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Pentridge: Behind The Bluestone Walls
Pentridge tells of prison life and events during the troubled 1970s when rebellion was in the air, and when Pentridge housed some of the most notorious prisoners in Australian criminal history, including arguably its most punished inmate, William O’Meally, the last man to be flogged in Australia.
The book details a rich and colourful history spanning some 150 years of grim punishments, controversial hangings and prison escapes, along with the prison closure and relocation of the remains of executed prisoners.
Pentridge features accounts of the famous criminals, from William O’Meally to Chris ‘Rent-A-Kill’ Flannery.
The book details a rich and colourful history spanning some 150 years of grim punishments, controversial hangings and prison escapes, along with the prison closure and relocation of the remains of executed prisoners.
Pentridge features accounts of the famous criminals, from William O’Meally to Chris ‘Rent-A-Kill’ Flannery.
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 28, 2016
Written by an author who has spent some time in Pentridge as a worker / teacher this is one of those books that's really fascinating when it's getting into the nitty gritty of life behind bars and the history of Pentridge, its construction and eventual closure. It's less successful when it basically retells the stories of some of the more famous inmates of place - much of which will already be known to True Crime readers anyway, but mostly because it feels a lot like padding.
The parts where the experience of Pentridge are described were interesting, and it was worthwhile if only for the insights into life for inmates like William O'Meally as a result of his brutal treatment. Parts of it are written in a very engaging style, and it's obvious that the author was uncomfortable with much of what was happening behind the walls. A lot of the treatment described is confrontational and as it's an individual's retelling from their own perspective undoubtedly there will be different opinions, differing viewpoints and different constructs on everything, but in terms of what's presented here - it reads very much like this author's truth.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
The parts where the experience of Pentridge are described were interesting, and it was worthwhile if only for the insights into life for inmates like William O'Meally as a result of his brutal treatment. Parts of it are written in a very engaging style, and it's obvious that the author was uncomfortable with much of what was happening behind the walls. A lot of the treatment described is confrontational and as it's an individual's retelling from their own perspective undoubtedly there will be different opinions, differing viewpoints and different constructs on everything, but in terms of what's presented here - it reads very much like this author's truth.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
July 21, 2022
3.5 stars
My thoughts on this may appear brief and may contain semi spoilers, however here we go.
There can be a fascination with some people as to prison’s, past and present. There are reality TV programs such as “Worlds Toughest Prison’s” and there is a whole genre of non-fiction books written on the topic. Having said that, and looking through my reading history you may see, that I whilst I am not a devote of the genre, but I do hold an interest in this one former institution of incarceration that happens to be located in the city I grew up in. When I was growing up, it was the main prison and was a name synonymous with being sent to prison. Of being sent “to the bluestone college”.
I happened to worked opposite the functioning Pentridge as part of my first full time job and, thankfully, did not enter it until it had been decommissioned and before the redevelopment of the site commenced. So I got to see, but not experience, B Division, D Division, the outside of E Division and inside Jika Jika as part of a small group guided by a former Prison Officer and containing a former D Division inmate who shared one or two of his thoughts. The experience created an interest to understand more, hence me picking up this work written by a former Education Worker/Teacher.
In writing the work, the author provides an insight into some of this firsthand experiences. These were interesting in so far as he encountered and worked with a couple of better know prisoner’s.
Now the semi-spoiler
The majority of the work however is a very well written account of aspects of the prisons history, functioning and of the life stories of some it’s prisoners. From interception in 1851 to closure in 1997, there is a history rich for the telling, with the author skillfully drawing on aspects across this time to provide a very good insight and understanding of the aspects chosen without either under or over statement. To this reader, the gems, or haystack needles, came from the conservative reflection of his own experiences and those who he interacted with, especially so in his own learnings from fellow staff at Pentridge.
So, if this was to be your first introduction to the institution that was Pentridge, this is could well be an excellent place to start. If it is not your first and you are looking for insights to experiences of someone who worked there in a prisoner support role/function, then there are snippets that will likely assist with that understanding. Pick it up and see if it is for you.
My thoughts on this may appear brief and may contain semi spoilers, however here we go.
There can be a fascination with some people as to prison’s, past and present. There are reality TV programs such as “Worlds Toughest Prison’s” and there is a whole genre of non-fiction books written on the topic. Having said that, and looking through my reading history you may see, that I whilst I am not a devote of the genre, but I do hold an interest in this one former institution of incarceration that happens to be located in the city I grew up in. When I was growing up, it was the main prison and was a name synonymous with being sent to prison. Of being sent “to the bluestone college”.
I happened to worked opposite the functioning Pentridge as part of my first full time job and, thankfully, did not enter it until it had been decommissioned and before the redevelopment of the site commenced. So I got to see, but not experience, B Division, D Division, the outside of E Division and inside Jika Jika as part of a small group guided by a former Prison Officer and containing a former D Division inmate who shared one or two of his thoughts. The experience created an interest to understand more, hence me picking up this work written by a former Education Worker/Teacher.
In writing the work, the author provides an insight into some of this firsthand experiences. These were interesting in so far as he encountered and worked with a couple of better know prisoner’s.
Now the semi-spoiler
The majority of the work however is a very well written account of aspects of the prisons history, functioning and of the life stories of some it’s prisoners. From interception in 1851 to closure in 1997, there is a history rich for the telling, with the author skillfully drawing on aspects across this time to provide a very good insight and understanding of the aspects chosen without either under or over statement. To this reader, the gems, or haystack needles, came from the conservative reflection of his own experiences and those who he interacted with, especially so in his own learnings from fellow staff at Pentridge.
So, if this was to be your first introduction to the institution that was Pentridge, this is could well be an excellent place to start. If it is not your first and you are looking for insights to experiences of someone who worked there in a prisoner support role/function, then there are snippets that will likely assist with that understanding. Pick it up and see if it is for you.
February 10, 2024
This book caught my attention as I did the tour when Pentridge closed (1996), I also did a ghost tour here.
Don Osborne was an educational officer who worked at Pentridge.
My expectation was that the book to be about the authors personal experiences, there was a little bit of that but mostly factual stories.
Don Osborne was an educational officer who worked at Pentridge.
My expectation was that the book to be about the authors personal experiences, there was a little bit of that but mostly factual stories.
June 18, 2022
pentridge
A truly honest account of the degrading times in this prison. No wonder these prisoners came out embittered by the experiences and the horrendous treatment by the so called guardians of the gaol
A truly honest account of the degrading times in this prison. No wonder these prisoners came out embittered by the experiences and the horrendous treatment by the so called guardians of the gaol
August 31, 2022
Interesting history , I enjoyed stories of the day to day lives of the prisoners throughout the history of Pentridge but got repetitive at the end with stories of the more well known residents for me at least , but I am aware that I have read extensively on these people before.
January 1, 2019
I enjoyed this book as my first hubbie worked as a warder at Pentridge and was there during the Ryan/Walker escape.
The writer gives great insight to the workings of a doomed prison system.
The writer gives great insight to the workings of a doomed prison system.
April 23, 2024
Good book, well written, if you live in Melbourne Australia, this book is all the more relevant.
April 9, 2024
fantastic. while i wish the book was more about the author's experiences and insight, this is a great look at the prison itself and its history.
the first half of the book is a discussion of the history of the prison, coloured by the author's experiences as an education officer there. the author's writing style is remarkably evocative and fluent for a writer who hasn't written anything else on here, and it's a very quick and easy read. i assumed this was what the entire book was, but unfortunately not.
the second half is a recitation of some of the famous faces who went through pentridge, and the things they did to get there. it's snappy and well written, not lingering too long on specific crimes or criminals, but i was surprised to see how long it went for. it was interesting, but if it wasn't written so well i would be disappointed that it's what the book ends up spending ~150 pages on.
hopefully don osborne writes another book, ideally one that covers his time in pentridge in a more linear, memoir style fashion. so many books are written by people who are far less interesting and who are far worse writers, it would be a shame for such a rich vein of interesting stories to only get a brief outlet here.
the first half of the book is a discussion of the history of the prison, coloured by the author's experiences as an education officer there. the author's writing style is remarkably evocative and fluent for a writer who hasn't written anything else on here, and it's a very quick and easy read. i assumed this was what the entire book was, but unfortunately not.
the second half is a recitation of some of the famous faces who went through pentridge, and the things they did to get there. it's snappy and well written, not lingering too long on specific crimes or criminals, but i was surprised to see how long it went for. it was interesting, but if it wasn't written so well i would be disappointed that it's what the book ends up spending ~150 pages on.
hopefully don osborne writes another book, ideally one that covers his time in pentridge in a more linear, memoir style fashion. so many books are written by people who are far less interesting and who are far worse writers, it would be a shame for such a rich vein of interesting stories to only get a brief outlet here.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews