Tuesday 25 August 2015

Urban Revival Market, Pentridge, Coburg

On Saturday the sun shone kindly on our wintery world.  Sylvia and I hopped on our bikes and rose along to the Urban Revival Market in the D Division Block of the former Pentridge Prison.  This was an opportunity to see inside the old gaol and check out some artisan market stalls.

Pentridge Prison (aka "Coburg College") was built in 1850 and officially closed in 1997.  D Divison has been a female prison, the site of the last hanging in Australia and a remand prison.  It now is available for weddings, kids parties and sleepovers.  And hosts the occasional market like this Urban Revival one which was on the ground floor of three levels of cells.  It was both unsettling and impressive when we turned the corner and saw the rows of cells before us.

One of the first stalls we saw was the Luda Vintageware.  They had old crockery, vintage fly spray cans and a pile of suitcase.  I was most amused by an old bag of silverware that looked like exactly the sort of thing that might have helped criminals find their way in here when it was a functioning prison.

I enjoyed looking at some of the old crockery and linen.  Sylvia loved rifling through the marbles and sampling a Minions banana chocolate macaron from the friendly Colette at Chocolette Patisserie.

As we walked along looking at the stalls, we also peeked in the old cells.  Most were empty.  A few were dumping grounds for odd stuff like what looked like a huge deflated blow up mattress.  Some of the stall holder used them for storing goods.

One stall holder even had their wares on display in a cell.

The market didn't have much in the way of food.  Macarons, a Silician stall and the Twisted Mac stall.  We shared a plain macaroni cheese ($8) and it was so delicious.  I was pleased to find something simple that Sylvia could eat.  You could also buy macaroni cheese with fancy toppings.

We ate in what I think was the old exercise yard, complete with a watch tower and barbed wire at the top of the walls.  It was the least impressive part of the market because there weren't many stalls there and at one side was a heap of rubble.  We arrived as a band was ending.  It might have been a bit more lively if the music was still playing.

As it was, we headed back inside to check out more old crockery, buttons and fun socks.  E had been at a gig and was late to join us.  He was pleased to see some crates of used vinyl LPs and found himself a Peter Paul and Mary record to purchase.

This necklace was my favourite item on display.  The swirls of green and purple in the glass were so gorgeous.  I didn't buy it.  I probably should have.  I might not have worn it a lot but would love to see it catching the light in a window.

It was great to get out on a sunny winter afternoon and interesting to see inside the old prison.  It is very atmospheric.

This Urban Revival Market was a one off.  This is perhaps just as well.  There have been a couple of attempts to hold regular markets here but neither have gained the traction they need.  However as this area of Coburg continues to develop, perhaps the time will come when it is viable to have a regular Pentridge market.  Meanwhile there are a couple of cafes in the old Pentridge complex: the Glass Den and the Boot Factory.  I hope to visit and write about these some time.

20 comments:

  1. Interesting! I was just talking about Pentridge the other day - my coordinator at work used to live in an apartment inside there, she said it had quite a weird vibe. I'd like to check it out some time - will have to try the markets.

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    1. Thanks Caeli - there was a comment I saw online from someone saying a similar thing about the apartments - I have ridden through them at night and they felt weird because no one was about. Am sure there will be more markets here

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  2. So often I see items that appeal to me the way that swirly glass one appealed to you. And if I don't buy them, I think about it later. But stuff mounts up so much, there's too much of it in the house, and I'm better off with a memory. Flea markets or so-called antique markets can be so much fun, except for the occasional regret!

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    1. Thanks Mae - we have so much stuff at home that I am trying to be restrained when I see tempting items - my brother used to joke to his girlfriend that they would buy stuff on the way back - and by then they would have forgotten it. It is fun to look.

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  3. I love seeing pics and posts about markets especially in other countries! Looks like you had a lot of eye candy and some really great finds too!

    http://myblissfuljourney.com

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    1. Thanks Jennifer - it wasn't a market full of lots of stuff I wanted to buy (trying to be restrained) but it was nice to browse

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  4. Wow I love seeing all of your photos... especially of the mac and cheese! Yum!!!

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    1. Thanks Lucy - I hope those mac and cheese guys are at more markets that I visit

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  5. it's a bit strange with some of the markets, isn't it-- some seem to have the recipe for success but you go there and there's no atmosphere so you're not surprised when there aren't many people. I still want to do a tour of Pentridge one day and if I'd been free on Saturday I would have liked to have checked out the market.

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    1. Thanks Faye - I think farmers markets have worked well because people need to keep coming back for food but artisan markets probably have less pull to keep people coming back. I am interested in doing a tour of pentridge some time but it was interesting to see inside - D Division seems to be set up for tourist with some little signs on walls giving information about the history.

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  6. I love how you and Sylvia get out and about on your bikes and do so much together. I didn't know you could visit the old gaol - if those walls could talk! And I just read your comment about 'the dress'. I think my daughter is one of those who will never get it out of her system - she's very keen on clothes, clothes, clothes xx

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    1. Thanks Charlie - we haven't been about on our bikes for ages - we aren't on bikes so much in winter but I hope come spring we have some more rides. I was never quite into clothes and I think Sylvia is more than I was so goodness knows how she will be when she gets to Arabella's age :-)

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  7. Hehe I wish we had something like this place for a Halloween party! The pendant is really beautiful :)

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    1. Thanks Lorraine - this would be the perfect place for a halloween party - wonder if they have ghosts there - am sure they do

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  8. What a great market - I wish I had known it was on.

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    1. Thanks Cakelaw - I was glad I managed to make it as there have been a few markets there I didn't get to

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  9. What an amazing idea for a market location. WA has good tours of old prisons (Fremantle especially) but I really love the idea of an occasional market in one. I'm glad you could make it!

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    1. Thanks Kari - yep, I love markets in quirky locations. I remember doing a tour of Fremantle prison years ago and still remember it as being an eye opener. Pentridge seems to have events on occasionally but it is hard to keep up with it.

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  10. What an interesting location to host a urban market, fantastic in fact of making the most of places otherwise not utilised much. I love looking. The crockery would get me most interested. I' want some mac and cheese now, rainy weather here and need warming up.Plus crappy week at work, need cheering up.

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    1. Thanks Shaheen - we have had some cold and wet weather this week - so I can't send any warm weather your way :-) but hopefully warmer days on the way for us. Would love to send you some mac and cheese too - it was really good and they had some spicy options that I am sure you would enjoy. It is good that they are using pentridge for events - quite a lot of it is being developed into apartments so I am glad some of it is still open to the public.

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