Historical Gaol Tours at Old Melbourne Gaol

Levels 5 to VCE
From $14 per student
Make Booking Enquiry
For Enquires

Email [email protected] or phone: (03) 9656 9889

Students learn through the history of the Gaol about the key moments in Melbourne's cultural and social history.

The Old Melbourne Gaol is a former prison that was open from 1845 to 1924, during which more than 50,000 prisoners passed through its imposing bluestone walls, some never to leave. The Gaol was the site of 133 executions, including, most famously, Ned Kelly.

Students will be transported back in time to witness the harsh day-to-day life of inmates, learning about everything from their food allowances to the rules they had to follow. Students will encounter case studies both devastating and dastardly, with inmates charged with vagrancy (homelessness) being housed alongside bushrangers and murderers.

Historical Tour (Level 5-VCE)

In this general history tour, your guide will give you an overview of the Old Melbourne Gaol from its inception in 1845 through to its closure in 1924. Discover stories of inmates, guards and governors, and learn what life was like on the inside for the over 50,000 inmates who passed through the formidable gates.

Escape Artists (Level 5-VCE)

Explore the exterior of the Old Melbourne Gaol and Old City Watch House to learn about the renowned, infamous and foolhardy escape attempts. Hear stories of crawling through sewerage pipes, climbing over ten-foot-tall walls, and disguises, and the crimes of the inmates responsible.

Please note: this tour is only an exterior tour and does not go inside the Old Melbourne Gaol cell block.

Womens’ Ward (Level 7-VCE)

Created in collaboration with the National Trust’s Senior Curator and Historian, this tour takes students on a journey through the gaol through the eyes of the women who resided there in the late 1800s. Discover the story of women on both sides of the bars, including the matrons and the wives and children of Governors. Explore the fate of inmates; learn about the lives they led on the outside, “crimes” they committed, their life behind bars and their fate at the end of their sentence.

Program Details

Available

Monday to Friday during school terms

Duration

1 hour

Numbers

15-30 students per session

Teacher/carer:student ratio: 1:12

Resources

Social script for parents and teachers of students on the autism spectrum.

Teachers will receive a detailed resource pack that includes suggested pre- and post-visit activities upon booking.

Cost

$14 per student

Safety

Click here to access the Task Risk Assessment.

The ground floor of the gaol is accessible, the two upper floors are accessible only by staircase.

Bookings & Enquiries

To book, complete the Online Booking Form. For enquiries, email [email protected] or phone (03) 9656 9889.

Plan your visit

Old Melbourne Gaol

Address:
377 Russell Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

A great experience for our students to immerse them in some of Victoria’s most colourful history. Very much worthwhile.

VCE Teacher, Wanneroo Secondary College, April 2024.

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