A 130-year-old jail cell at the notorious Pentridge Prison in Coburg, Melbourne, is set to go to public auction for the first time later this year. Cell 120 in D Division is expected to sell for around $90,000, with plans to repurpose it as a storage room.
The 2-by-3-metre cell, listed by Ray White Coburg, has drawn attention for its unusual nature. On ABC Melbourne radio, a former prisoner described the sale as 'bizarre' and shared his memories of the infamous prison, which operated from the 1850s until its closure in 1997.
Pentridge Prison housed some of Australia's most notorious criminals, including bushranger Ned Kelly. The sale of the cell reflects a broader trend of repurposing historic prison sites, though the former inmate expressed discomfort at the commercialization of such a space.
The auction is expected to proceed later this year, with the cell marketed as a unique storage opportunity. The property's small size and historical significance are likely to attract both collectors and investors.
