Old Melbourne Gaol is one of Melbourne’s oldest surviving judicial institutions, offering an immersive glimpse into 19th-century history. During the day, you can go ahead and explore the place where notorious bushrangers were once detained and tried; at night, you’ll be on a thrilling nighttime tour!
Experience during the day
A visit that lasted less than two hours. No reservation needed; just bring your student card and purchase tickets here. You can experience being in jail. Staff members guide you through, interpreting and explaining the prison rules.
The guided entry happens approximately every half an hour, with a new group each time. There’s a schedule at the ticket entrance, so it’s best to go in the morning! When we went, they mentioned that there wouldn’t be any guided tours after 12 PM.
At the beginning of the entry, you can’t take out your phone. The staff interacts with us, checking our hands for weapons. Once the interpretation is over, you can freely explore and take photos. The inside does have a prison atmosphere!
Address: 377 Russell St, Melbourne, 3000
Night Tour Experience
We bought tickets for the evening session. Despite having only one actor, his expressive skills were top-notch, creating a truly immersive experience. It felt like watching a live drama of prison life.
We booked the Night Tour on Wednesday at 8 PM, aiming to add some excitement. Immersing ourselves in the old prison in the late evening, we were initially very scare!
The tour lasted about an hour, with the first 45 minutes conducted entirely in the dark – a guided tour in pitch darkness. The final 15 minutes had the lights on for free exploration and photography. Apart from the initial creepy atmosphere and the fear of the unknown, overall, it was relatively friendly for those less brave!
For those who love hearing stories should enjoy it. The guide was quite amusing, portraying the role of the prison warden.
If you’ve never been to this attraction, we recommend gathering a few friends to go together. If you have friends who enjoy being scared, it can add to the atmosphere and experience. The internal architecture style and layout are quite interesting, making the visit much more enjoyable!