HM Prison Risdon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| HM Prison Risdon | |
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| Location: | Risdon Vale, Tasmania |
| Status: | Operational |
| Classification: | Maximum Security |
| Capacity: | 280 |
| Managed by: | ? |
HM Prison Risdon is a prison facility located in Risdon Vale, Tasmania, Australia. The prison is nicknamed The Pink Palace. The prison was opened in 1960 when male prisoners moved from the Campbell Street Gaol in central Hobart. Female prisoners were moved to the Risdon complex three years later. When built, the buildings were painted pale pink, leading to the prison's nick-name 'the Pink Palace'.
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[edit] Controversy
In 1967 a fire started by prisoners almost totally destroyed the workshop complex. It was rebuilt with prison labour.
During a 4 month period of 1999, five men died whilst imprisoned at Risdon.
On 7 May 2005, male prisoners took a prison officer and several other inmates hostage to protest against poor conditions in the prison, demanding the resignation of Tasmanian Attorney-General Judy Jackson and the public servant in charge of prisons. The siege ended on May 9, 2005.
On 16 April 2006, Easter Sunday, prisoners took keys from a female prison officer and a 20 hour siege ensued ending the next day. The ostensible reason for the action was the quality of food served to inmates.
Tasmania's Attorney-General has called the prison an "appalling facility".
[edit] Notable current and former prisoners
- David Bellamy
- Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read
- Martin Bryant
- John Marsden, writer (held for 1 day)
- Paul Smith, actor
[edit] See also
[edit] External link
- No Safe Place Four Corners story on Risdon.
 Tasmanian prisons |
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| Campbell Street Gaol | Cascades Female Factory | Hayes Prison Farm | Hobart Remand Centre | Launceston Remand Centre | Port Arthur | HM Prison Risdon | Risdon Women's Prison | |
