Few would have thought that the prison that housed the notorious Mark “Chopper” Read would one day become a luxury urban retreat, but that is exactly what has happened, with The Interlude now open.

Housed within Pentridge’s billion-dollar lifestyle precinct in Coburg, this luxury rest-and-recreation facility was once the high-security HM Prison Pentridge.

Owned and developed by Shayher Group, The Interlude features just 19 suites, making it more suitable for incentives and rewards than large group travel. It offers a complete and holistic experience, with highly curated itineraries exploring North Melbourne’s food, wine, culture and history, created in partnership with the likes of Koko Black (chocolates); Impala & Peacock (tea) urban winery, Jamsheed (Melbourne’s first ever fully functioning winery, based in the south of Preston), and The National Trust.

The centrepiece of The Interlude is a subterranean swimming pool that took three months to construct due to the hard rock needed to cut through. In fact, much of this facility had to be engineered under unique circumstances, giving the overall hotel experience a truly unique quality.

Adjoining the hotel, Chapter Place can host any type of meeting, conference and event.