TFE Hotels officially launches Pentridge Precinct venues on 26th anniversary of Prison closure
Hotel, bar, restaurant & event venue opening is yet another sign that Melbourne’s industry is continuing its post-pandemic recovery
TFE Hotels has officially launched their 106-room Adina Hotel, Olivine wine bar, North & Common restaurant, Chapter Place events venue, and the experience-led urban retreat, The Interlude, on the 26th anniversary of the closure of HM Prison Pentridge,
Celebrating the site’s transformation into a billion-dollar dining and entertainment precinct, TFE Hotels’ Regional General Manager for Victoria, Stephen Moore, said the unveiling of the billion-dollar Pentridge precinct was yet another sign that Melbourne’s tourism industry was continuing its post-pandemic recovery.
The city has hosted some of its largest-ever events in the past year.
In that regard, he said new product offerings, like Olivine and The Interlude, were focused on offering bespoke experiences in the hope of encouraging return visits to the city’s creative north.
Moore said this morning’s ribbon cutting, and ceremonial opening of a Heritage-listed red door into the converted prison wing, signified the official launch of TFE’ venues at the Heritage-listed Pentridge site.
The launch followed a private event last week where Wurundjeri Elder, Uncle Bill Nicholson, conducted a Welcome to Country and ceremonial cleansing of the site.
“This land was traditionally a gathering place and source of water, plants, and animals for the Wurundjeri people,” Moore said.
“So, it was fitting that Uncle Bill conducted a Welcome to Country and spiritual cleansing of a place that had a lot of sad and negative energy in its former life as a prison.
“In our eyes, the transformation of Pentridge has now come full circle, and can officially begin a new chapter as Melbourne’s newest dining and entertainment precinct.”
Local MP for Pascoe Vale, Anthony Cianflone, said the Pentridge Visitor and Entertainment Precinct was a game changer for Coburg.
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Wine Bar, cuisine, wellness, accommodation, entertainment, history, culture, and tourism – all of which means a growing visitor economy, more jobs and skills for our community,” Anthony said. “Attracting a whole new and unprecedented market of international, interstate, and intrastate tourists to Pentridge, will have significant flow on benefits for surrounding small businesses, including along Sydney Road, Central Coburg, and the broader northern corridor.
“While it’s hard to describe the exceptional experience this new destination in the heart of Melbourne’s north has to offer, it’s not as hard as a real night in the original B Division.”
Mr Cianflone said the $1b Pentridge redevelopment, along with the State Government’s world-class new Coburg Train Station and Level Crossing Project, would be a catalyst for the ongoing renewal and revitalisation of Coburg as a future jobs hub for Melbourne’s north.
“As the State Member of Parliament, and a lifetime local who grew up on the other side of the iconic bluestone walls while the prison was still operational, I am honoured and humbled to be part of the opening of this new chapter in the history of Pentridge and Coburg”.
General Manager Jesse Kornoff said the 106-room Adina Apartment Hotel Pentridge Melbourne (which had its soft opening in February), Olivine wine bar and the eight Chapter Place events spaces had been very well received by locals and travellers alike.
“We’ve had people coming in and staying because they’re genuinely interested in seeing what’s been hiding behind the bluestone walls; others were part of conferences or held events in our unique event spaces; and others still were simply attracted to the sheer convenience of our brand-new hotel being located half-way between Melbourne’s CBD and the airport.”
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