It opened its doors to convicts in 1845, and, located adjacent to the city courts and city police watch house, russell street soon became the heart of melbournes judicial and penal system. It remained an active gaol until its closure in 1929, and was the site of 3 hangings including that of infamous bush ranger, ned kelly. The old melbourne gaol will be closed to the public as of 12pm monday, march 23. This historic prison was the site of over 100 hangings. The old melbourne gaol is a former jail and current museum on russell street, in melbourne. It consists of a bluestone building and courtyard, and is located next to the old city police watch house and city courts buildings. It was the location of many executions, including ned kelly who was hanged at the prison in 1880. Old melbourne gaol sits at the northeastern corner of the central business district, its bluestone walls defying the modern apartment blocks above. Opened for the public on january 1, 1845, old melbourne gaol has been melbournes oldest detention center, momentous magistrates court and former police city watch house, and the spirit of crime, law and order in melbourne since the 1840s. On saturdays witness a theatrical performance on the life and legend of ned kelly.
Its located in russell street, melbourne, victoria, australia. Old melbourne gaol is a bleak setting but an interesting attraction nonetheless. Educational group tours at the old melbourne gaol national. You can visit three sites at the one location including the original gaol, former city watch house and also during school holiday periods you can visit court one of the old magistrates court. This book describes the history of the gaol and penal life in the 19th century. The records also include regional prisons for female prisoners only. Due to current health advice on social distancing, please contact the business for the most up to date information regarding opening times and services. Brace yourself for decades worth of bonestrumming tales. The building that once held victorias most notorious criminals is now one of melbournes oldest surviving. Old melbourne gaol simple english wikipedia, the free. The gaol housed some of melbournes most dangerous criminals from 1845 1924. Old melbourne gaol is one of melbournes big tourist attractions but weve only just visited recently because i think its more suitable for primary school kids and up.
Take a candlelight tour and learn about the ghosts and spirits that are said to haunt the halls of the old jail. Old melbourne gaol night tours a night in the watch house duration. A place of more than executions including infamous bushrangers ned kelly visitors can learn about the sites rich criminal history, experience what it was like for the men and women held there. I have visited old melbourne gaol thrice with a national trust membership this year, simply because there is so much to read and explore. Explore the halls at night with the hangman or if youre feeling especially brave, take an evening ghost tour. The old melbourne gaol is a former jail and current museum on russell street, in melbourne, victoria, australia.
We wont go into too many gory details but the gallows are still in place and you can see ned kellys death mask. Home to melbournes oldest prison, historic magistrates court and former police city watch house, russell street has been the. What other stories from the dark side will find their way into this performance. Visit old melbourne gaol on your trip to melbourne or. Old melbourne gaol melbourne, australia atlas obscura. From 1845 until its closure in 1924, the gaol held melbournes most dangerous criminals and is renowned being the location where infamous bushranger ned kelly was executed. See all 9 old melbourne gaol tickets and tours on tripadvisor. Our gaol tours make a lasting impact on all students who visit and provide an understanding of melbournes origins as a city built during the gold rush. A brief history of the old melbourne gaol located on russell street, the old melbourne gaol was once used to house victorias most notorious criminals, including bushranger ned kelly and gangster squizzy taylor. Visit old melbourne gaol on your trip to melbourne or australia. Old melbourne gaol is famous for being the place where many of australias infamous characters, including bushranger ned kelly and gangster squizzy taylor, spent time. The jail is suitable for guests with hearing impairment, from mild hearing loss to the profoundly deaf. At old melbourne gaol, see how australia handled its most notorious criminals many years ago. Students learn through the history of the gaol about the key moments in melbournes cultural and social history.
Book your tickets online for old melbourne gaol, melbourne. We then spent some time in the cell block absorbing as much of the atmosphere and life stories as we could. Built in 1800s the award winning old melbourne gaol enables visitors to immerse themselves in the stories or past inmates, experience being arrested in. The old melbourne gaol is a two minute walk from melbourne central station. Ghost tour at the old melbourne gaol, tour, melbourne. Visit the old melbourne gaol and the city watch house to walk in the footsteps of australias most dangerous criminals like infamous. The old melbourne gaol is a large, historic prison in melbourne, victoria, australia. His notoriety affirmed him as a polarising iconic figure in australian history, folk lore. Bookings have been cancelled for all night tours until may 1 and ticket. The old melbourne gaol was erected in stages between 1841 and 1864 by the public works department, and is one of the states most distinctive groups of bluestone buildings. Built in the mid 1800s, the old melbourne gaol was built on a hill overlooking the city of melbourne. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
Old melbourne gaol, attraction, melbourne, victoria, australia. B ookings have been cancelled for all night tours until may 1 and ticket holders have been fully refunded. This building was demolished when the magistrates court complex was built. Home to melbourne s oldest prison, historic magistrates court and former police city watch house, russell street has been the. Over many years, these stories come from visitors and staff alike. Most of australias notorious characters, like ned kelly and gangster squizzy taylor are known to have spent time within the. Night tours old melbourne gaol what stories would a hangman tell you if he was guiding you around the gaol, where he was the master of the rope. History, heritage and trivia old melbourne gaol in. Our goal is to do everything we can to help curb the spread of this outbreak in. Heres what we saw and didnt see on old melbourne gaol. Rmit building 11 old melbourne gaol rmit university. Following the governments announcement regarding the covid19 response efforts, all national trust properties in victoria, including the old. Old melbourne gaol is a national trust heritagelisted property that tells the stories of the men and women who lived and died there, from the gold rush period right up.
Located on russell street in what is now the citys cbd, the construction of old melbourne gaol began in 1839. The central registers of male and female prisoners 18551942 cover individuals held at melbourne area prisons collingwood, carlton and williamstown stockades, the eastern gaol, the hulks and pentridge. It quotes charles duff, who in 1928 wrote his book, a handbook on hanging. Inside the gaol, dangerous criminals were held alongside petty offenders, the homeless and the mentally ill. Melbourne was first settled in 1835 and its first small gaol was built in 1839. It is now a museum, though it was a former prison hence the name. A place of more than executions including infamous bushrangers ned kelly visitors can learn about the sites rich criminal history, experience what it was like for the men and women held there, and discover the stories. Built in 1800s the award winning old melbourne gaol enables visitors to immerse themselves in the stories or past inmates, experience being arrested in the city watch. I visited the gaol not just to feed my own fascination with australias history. Built in 1839, the prison housed and executed famous criminals such as ned kelly and serial killer frederick bailey deeming. Old melbourne gaol in melbourne my guide melbourne. It opened its doors to convicts in 1845, and, located adjacent to the city courts and city police watch house, russell street soon became the heart of melbourne s judicial and penal system. Australias old melbourne gaol is notorious for its death masks.
Old melbourne gaol, melbourne visit the old melbourne gaol, the citys oldest prison and the very place australias most controversial bushranger, ned kelly, was hanged in 1880. The bluestone building was the first large prison built in victoria. When made 1841o made by national trust of australia victoria. The first gaol in melbourne was built in collin street in the 1840. The old melbourne gaol was the first extensive gaol complex in victoria. When the old melbourne gaol was built in the mid1800s, it dominated the melbourne skyline as a symbol of authority. Register of male and female prisoners 18551947 prov.
Our goal is to do everything we can to help curb the spread of this outbreak in victoria. On my 9th visit to melbourne from ireland, eventually to visit the old gaol. Shrouded in secrets, wander the same cells and halls as some of historys. The first melbourne gaol was built in collins street west in 1839 and completed in 1840, but was far too small. Book the hangmans night tour and find out if youre game.
Book admission tickets online to avoid waiting in line. Old melbourne gaol, 377 russell st, melbourne, victoria 3000 australia the old melbourne gaol is melbournes home of crime since 1845 and the citys most feared destination. Find out more about the gaols fascinating history, how to book the gaol for a function or bring your school for an education program. Built in 1839, the old melbourne gaol once loomed over the city, taking in any and all comers from lazy children to murderous vigilantes. Old melbourne goal, russell street, melbourne wed caught the metro early that morning for a day in the city, changing trains at caulfield to enable us to reach central melbourne, before heading for old melbourne goal on russell street our destination for the morning. The old melbourne gaol is one of melbournes most rewarding attractions for atmosphere, history, ghost tours and gives a great return for a couple of hours investment. It was first constructed starting in 1839, and during its operation as a prison between 1842 and 1929, it held and executed some of australias most. In keeping with the victorian department of health and human services guidelines and having sought expert advice on the growing impact of coronavirus covid19, we have made the decision to suspend all night tours at the old melbourne gaol until further notice. This night tour is not recommended for children 12 years and under. This historic site was once a part of melbourne s law and order system and is home to the citys oldest prison, a police watchhouse and magistrates court. During its operation, the original cells also held petty offenders, debtors, children, the homeless and mentally ill. The old melbourne gaol is a former jail and current museum on russell street, in.
At the old melbourne gaol, youll get an opportunity to explore a real 19thcentury prison the oldest prison of the city. Of the many criminals imprisoned, executed and buried in the gaol the most notable was ned kelly, who was hanged in 1880. Find out more about the gaol s fascinating history, how to book the gaol for a function or bring your school for an education program. The old melbourne gaol is one of melbourne s best historical places and truly worth a visit. Uncover the chilling stories of victorias oldest surviving prison. It was the scene of 5 hangings, including that of australias most famous outlaw, ned kelly kellys armour and death mask are on display. This historic, heritage listed site is a must see for anyone remotely interested in australias early penal history during the nations. Response from kathleent1287, manager at old melbourne gaol. The gaol is no longer operational but the happenings in this space are well worth reading about. These spring school holidays saturday 21 september to 6 october kids can become inmates on a mission to hatch the perfect escape plan. We recommend booking old melbourne gaol tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Historic buildings to explore city of melbourne whats on. Included in the ticket price is entry into the watch house which is definitely a unique experience and a highlight.
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