"They cleaned them for the first time since 2006 on the 10th of September, but everything else has remained the same," he told Victoria's Supreme Court on Monday.
The 36-year-old murderer who was jailed over the daylight shooting of Kadir Ors in 2016 has sued the Department of Justice in his fight for more freedom in custody.
His barrister Sarala Fitzgerald alleged he had not been allowed to be in the open air for at least an hour each day or get dressed in private after strip-searches, and had been held in solitary confinement for 18 months.
The department's barrister Liam Brown objected to Marrogi's allegations, saying Justice Claire Harris can make her own judgment on the open-air claim during the court's prison visit on Tuesday.
He rejected Marrogi hadn't been able to dress in private, and defended keeping him in solitary confinement for the security and welfare of the entire prison.
Barwon Prison general manager Dale Slater on Monday conceded the prison yards Marrogi was allowed to frequent were cleaned with a high-pressure hose, which wasn't part of the prison's regular cleaning regime.
"You've had them cleaned so they will look better for the view," Ms Fitzgerald put to him.
"I think that's one of the reasons," he replied.
Marrogi appeared via video link from the prison, where he gave evidence about being permitted to be outside his cell for "more than an hour now", accessing the day room and two yards.
He revealed, in the past two months, he had been able to mix with a second prisoner after not having had human contact "for a long time".
"I feel happier. Just doesn't change that I'm still not open-air. I prefer to be in mainstream with everyone else, where I can mix with people and go outside and exercise," he said.
Corrections Victoria's Assistant Commissioner for sentence management Jennifer Hosking said Marrogi was separated due to the nature of his alleged offending, the victim's associates and the media attention.
She said he was regularly and randomly moved from cells due to his high escape risk.
In March 2019 and April 2020, there were considerations to reintegrate Marrogi with other prisoners.
Ms Hosking said Marrogi declined to attend his 2019 meeting and his 2020 meeting was deferred due to an ongoing police investigation.
She maintained it was just an exploratory process, which didn't mean separation was no longer needed.
Ms Hosking disputed Marrogi's claim that management was influenced in its decision to keep him locked down due to media interest.
"It's about the effect of that interest on the perceptions of other prisoners," she said.
"Prisoners will read reporting, they will make decisions, they will assume things."
Referencing discrepancies in the prison's strip search register, Ms Fitzgerald asked if Mr Slater was aware Marrogi had not been allowed to dress in private after those searches.
"I've learned that there have been occasions where that hasn't happened," he said.
Marrogi is serving a 32-year prison sentence for drug trafficking and the shooting murder of Mr Ors.
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