A stint inside a prison would likely evoke an image of fear in the minds of ordinary people.
But one of the world’s most infamous prisons in Australia has been transformed into a luxury five-star hotel.
The Interlude, located in Melbourne, is built on the premises of the former B Division of HM Prison Pentridge.
The prison was once home to some of Australia’s most infamous criminals – including Ronald Joseph Ryan, the last man hanged in Australia, and Mark ‘Chopper’ Read, a convicted criminal, gang member and author.
But guests can stay in the same halls criminals once roamed – and rooms started from just AU$449.00 (£232) per night.
At the heart of it all is a luxurious underground swimming pool, which took three months to build in attempt to minimise the impact on the historic structure.
The hotel is comprised of 19 suites, which were created by knocking through the thick bluestone walls to link four or five cells together.
Each room has vaulted ceilings and stone walls – but is also embellished with all the contemporary finishes and fittings you might expect from a modern hotel.
The B Division of HM Prison Pentridge has been converted – into a luxury hotel
Its crown jewel is the underground swimming pool, which took months to construct
The unique hotel promises an immersive experience in the region’s heritage, local food and produce and wellness culture.
It has luxury amenities including Hunter Lab hair and skincare and a luxe minibar curated with local items.
It also has a ‘Reflection Garden’ where you can learn about history in the area, or you can explore the historical surrounds of the Pentridge precinct.
The Interlude also has a wine bar, restaurant and room service available.
Between 1851 and 1997, the site operated as a prison.
Nicknamed ‘The Bluestone College,’ ‘Coburg College’ or the ‘College of Knowledge’, the former Pentridge Prison complex was the largest prison complex constructed in Victoria, Australia in the 19th century.
HM Prison Pentridge was established in 1850, located on crown land of 140 acres, 8km north of Melbourne, in the township of Pentridge, known today as Coburg.
The prison officially closed as part of the government’s decision to privatise prisons and most prisoners were relocated to HM Prison Barwon.
The hotel combines the historical foundations of the site with modern trimmings
The Interlude has 19 suites in total, each a combination of several former prison cells
In 1999, the State Government of Victoria sold Pentridge to independent real estate developers.
In 2023 when it first opened, the hotel built on the site promised to be ‘the world’s first urban wellness retreat set in a converted prison’.
The Interlude hotel has also expressed that the land on which Pentridge was built was a sacred area for the Wurundjeri people, Indigenous custodians of the Melbourne area.
As such, a ceremonial cleansing of the entire site took place before the hotel opened to the public.
