Standing in a narrow bluestone cell where Ned Kelly spent his final night, I felt the cold coming off the walls. The Old Melbourne Gaol doesn’t soften its history. Death masks of executed prisoners line the walls. The original gallows still stand. This isn’t entertainment dressed up as history, it’s confronting. Between 1842 and 1929, 133 people were hanged here in Melbourne, including Australia’s most famous bushranger.
Quick answer
The Old Melbourne Gaol costs $38 for general admission, with concessions at $30 and children (5 to 15 years) at $22. Family tickets start at $70. National Trust members enter free. The gaol opens Monday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm (closed Good Friday and Christmas Day). Last entry is recommended by 3:30pm to see everything. Your ticket includes self-guided access with audio guide, the Women & Children exhibition, and all-day re-entry. Additional guided tours and night experiences cost extra. Located at 377 Russell Street, two minutes’ walk from Melbourne Central Station.
At a glance
| Price | Opening hours | Address | Free for | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $38 adults, $30 concession | Mon–Sun 10am–5pm (closed Good Friday, Christmas Day) | 377 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 | National Trust members | 3:30pm recommended |
How much does the Old Melbourne Gaol cost?
The gaol is managed by National Trust Victoria and pricing reflects heritage site maintenance costs.
| Ticket type | Price | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $38.00 | Ages 13 and over |
| Concession | $30.00 | Seniors, students, unemployed |
| Under 30s | $30.00 | Valid until 31 December 2025 (ID required) |
| Child | $22.00 | Ages 5 to 15 |
| Family (2A + 2C) | $90.00 | Two adults plus two children (includes Billie B activity) |
| Family (1A + 2C) | $70.00 | One adult plus two children (includes Billie B activity) |
| Extra child | $10.00 | Additional children on family tickets |
| National Trust members | Free | Valid membership card required |
These opening hours and ticket prices were checked and verified in January 2026.
Your ticket is valid all day with re-entry permitted. Tickets can be purchased online or at the entrance. Booking fees apply for online purchases. Additional experiences include City Watch House interactive tour, Ned Kelly’s Last Stand guided tour, and night tours (Hangman’s Night Tour, Ghosts? What Ghosts?, Ned Kelly After Dark), all requiring separate tickets.
Is the Old Melbourne Gaol free to enter?
No. There are no free entry periods. National Trust members receive free general admission but must purchase tickets for additional experiences and night tours.
Five great things to do while you’re in Melbourne
- 🏙️ Get to know the city’s history and culture on a laneways walking tour.
- 🍷 Take a Yarra Valley day tour with indulgent wine-tasting.
- 🚴 Cover far more of Melbourne’s highlights on an electric bike tour.
- 🛶 Kayak along the Yarra River at sunset.
- 🍽️ Discover Melbourne’s multicultural dining scene on a top-rated food tour.
What time does the Old Melbourne Gaol open?
Monday to Sunday: 10am to 5pm
Closed: Good Friday and Christmas Day
Recommended last entry is 3:30pm to allow sufficient time to explore. The gaol recommends 1.5 to 2 hours for a thorough visit. Night tours operate on select evenings and must be pre-booked separately.
Do I need to book Old Melbourne Gaol tickets in advance?
Advance booking is recommended but not essential. You can purchase tickets on arrival, though queues may form during peak periods (school holidays, weekends). Online booking through the official website guarantees entry and allows you to bypass the ticket desk.
Night tours sell out quickly and require advance purchase. These run on select dates advertised two weeks before events.
Victoria’s oldest surviving prison
The Old Melbourne Gaol opened in 1842, built from locally quarried bluestone. Originally part of a larger complex including courthouse and watch house, the prison served Melbourne until 1924, with hangings continuing until 1929. The building witnessed Victoria’s transformation from penal colony to modern state.
Conditions were deliberately harsh. Prisoners lived in tiny cells, often in darkness. Many died from disease, malnutrition, or execution. The gaol operated under the separate system, isolating prisoners to force reflection on their crimes. This approach, considered progressive at the time, frequently drove prisoners insane.
Ned Kelly, Australia’s most famous outlaw, was hanged here on 11 November 1880 at age 25. His final words, “Such is life,” became part of Australian folklore. The armour he wore during his last stand at Glenrowan, part of northern Victoria’s Ned Kelly Trail, is displayed in the gaol.
After closing, the gaol became a storage facility, narrowly avoiding demolition several times. The National Trust acquired it in 1972 and opened it as a museum. Today, the bluestone walls stand as Victoria‘s oldest surviving prison building.
Walking the condemned
The main cell block rises three storeys, lined with 42 cells. Each tiny space (roughly 2 metres by 1.5 metres) held one prisoner. Iron beds, chamber pots, and minimal light were standard. Information panels in most cells tell individual prisoner stories. Reading these transforms the space from empty cells to lived experience.
Death masks of executed prisoners line the upper walkways. These plaster casts were made shortly after death, supposedly for phrenological research. Seeing the faces of people hanged here over a century ago is unsettling. Some show peaceful expressions, others show distress frozen at the moment of death.
The Women & Children exhibition occupies part of the complex, documenting female prisoners and children born in custody. Many women were incarcerated for poverty-related crimes like prostitution or theft. Children stayed with imprisoned mothers until age two or three before being sent to orphanages.
The original gallows occupy a small courtyard. Standing beneath the beam where 133 people died feels sobering. The trapdoor mechanism remains visible. Execution protocols are explained in detail, including how bodies were buried in unmarked graves beneath the exercise yard.
The City Watch House, accessible via separate ticket, offers an interactive experience. You’re “arrested,” fingerprinted, and locked in modern police cells. This 30-minute tour contrasts historical and contemporary justice systems. It’s confronting but educational.
Audio guides (included with admission) provide commentary throughout the gaol in English and Mandarin. The narration adds context to what you’re seeing, explaining daily routines, punishment methods, and individual prisoner stories. Download the app before arriving or collect devices at reception.
What’s included with your ticket
Your general admission includes self-guided access to the main gaol building, audio guide in English or Mandarin, the Women & Children exhibition, death mask displays, Ned Kelly’s armour and related exhibits, original gallows and execution areas, and all-day re-entry.
Not included are the City Watch House interactive tour (separate ticket), guided gaol tours (separate ticket), Ned Kelly’s Last Stand guided experience (separate ticket), night tours (separate tickets, advance booking required), and food or drinks (not available on site but nearby options plentiful).
Things to do near Old Melbourne Gaol
State Library Victoria (150 metres, 2-minute walk) – Australia’s oldest public library from 1854. The La Trobe Reading Room features a stunning octagonal space with domed ceiling. Free exhibitions, free WiFi, and quiet reading spaces. Take the lift to the sixth floor for the famous overhead shot of the reading room.
Melbourne Museum (1 kilometre, 12-minute walk) – Natural history, culture, and science museum in Carlton Gardens. Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Forest Gallery with living rainforest, and extensive exhibitions covering Victoria’s history. The museum building itself is architecturally striking.
Queen Victoria Market (700 metres, 9-minute walk) – Open-air market operating since 1878, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Fresh produce, meat, seafood, clothes, souvenirs, and the famous hot jam doughnuts. Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Busiest Saturday mornings.
RMIT University Building 8 (adjacent) – Brutalist architecture housing RMIT’s Design Hub. Not open to public but the exterior is photographically interesting. The gaol’s proximity to RMIT means the area buzzes with student activity during term time.
Carlton Gardens and Royal Exhibition Building (1 kilometre, 12-minute walk) – UNESCO World Heritage listed Exhibition Building from 1880 surrounded by 26 hectares of formal Victorian gardens. Melbourne Museum shares the gardens. Free to walk the grounds.
Other cultural attractions within walking distance include the Immigration Museum and National Gallery of Victoria‘s Ian Potter Centre and ACMI in Federation Square. From there, you can walk across Birrarung Marr to do the MCG tour.
Practical tips
Getting there: Melbourne Central Station is two minutes’ walk. Exit toward Elizabeth Street, turn right, walk to La Trobe Street, turn left, then right onto Russell Street. Free City Circle Tram 35 stops at Stop 7 (corner La Trobe and Russell Streets). Numerous other tram routes run along La Trobe Street.
Time needed: Allow 1.5 to 2 hours minimum. Thorough exploration including reading all cell displays takes closer to two hours. Add 30 minutes if purchasing City Watch House experience.
Photography: Allowed for personal use. The gaol is atmospheric and photos capture the austere conditions effectively. Some areas may restrict flash photography.
Accessibility: Partially wheelchair accessible. Around 80% of content is on the ground floor. The building’s heritage status means there are no lifts or ramps to upper levels. Cell doors are narrow and may not accommodate all wheelchairs. Accessibility information PDF available on website.
Suitability for children: The content can be confronting. Displays reference death, execution, and harsh punishment. The gaol recommends Year 5 and above for school groups. Parents should research content before bringing young children. The Billie B Brown activity included with family tickets provides child-focused engagement.
Crowds: Busiest on weekends and school holidays. Weekday mornings are quietest. The building’s layout means it can feel crowded when multiple groups visit simultaneously.
Facilities: There are no cafes or restaurants on site. Eating and drinking are not permitted in heritage buildings. Cold drinks and ice creams are sold but must be consumed outside. Numerous cafes and restaurants within five minutes’ walk in Melbourne CBD.
FAQs
How long does it take to see the gaol? One and a half to two hours covers everything properly. You could rush through in 60 minutes but you’d miss significant content.
Is it suitable for children? Content is confronting with references to death, execution, and harsh conditions. The gaol recommends Year 5 (age 10) and above. Parental discretion advised for younger children.
Can you visit the Old Magistrates’ Court? The former Magistrates’ Court is owned by RMIT University and primarily open for education groups. Public access happens on select dates throughout the year. Check the website for upcoming tours.
Are night tours worth it? If you’re interested in darker history and don’t mind spooky atmospheres, yes. Hangman’s Night Tour and Ghosts? What Ghosts? offer different experiences from daytime visits. Book early as they sell out.
Where can I park? There is no on-site parking. Paid parking available at Melbourne Central and QV shopping centres. Limited metered street parking on La Trobe Street. Three accessible parking spaces on La Trobe Street for disability permit holders.
More Melbourne travel
Other Melbourne travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
