The Old Melbourne Gaol takes you into a real 19th century prison. It is divided in 2 different sections: The City Watch House is a guided attraction which makes you arrested by a police officer. You get into the cell and locked up in one of the cells with some other cell mates (AKA tourists). After the rol play you... more

We went to the Gaol with moderate expectations, so for the most part, we were pleased. Visitors walk around the chilly cells and can read the biographies of the hanged convicts (most rooms also had plaster sculptures of the convicts that were done shortly after the hanging, so it was a bit creepy). The jail's third floor definitely has an... more

We visited the Old Melbourne Gaol on a rainy day and I have to say that for me personally, I was not that impressed. I certainly commend them for trying to preserve history, but I found the prisoner experience quite honestly hokey. I would say that if you are a history buff (I am not), then you may very well... more

Went on the guided tour where you're treated as prisioners. There's a little bit of gentle bullying which I thought was quite funny but some of the girls looked close to tears ... it was just make-believe! Got a great mug shot at the end with the height ruler and the card you hold, very authentic and as close as... more

The website advertises this tour as not being suitable for younger children and builds it up to be a scary encounter. It starts well enough - in darkness other than a flickering candle just after being told it is the most haunted building in Victoria (or maybe even Australia). The group is then left alone in silence and much creaking... more

Visited the Old Melbourne Gaol in Jan 2009. A visit is roughly divided into two half. A visit to the old gaol itself and a 30-45 minute guided "tour". The building itself has 3 floors. With displays like creepy death masks of robbers and murders. A death mask is a plaster mould of the executed prisoners face - popular back... more

Oddly compelling -- the "arrest" is both fun theater while providing a soupcon of what it must have felt like getting booked in the place. LOTS of good displays inside the MANY cells and they don't mind you taking pictures -- you'll spend more time here than you intended. Avoid sounding like a foreigner and making the dumb mistake I... more

Old Melbourne Gaol is not large in size, but what it lacks there it more than makes up for with a spine-chilling, musty sense of darkness, despair and decay. By 'despair' and 'decay' I refer to the thoughts of the convicts of years gone by, as the National Trust's Victorian Branch does a good job at keeping this attraction in... more

We thought Old Melbourne Gaol was outstanding. We managed to get "arrested" and thrown into jail. They don't even rip-off tourists if you want to be pictured holding a prisoner number (a la Hugh Grant). You can also see Ned Kelly's death mask and a whole host of characters who languished here. Very moving and you'll need a few hours... more