Pentridge Prison history in brief
The former Her Majesty’s Prison, Pentridge was established in Coburg in December 1851.
Pentridge Prison operated with a number of divisions, each accommodating a different classification of prisoners, classifications which changed over time. In 1924, Pentridge became the main remand and reception prison for metropolitan Melbourne. In 1929, Melbourne Gaol closed and all prisoners were transferred to Pentridge.
Records mentioned in this guide relate to Pentridge Prison’s G Division, originally the purpose-built Jika Reformatory for Protestant Girls 1875–93. In 1956, the Fairlea Female Prison opened in Fairfield and took all the women prisoners from Pentridge. The former female reformatory was then converted into a psychiatric assessment area and renamed G Division.
G Division
The Mental Health Authority dealt with G Division. Most of the G division records held in the DHHS collections date from 1959 to 1986, during which period the Mental Health Authority’s name changed to the Office of Psychiatric Services.
Until the early 1980s, the only Health Department staff at G Division were the Psychiatrist Superintendent and his Secretary. G Division was staffed by Hospital Attendants (Prison Officers with first aid qualifications), as well as Prison Officers. The Hospital Attendants could administer drugs already prescribed by a doctor but not give injections. The Hospital Attendants created and maintained most of the records held at the department.
In the early 1980s, Psychiatric Nurses employed by the Health Department began to staff G Division. The Office of Corrections was still responsible for security and for day-to-day running.
Most of the prisoners in G Division Hospital were psychiatric patients but, until circa 1980 when Pentridge Hospital was built, some were general medical patients from other prison areas who had minor complaints or were under observation after treatment at outside hospitals. In some cases non-psychiatric prisoners may have been housed in G Division temporarily for shelter from other prisoners.
By c.1994, G Division Hospital no longer existed, but G Division still provided psychiatric clinic facilities and prisoners were still kept there for psychiatric observation. If G Division prisoners required medical treatment, they went to Pentridge Hospital or to St. Augustine's, a security ward of St. Vincent's Hospital.
Prior to transfer to the archives, records mentioned in this guide were housed at Mont Park. Forensic Services (a clinical service of Mont Park Hospital) dealt directly with G Division. Further, the Psychiatrist Superintendent of Mont Park was also the Psychiatrist Superintendent of G Division.
In 1997, Pentridge Prison closed.
Warning about distressing information
This guide contains information that some people may find distressing. If you experienced abuse as a child or young person in an institution mentioned in this guide, it may be a difficult reading experience. Guides may also contain references to previous views, policies and practices that are regrettable and do not reflect the current views, policies or practices of the department or the State of Victoria. If you find this content distressing, please consult with a support person either from the Department of Health and Human Services or another agency.
Disclaimer
Please note that the content of this administrative history is provided for general information only and does not purport to be comprehensive. The department does not guarantee the accuracy of this administrative history. For more information on the history of child welfare in Australia, see Find & .
Source
- DHHS Archives accession register
- Moreland City Council Website
- Wikipedia
List of records held by the department
For information relating to the central management of care leavers and wards of state, please consult the guide to Central department wardship and out-of-home care records. These collections date back to the 1860s and include ward registers, index cards and ward files.
G Division hospital records (1961-80)
File; Permanent VPRS Number 17910 / P0001
Content: Admissions to G Division hospital, admissions to public hospitals and ambulance records. Four volumes that record:
- Register of admissions to G Division hospital, 1963–71
- register of admissions to external hospitals, 1963–80
- external hospital admissions file, 1970–75
- register of visits to external hospitals, 1961–68
- register of prisoners transported by ambulance to external hospitals, 1976–79.
G Division death register (1972-80)
Volume; Unappraised
Content: Summary of deaths of prisoners in G Division. Contents include: date of death; name of prisoner; name of doctor and cause of death.
This record contains only a single page of information and is unlikely to be a complete record of deaths of G Division prisoners. Names recorded include some prisoners who were normally housed in A and D divisions.
G Division day and night report books (1958-79)
Volume; Unappraised
Content: Day and night report books for the first and second watch in G Division. Night books contain:
- prisoners’ names
- medication given
- number of patients
- muster
- observations
- admissions and discharges
- divisional visits
- prisoner medical complaints and medication/treatment given
- signature of hospital attendant on duty
Day books, registers and watch books contain similar information, plus:
- hospital officer reports
- hospital report
- medical officer reports and notes
- sick parade.
Some include
- diet
- bed number
- division
- quarantined patients ex-Fairfield.
The first watch was 4-30 pm to midnight. 2nd watch was midnight to 8 am. These volumes give a detailed daily record of the treatment of prisoners and the function of G Division. The entries are in chronological order.
G Division psychiatric treatment book (1965-74)
Volume; Unappraised
Contents: names of prisoners, medication received and dates received.
The record was listed as missing in 2010.
G Division day treatments (1960-71)
Volume; Unappraised
Content: A daily record of medication given to prisoners. Includes: prisoner’s names, medication and expiry date; receipt date and time of day; and prisoners’ initials verifying receipt. Entries are in chronological order.
G Division Reports (1976-81)
File; Unappraised
Content: A series of reports including:
- annual medical reports
- incident reports
- self-inflicted injury reports
- medical centre monthly reports
- G Division Hospital Monthly reports. [Permanent]
G Division divisional order book (1959-68)
Volume; Unappraised
Content: Typed memoranda, circulars and orders from various management positions inside and outside Pentridge Prison. The content is a set of instructions as to policy and procedures to be noted by attendants in performance of their duties.
G Division Forensic Psychiatry Memos (1981-86)
File; Unappraised
Content: Memoranda and correspondence from the Forensic Psychiatry Service on matters including
- staffing issues
oleave
orosters
oappointments
oshortages - general issues
oaccommodation
oprocedures
otraining
otreatment for sex offenders.
G Division register of in-patients (1959-83)
Volume; Unappraised
Content: A monthly register of patients admitted to G Division. Contents include; name of prisoner, reason for being in hospital and where patient discharged to.
Monthly summaries and statistics compiled from entries in the register are also recorded.
Daily report books and crisis call books (1990-97)
Volume; Unappraised
Content: Daily report books maintained by three psychiatric clinics. Details include:
- staff on duty
- prisoners in unit
- medication given/refused
- observations of behavior
- referrals to a psychiatrist
- notes regarding crisis calls (urgent need for psychiatric attention).
The Crisis Calls books provide details re calls for urgent attention. Details include:
- date
- name of prisoner
- person referred by
- the problem
- pre-assessment rating (i.e. problem severity)
- action taken
- post-assessment rating
- various comments.
Psychologist client files (1976-86)
File; Unappraised
Content: Case files relating to prisoners seen by psychologists at Pentridge Prison. Arranged alphabetically by names.
Administration and patient records (1960-2000)
File; Unappraised
Content: A mixed collection of client records from Pentridge Prison Hospital for forensic psychiatry and medical services:
- in-patient and out-patient records
- ward reports
- records of specialist consultations
- appointment books
- doctors’ diaries.
Nursing staff records
- staff recruitment
- annual leave
- student nurse placements
- immunisation records
- injuries register.
Records of the Director of Forensic Psychiatry Services, based at Pentridge Prison
- administrative correspondence
- FOI and Section 31 requests for files
- Ombudsman enquiries re prisoner files
- prisoner psychiatric assessments and reports for parole board meetings.
Psychiatric reports on prisoners (1983-92)
File and volume; Unappraised
Content: Reports and correspondence re prisoners’ psychiatric conditions for two periods: 1983 and 1985–92. Most material was prepared by the Psychiatric Clinic (G Division).
Folder 'Prisoner Reports July 1983' contains reports and correspondence arranged alphabetically by prisoner surname. Reports include medical details, correspondence with solicitors, ombudsman enquiries and ministerial correspondence.
A mail register for the period January 1985 to January 1990 provides details of correspondence from the Clinic. An incomplete volume of correspondence listed in the register is available from the period 1 September 1988 to 30 June 1989.
For the period 1987–89 there are envelopes containing letters of certification, adult parole board reports and other correspondence. For the period 1991–92, psychiatric reports and correspondence were filed alphabetically by prisoner surname.
Reviewed 10 October 2016