Y’know that little triangle of land outside Parliament Station, bordered by Spring and Macarthur Streets? There’s a fountain, some statues and palm trees (date palms from the Canary Islands – five of them, often hosting gossiping rosellas). That fountain was made by William Stanford in 1872 while he was in Pentridge for stealing horses. True. He promised to behave if he was allowed to cultivate his talents. It’s carved out of bluestone from the prison quarry, and took four years to complete. It so beguiled the powers that be, that Stanford was ‘discharged to freedom by remission’. He established a successful masonry business in Windsor (carving mostly headstones), married and lived happily ever after.

Have a look next time you're passing.