If you’re a wine connoisseur, crime seeker or historicist (or all three), then Pentridge Prison is calling you. This Coburg location is offering tours every Thursday and Saturday led by former warden Vaughn Ruddick through the D Division. The jail cells have been creatively transformed into classy wine cellars by two wine enthusiasts Paul Tardivel and Michael Woodworth who bought the heritage bluestone building in 2018.
The cells are jam-packed with over 2000 bottles, ambient lighting and are temperature controlled to ensure the wine remains in perfect condition to be stored and drunk. The tour allows people to soak up the history of the prison, which was home to some of Australia’s most infamous criminals Ned Kelly and Chopper Read, while also having the opportunity to purchase wine. The 90-minute spine-tingling tour provides an insight into the lives of the prisoners locked in their cells, although now, it’s among thousands of bottles of fine wine.
So if this is up your alley, book in quick and get your history fix because let’s face it...wine should always be on the cards, no matter the location.
The Details
What: Pentridge Wine and Crime
Where: Pentridge Cellars, 4 Wardens Walk, Coburg
When: Thursdays and Saturdays, 11 am
For more info, click here.
Speaking of history, Queen Vic Market is changing its trading hours for the first time in 20 years.
Image credit: Supplied