Prisoner of Melbourne: Pentridge

Pentridge, 1 Champ Street, Coburg was a real-life men’s prison that is under continued development as a condo and office complex. Prisoner’s Deputy Governor Jim Fletcher worked here before coming to Wentworth.

It was reported in 2008 that a former inmate had purchased a unit here.

We visited Pentridge to commemorate the 58th anniversary of the hanging of the last women to be executed in Australia, the only woman to be hanged in Victoria in the 20th Century. Jean Lee, 31, and two male accomplices were convicted in the November 8, 1949 killing of 73-year-old bookie William Kent. Lee and her co-conspirators were hanged here on February 19, 1951.

Punishment: Recent national crime statistics for Australia showed 27,244 persons were in custody in the country’s prisons. In 2007, Australian courts convicted 155 female murderers.

Escape from Pentridge.

Pentridge Prison was built in 1850. Developers say Pentridge Piazza will have 1,130 units.

Jean Lee is buried on the grounds of Pentridge, as is Ronald Ryan, the last person to be executed by the Australian government (February 3, 1967).