One keeps asking whether the producers and writers of Prisoner had a general plan of the whole prison, or if the different locations where invented every time one of them was needed for the plot? Many Prisoner fans are known to have tried to put drawings of the whole prison together, but to my knowledge no one has really succeded in this yet, and probably it is an impossible task due to lack of enough information about it. There can only be qualified guesses about the general look of the prison.
Anyway, the list in this page is a collection of all mentions of Cell Blocks during the episodes, grouped by the blocks and sorted by episode. Since Prisoner contained so many shifting situations and events, it is difficult to accomplish a completely correct list. I may have missed or misunderstood some cases.
In the beginning of the series, it seems the producers and writers had no idea at all about the different Cell Blocks. There were mentions of corridors, divisions, floors, sections, wings and so on. It was in the period of around episodes 50 to 100 that a system of Cell Blocks divided by letters appeared.
Since Cell Block H was the main scene for the series, I only mention it symbolically in the list.
Except for the Cell Blocks, there are some other areas in the prison where women live for a shorter or longer time: Maternity, Infirmary, Solitary and Isolation. Prisoner fans like to discuss how many blocks and prisoners there are in Wentworth. I have added some comments about all this at the end of my list.
Early episodes
017 After Lynn Warner's suicide attempt, Erica Davidson, in phone to the Main Gate, directs the ambulance crew to second floor.
028 Erica Davidson: "If we move Catherine Roberts in with Jordan and Brindley on the third floor, then we can put Yates in the single cell on the second."
029 Meg Jackson says that Anne Yates can be moved to another wing.
048 Joyce Martin is moved to D Block. This is the first mention of one of the Blocks.
064 Jim Fletcher mentions Block 3.
066 Vera Bennett directs Officers to different parts of the prison: "Knox to D Block, Meadows to Maternity Wing, Watson to Workshop."
078 Vera Bennett to Erica Davidson: "No report of misdemeanours in Block C. Block H run report for not making their beds at the correct time, contravention of rule 29 subsection 3." This is the first time Block H is mentioned and from now on I think we can say that the Cell Block system is established (although Meg Jackson refers to C Division in episode 79).
Cell Block A
167 Chrissie Latham is transferred to A Block.
185 Margo Gaffney is transferred to A Division.
187 Chrissie Latham is transferred back from A Block.
226 Judy Bryant has a bottle of homebrew that was a present from A Block for her daughter's birthday.
257 Margo Gaffney is transferred back from A Block.
266 Janet Conway to Meg Morris: "I was just going to patrol A Block".
266 A little later, in the garden, Colleen Powell to Janet Conway: "I get Mrs Barry to cover for you in A Block".
514 At mail call Joyce Barry mixes Lexie Patterson up with Shirley Patterson in A Block.
538 Wenthworth Mother: "You never guess who I saw down the toilet. Mary from A Block."
639 Janet Williams is transferred to A Block.
648 Rodney Adams to Ann Reynolds: "Well, about 40 minutes after I've been down to check C Block, I was on my way back to reception when I heard some more nonsense down at A Block(?) and I went down to check."
655 Rodney Adams tells Ann Reynolds that Solitary is full after a fight in A Block.
668 Marty Jackson to Joyce Pringle (about a group of male prisoners): "All cleared for this lot to A Block."
668 Ann Reynolds to Ernest Craven: "You are needed in A Block, Mr Craven."
668 Alice Jenkins to Brumby Tucker: "Are you saying the blokes came here. They have to be up in A Block."
668 Joyce Pringle to Alice Jenkins: "But it's only to take some linnen through to A Block."
668 Marty Jackson: "You'll have your break now?" Joyce Pringle: "Well, when I've sorted out the linnen problem in A Block."
668 Joyce Pringle to Ann Reynolds: "It's Mullins and Jones. I left them unattended in A Block while I took Jenkins back."
668 Ernest Craven: "Parties. What the hell does The Department think they are up to." Joan Ferguson: "You can be sure they haven't heard what just happened in A Block."
668 Marty Jackson (to the women): "I came to tell you that Mrs Reynolds has organized a social get together with the new intake from A Block."
675 Joan Ferguson to Rodney Adams: "Ring through to A Block and get Bradley and Swan."
675 Joan Ferguson to Rodney Adams: "I'm going to check A Block. I'll be back in half an hour."
678 Alice Jenkins: "The only thing I'll be thinking about is them guys in A Block."
680 Alice Jenkins: "From Harry, where did you get it?" Rita Connors: "One of the girls in A Block slipped it to me."
690 Rodney Adams to Tom Lucas: "Well, I have been down at A Block."
Cell Block B
115 Erica Davidson to Vera Bennett (in telephone from her office to reception): "Phone through to Jock Stewart in Block B and ask him to attend to Mr Bone."
322 Margo Gaffney asks for a transfer to B Block.
420 Joan Ferguson: "I have already phoned B (or D?) Block, they are going to send over a couple of male officers."
437 Minnie Donovan is transferred to B Division.
441 Helen Smart is transferred to B Block.
462 Heather Rodgers stops a fight in B Block.
462 Dot Farrer is transferred from B Block.
517 Joan Ferguson: "Mrs Slattery, you are due back. I meet you at the gates to B Block."
563 Nora Flynn mentions Jeannie at B Block who has PMS, like Daphne Graham.
567 Nora Flynn: "You are crazy, you know that?" Lexie Patterson: " Just having a little bit of fun." Nora: "At whose expense? Did you ever stop to think about that?" Lexie: "Got a laugh, didn't it? Girls up in B Block loved it."
588 Meg Morris to Ann Reynolds: "Joan is questioning H Block and Pat is covering B Block."
614 Rita Connors: "Now, I'm sure we all heard about Robyn up in B Block committed suicide last week."
621 Janet Williams to Kath Maxwell: "It took a real lot of talking to convince the sheilas in B Block that you were good for credits."
633 Meg Morris: "See you later. I'm off to B Block."
650 Joyce Pringle to Ann Reynolds: "I've also got these two transfers you wanted for B Block and one here for H Block."
651 Ann Reynolds to James Dwyer: "You're not going to check the renovations in B Block?"
668 Ann Reynolds to Officer Hagen: "Grant and Dobbs can share the end cell. The other five have to be fitted into B Block somehow."
Cell Block C
078 Vera Bennett to Erica Davidson: "No report of misdemeanours in Block C."
079 Meg Jackson: "There is a woman, I think in C Division, who speaks Portugeese."
092 Paul Reid to Roslyn Coulson: "You won't be on your own. There's Jean Hallam and Margaret Windom, they are from Block C."
099 Pat O'Connell to Bea Smith: "C Block is a hundred percent behind Judy."
104 Lizzie Birdsworth spends one night in C Block.
162 Helen Smart: "Have you heard the news about Mrs. Davidson? She has resigned. It is all over C and D Block."
168 Bea Smith dictates and Lizzie Birdsworth writes in a letter to the Ombudsman: "Gillespie also plays favourites. There is a girl in C Block who did him a favour."
199 Phyllis Hunt tells Judy Bryant that Margo Gaffney has gone to C Block.
267 Bea Smith jokes (when Susie Driscoll gets stuck in the air ducts and makes noices): "You want to telephone someone in C Block, just dial STAD." Mouse: "What?" Bea: "Straight Through the Air Duct."
299 Steve Fawkner to Joan Ferguson: "I'm wanted over in C Block."
326 Erica Davidson during the great fire: "What about C Block?"
350 Colleen Powell to Joyce Barry: "Would you go and relieve Helen O'Shea in C Block, please?"
416 Ann Reynolds reads out the transfers: "Swann and Bannister from D Block, Kennedy and Duran from C and Brett and Hewitt from H."
537 3 Barnhurst prisoners are placed (besides the 5 on H Block): Groub and Osicka on C Block, Coulter on D Block.
569 Frank Bolton at a Union meeting: "Are all the blocks represented?" Pat Slattery: "All except C Block."
592 Jessie Windom to her friend Mabel: "She is in C Block. Now, I want you to go and see her today."
592 Lou Kelly: "I just got word from Lil Spencer up in C Block."
593 Pat Slattery: "Give it to me. I'll drop it in on my way to C Block."
593 Lou Kelly to Alice Jenkins: "Do you want to take on half C Block, do it on your own."
594 Lou Kelly to Eve Wilder (about Jessie Windom): "Look, I don't care how many mates she has got up in C Block."
600 Bob Moran: "Gates to the administration, C Block and delivery way, is that it?"
614 Janet Williams to Ann Reynolds: "Can't you sit me in C Block or something?"
617 Alice Jenkins: "There is a bunch of women from C Block on ? duty."
621 Janet Williams to Kath Maxwell: "Got it from a sheila in C Block."
621 Janet Williams to Rita Connors (about Kath Maxwell): "Just showing her the ropes, just in case the ? in C Block hustle."
624 Joan Ferguson to Ann Reynolds: "I have just come from C Block, trouble up there, Merle Jones."
625 Lexie Patterson: "Guess who I just saw. Loony Jones from C Block been transferred here."
625 Joan Ferguson to Kath Maxwell (about Merle Jones): "A little while ago, one of the women in C Block decided to tear one of her comics."
631 Meg Morris: "We have just come from C Block."
646 Meg Morris: "I also heard about the fire in the laundry." Marty Jackson: "Well, I was miles away looking after the new intake at C Block."
646 Ann Reynolds: "Appearently some of the women in C Block have forged visitor's passes."
646 Meg Morris: "I be over in C Block when you are finished."
648 Rodney Adams to Officer Radcliffe: "I am just to go down to check C Block."
648 Rodney Adams to Ann Reynolds: "Well, about 40 minutes after I've been down to check C Block, I was on my way back to reception when I heard some more nonsense down at A Block(?) and I went down to check."
649 Spider Simpson is in C Block.
649 Kath Maxwell pays a C Block woman to light a fire in Spider Simpson's cell.
650 Lorelei Wilkinson: "I wonder how it started." Lexie Patterson: "A couple of fires up in C Block."
650 Spider Simpson is transferred from C Block.
655 Rita Connors says to Joan Ferguson that the women are celebrating Spider Simpson's birthday because the girls in C Block didn't want to give her a party.
679 Ann Reynolds: "There will be some workmen at C Block this afternoon, ladies, so that area will be out of bounce for a while."
679 Alice Jenkins to Merle Jones: "I am just going down to have a dig at some blokes from C Block."
682 Ann Reynolds: "Well, the extension to C Block is going extremely well."
683 Ann Reynolds to Alice Jenkins: "You and Connors have been more than curious about the extension down at C Block."
685 Martha Dimmock is from C Block.
692 Alice Jenkins to Rita Connors: "C Block is out there having a barbie and D Block is having quire practice."
Cell Block D
048 Joyce Martin is moved to D Block. This is the first mention of one of the Blocks.
066 Vera Bennett directs Officers to different parts of the prison: "Knox to D Block, Meadows to Maternity Wing, Watson to Workshop."
092 Jim Fletcher: "Vera, have you seen Paul Reid? He is supposed to have a parole report on Myers in D Block."
114 The homebrew is in D Block.
127 Doreen Burns to Margo Gaffney (at the factory): "Did you hear about the case of hepatitis they had in D Block?"
162 Helen Smart: "Have you heard the news about Mrs. Davidson? She has resigned. It is all over C and D Block."
173 Water leak in D Block.
189 Chrissie Latham mentions Phyllis at D Block.
213 Dinah Walford is placed at D Block.
215 Dinah Walford says she was in D Block when Kathy Hall was attacked.
216 Vera Bennett to Terry Harrison: "Did you pick the cleaning detail for D Block?"
224 Vera Bennett says the women's party is heard all the way to D Block.
224 Colleen Powell: "Well, that's D Block settled for the night."
231 The women listen to news about Erica Davidson's kidnapping on a radio from D Block.
231 The women at D Block make a diversion riot.
232 Joyce Barry to Jim Fletcher: "D Block is under control."
246 Lizzie Birdsworth is moved to D Block.
246 Sandy Edwards tells the women to take over the Reception and D Block at the beginning of the riot.
247 Margo Gaffney to Sandy Edwards: "News in D Block was that you've taken over."
248 Margo Gaffney to Marie Winter: "I've been stuck in D Block since you arrived so I haven't had a chance to say hello."
251 Steve Fawkner to Sandy Edwards in Solitary: "Mrs Powell is over in D Block."
262 Sister Franklin is called to D Block.
268 Hazel Kent is moved to D Block.
269 Steve Fawkner wonders if Meg Morris not should be at D Block.
280 Colleen Powell orders Meg Morris to patrol D Block.
280 Bea Smith: "These papers should go to D Block."
287 Faye Quinn works in corridor, D Block.
300 Erica Davidson: "Do you know where Miss Ferguson is?" Colleen Powell: "Yes, she is patroling D Block."
324 Colleen Powell places Officers Ferguson and Barfield at H and D Block.
336 Bea Smith when Meg Morris writes points in the new points system: "God, must be a pack of goodie goodies in D Block..."
340 Faye Quinn: "The Freak moved Joyce to Block D and me here."
351 Joan Ferguson to Receptionist Heather: "The Governor wants the drawings of D Block."
352 Faye Quinn is transferred to D Block.
362 Meg Morris says that Officers Barfield and Hall are with the police and the narcotics dogs in D Block.
366 Joan Ferguson: "What the hell is going on here? I could hear everything down in D Block."
375 Ann Reynolds to Colleen Powell: "I had to go to D Block."
415 Wally Wallace: "I just finished giving D Section their pottery lesson."
416 Ann Reynolds reads out the transfers: "Swann and Bannister from D Block, Kennedy and Duran from C and Brett and Hewitt from H."
419 Joan Ferguson: "I had someone transferred over from D (or B?) Division."
427 Erica Davidson tells Ann Reynolds that Colleen Powell is in D Block.
428 Colleen Powell to Meg Morris about Belinda Johns: "Anything is worth a try. Have her moved to D Block after the visit."
436 Frances Harvey: "Minnie and Bobbie are back." Myra Desmond: "Where did you get that from?" Frances: "Val Buchanan in D Block."
462 Ann Reynolds: "I heard Dot Farrer was the cause of it all." Meg Morris: "Again. That's why she was moved down form D Block, wasn't it?"
488 Phil Cleary: "I got held up down in D Block."
506 Bobbie Mitchell to Myra Desmond: "D and E Block, Workshop, Maternity. Honestly, everybody wants you back."
537 3 Barnhurst prisoners are placed (besides the 5 on H Block): Groub and Osicka on C Block, Coulter on D Block.
541 Ruth Ballinger: "I want the names of everyone soon to be released, but I only want to know about the young attractive ones." Lou Kelly: " Sure. Patterson and Graham down this block and there's quite a few in D Block."
579 Joyce Barry (in telephone): "No, Sue, she is in D Block this morning."
603 Joan Ferguson: "By the way, your mates Donnelly and Stone have been bundled off to D Block."
603 Joan Ferguson: "There is one of the toilets in D Block packing up."
653 Pamela Madigan to Ann Reynolds: "I'd like to start work with those two up in D Block right away."
655 Ann Reynolds to Rodney Adams (about Kath Maxwell): "There's an empty cell in D Corridor. Put her in there, conditions as Solitary."
692 Alice Jenkins to Rita Connors: "C Block is out there having a barbie and D Block is having quire practice."
Cell Block E
236 Andrea Hennessy is transferred to Block E.
506 Bobbie Mitchell to Myra Desmond: "D and E Block, Workshop, Maternity. Honestly, everybody wants you back."
661 Spider Simpson: "Mrs Pringle, where is she?" Mervin Pringle: "E Block, night shift."
Cell Block F
279 Judy Bryant tells Susie Driscoll that Isolation is F Block (or in F Block?).
Cell Block G
251 Erica Davidson to Steve Fawkner during the officers' strike: "Mrs Powell is taking the east wing, so I suggest you control blocks G, H and Solitary."
Cell Block H
078 Vera Bennett to Erica Davidson: "No report of misdemeanours in Block C. Block H run report for not making their beds at the correct time, contravention of rule 29 subsection 3." This is the first time Block H is mentioned.
Cell Block I
686 Rita Connors calls the new Reward Flat for Cell Block I.
Some more comments
093 Bea Smith is moved to Isolation Block, the first time Erica Davidson sends someone there.
098 Paul Reid to Judy Bryant: "Judy, there are half a dozen wings at Wentworth. You could find yourself in anyone of them. And even if you did find yourself in H Block you probably wouldn't see too much of Sharon."
102 Meg Jackson and Judy Bryant in the garden point up towards The Solitary Cell Block at top floor.
326 Colleen Powell orders the women to line up outside during the big Wentworth fire: "Maternity, A, B, C..."
475 Ann Reynolds says to Ray Proctor that the prison has 40 cells.
499 Ray Proctor prepares meals for 80 persons.
524 Mervin Pringle says he is cooking 40 meals.
567 Nora Flynn says that 50 women are loosing their priviligies because of Lexie Patterson's newspaper article.
569 Ann Reynolds wonders how 47 women will survive without food.
621 Kath Maxwell to Rita Connors and Nancy McCormack: "There are 25 others in this damned block."
661 Joan Ferguson says that Kath Maxwell's shop has 70 customers.
687 Vicki McPherson says that Mervin Pringle usually cooks for 70 women.