for their crimes; it was the prison that you didn’t want to end up in. It housed the worst of the worst, and the stories captured by James Phelps are blunt, gruesome and stark, just like its colossal bluestone form. The prison was established in 1851, and was the site for the last person to be hanged in Australia in 1967.
Phelps has undertaken considerable research into the history of the prison and some of its residents and staff. There are some personal experiences and there are also some where history has been given a voice add bold colour to many unflinching accounts, including to those who gave firsthand accounts of their time in Pentridge. The chapter about the real Romper Stomper was eye opening, and something I never knew about before. Reading about each of the divisions was interesting, from the remand prisoners in D Division, to the worst areas to be in, Division H where security was at its peak (and them some) and Jika Jika where prisoners were a maximum security risk and needed protection from each other.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bought this for my other half who worked at Pentridge including in Jika.
His comment re the accuracy of the accounts given especially those by Mick Ryan who pops up everywhere:
"In the words of Mark Chopper Read, never let the truth get in the way of a good story."
Easy quick read, but major discrepancies in facts that should have been picked up publication including imaginary prisoners. Even I could work out there were discrepancies just from knowledge of prison procedure in a different state. The author has unfortunately not picked his sources well especially those that chose to share their names. Definitely fanciful. There are better books out there giving accounts of Pentridge's history.

[Daniel Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Phelps' "Australia's Most Infamous Jail: Inside the Walls of Pentridge Prison" offers a riveting glimpse into one of Australia's most notorious correctional facilities. This book is a compelling blend of history, true crime, and personal accounts that paint a vivid picture of life behind bars at Pentridge, making it an engaging read for both crime aficionados and casual readers alike.

Phelps masterfully recounts the harrowing tales of infamous inmates, including the likes of Ned Kelly and Mark 'Chopper' Read, while exploring the prison's dark legacy over its 145 years of operation. His narrative is rich with detail, providing insights into the brutal realities faced by both prisoners and guards. The inclusion of lesser-known stories and anecdotes adds depth to the historical context, making it more than just a recounting of notorious events.

The writing style is accessible and engaging, ensuring that readers remain captivated throughout. However, some may find that the heavy emphasis on historical accounts can overshadow more contemporary stories, which might leave those looking for recent narratives slightly wanting. Additionally, while Phelps' storytelling is generally strong, there are moments where the pacing could be improved for a smoother flow.

Overall, "Australia's Most Infamous Jail" is an enlightening exploration of Pentridge Prison that successfully combines gripping storytelling with historical investigation. It's a must-read for anyone interested in Australia's criminal history or true crime in general.

[Tom J · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's alright. the author isn't a fantastic writer of prose and often creates odd sentences that the audiobook reader slightly stumbles on, i assume this is an artifact of his career writing for the papers.

the book is a non-chronological collection of stories about pentridge, and they vary wildly in how interesting they are. the repentant neo-nazi was fascinating and probably deserves a book to himself, but beyond that this is very shallow, wikipedia level stuff. very little about the actual running of the prison itself, and what's there is oddly quite sanitised

[Amy Burch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a morbid curiosity for all James Phelps' prison books.
Whilst uncomfortable (and frankly, gross) in some parts, the majority of this book was a fascinating delve into the history of one of Australia's most infamous prisons.

I would really have appreciated a more thorough exploration of the older history as I felt there was so much more to learn.

Overall, it was a good and interesting read.

[Andrew Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, disturbing, and valuable account of the history of Pentridge Prison through the eyes of many of its 'guests' James Phelps writing style makes for an easy and informative read. I also liked the side stories around the characters that captured the atmosphere of the times particularly through the 1900s. A great read.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this read. Very in your face in certain sections. My great grandfather was at pentridge in 1934 so got a little taste of what it may have been like for him. Have read a few books by James Phelps now and have enjoyed them all.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read or listened to other books by this author. This particular book gives a detailed history of Pentridge with quite a bit of the very early history which though comprehensive was of little interest to me personally.

[Saturday's Child · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found a paperback of this at my local library. It was a quick easy read.

[William Edward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good read. Kept me occupied while stuck out at Cameron's corner

[Damian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting insight from beginning to end of Australia’s most feared gaol.

[Cher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting from a historical sense a real page turner

[TryHardTracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the poor writing and absence of basic editing, this book is fascinating, horrifying and hard to put down. Errors undermine believability.

[Chris Buckley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprised me. I wasn't sure it would keep my attention however, this book kept me interested the whole way through. Not bad.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pentridge prison is one of the more interesting to read about, I enjoyed this book.

[Jacy Marl · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read, but not one for bedtime reading! Good preparation for visiting Pentridge. Several typos and typesetting errors were a bit distracting, including “goal” instead of “gaol”.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely love James Phelps as an author and I especially loved his other books on Australia's Prisons. However, I found this book to be a bit repetitive and boring.

[Kathleen Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one isn’t as good as the other books Phelps has written. I found myself thinking about other things and losing track of my reading. The most interesting part was near the end.

[Maddi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated this 3.5 stars but rounded up to 4 stars

I really enjoyed this book, but I did enjoy Australian Ghost Stories by James Phelps more, I would say this book is close to a 4 star but not quite.
I knew a little about Pentridge Prison but not a whole lot, so I found this book really interesting & learnt a lot.
Similar to my previous review of Australian Ghost Stories; I highly recommend listening to the audiobook along with the book, it was a little less podcast-like, unlike Australian Ghost Stories but the narrator is great (same narrator I believe) & still got me hooked (I read this book in 3 days!)
I really do enjoy James Phelps writing style

[Grainne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely love James Phelps as an author and I especially loved his other books on Australia's Prisons. However, I found this book to be a bit repetitive and boring.