A former inmate of Pentridge Prison in Melbourne, Australia has purchased his old cell, which is being converted into a wine cellar.

Graeme Alford – who used to be a barrister – served eight years in Pentridge for armed robbery and embezzlement. He was released in 1980, UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph reports.

Pentridge, which was in 1967 the site of the country’s last hanging, closed in 1997. The grave of outlaw Ned Kelly also lies within its former walls. It is being reincarnated as a storage facility for rare wine valued at A$50m (£22m).

Alford, who became a motivational speaker and wrote the best-selling ‘triumph over adversity’ memoir Never Give Up in 2003, has in fact given up alcohol and gambling, both of which he was addicted to. He said he purchased the cell as an investment.

Written by Maggie Rosen

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Maggie Rosen
Maggie Rosen
Decanter Magazine, Wine Writer & Editor

Maggie Rosen is a wine journalist, editor and author, hailing from New York but based in London. Aside from Decanter, she has contributed to the Financial Times, The Drinks Business, Harpers Wine and Spirit Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, The World of Fine Wine and Meininger's Wine Business International. She is also a member of the Circle of Wine Writers.