Established in 1851, Pentridge is a state significant, heritage listed former prison site. The prison officially closed in 1997 and was sold by the Victorian Government in 1999. With a vision to reactivate the site and open up its heritage buildings to the local community the prison was purchased in a derelict state by the Shayher Group in 2013. The adaptive reuse of Pentridge has been ongoing for over 10 years and has involved the demolition of H Division (labour yards) and J Division to make way for housing development. A number of large interventions to the outer perimeter gaol walls have also been made to facilitate hotel and residential apartment use. Pentridge now houses a cinema, bar (Brew Dog), an IGA, hotels (Adina Hotel, The Interlude), restaurants, wine bar, events spaces, fine food outlets (Cielo Gelateria, Mela Patisserie), retail (florist, barber, massage, beauty parlour) and more.

As a result of over 10 years of adaptive reuse efforts by the site’s owner Pentridge has been converted from a dilapidated and derelict site to one of Melbourne’s cultural assets, and as a result the iconic bluestone walls of Pentridge live on to see a new era.