Despite its relatively short history, Tasmania's Risdon Prison has become one of Australia's most notorious jails.
Not only is it known for housing many infamous inmates, including Port Arthur killer Martin Bryant and criminal-turned-celebrity Mark "Chopper" Read, the 280 bed jail came under fire in 1999 after the suicide deaths of several men over four months.
When the prison was opened in 1960, it was hailed as a state-of-the-art facility.
Built with an open-air rectangular design, there was no external wall and prisoners lived in single occupancy cells with toilets and hand basins, heating and access to local radio stations.
A new wall was erected soon after its completion following escapes by prisoners.
The capacity of the prison was increased during construction, but the new plans did not allow for larger facilities such as workshops and recreation space.
Seven years after it opened, the workshop complex was almost destroyed by a fire started by prisoners and it took three years to rebuild - with most work done by the inmates.
In 1997, Martin Bryant became the prison's most notorious inmate, condemned to spend the rest of his life there for killing 35 people at Port Arthur in 1996.
Other infamous inmates include Read, former international cricket umpire and convicted child molester Steve Randell and Tasmania's longest- serving prisoner, child killer James O'Neill.
Conditions within the maximum/medium security prison have been an ongoing issue.
In 1999, five men, three with known psychiatric illnesses, were found dead in their cells. Four had been hanged, the other died of undetermined causes.
At the time, lawyer Simon Copper said Risdon was "cages within yards" and "concrete, steel, floors washed away by repeated scrubbing so they are down to the stone".
The suicides prompted an inquiry by the Tasmanian Ombudsman and a Deaths in Custody inquest by the state coroner.
Both inquiries were critical of the state Labor government and prison management practices.
The Tasmanian government has since announced a $90 million redevelopment of the jail, including three more medium security units housing 84 prisoners in 12 separate units.
The redevelopment, due for completion next year, will also include a workshop with rehabilitation facilities, while the existing facility will be redeveloped as a minimum security jail.
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