Experience Life Behind Bars at the Old Melbourne Gaol

Renowned as Victoria's first and oldest penal institution the Old Melbourne Gaol is an establishment that still captivates the world for its notorious inmates with legendary legacies. Having housed convicts of every conceivable nature including gangsters, murderers, lunatics, baby farmers and vagrants, the Gaol is best known as the last home and execution site of bushranger Ned Kelly. Dominating the skyline of Melbourne as it has since it was first built in the 1800s, this iconic prison now serves as an engaging museum where life behind bars and the laws of crime and punishment are explored like never before.
With interactive exhibits and tours the prison offers visitors a glimpse of life at the Gaol in the 19th century complete with engaging elements and memorabilia from the institution's heyday. Highlights include the death masks of some of the prison's most infamous inmates including that of Ned Kelly who was executed in 1880.
The Old Magistrate's Court offers guests the unique experience of putting themselves on trial or taking the judge's chair in an ultimate game of crime and punishment. As the historic locale where many a criminal was sentenced in bail and committal hearings, the courthouse also witnessed the sentencing of Julian Knight and Squizzy Taylor. The Watch House Experience is equally interesting as this 40-minute tour involves "arresting" visitors and actual lock up time in an encounter that mimics the procedure a criminal endures upon entering the premises. Multimedia imaging and sound effects are also on hand to guide the visitors along the watch house after the role play activities.
Night time tours of the Gaol are also available in the Watch House Ghostseekers and Old Melbourne Gaol Ghostseekers expeditions which lead guests though the haunted venues on-site with state- of- the-art equipment to detect paranormal activity. Visitors can also join the Gaol's legendary hangman Michael Gateley for a candlelight tour of the prison while the life and times of Ned Kelly are examined in the free weekly play "Such a Life" which takes place every Saturday.
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