Exploring Old Melbourne Gaol with Kids

To truly understand a city, it’s essential to explore its historical foundations and learn about its evolution over time. During our recent trip to Melbourne Victoria, we made sure to reserve a few hours in our busy schedule to visit the Old Melbourne Gaol.

Our family adores history and always sniffs out an old gaol or museum to explore. Old Melbourne Gaol is a site that oozes history and was also the very spot where infamous bushranger Ned Kelly was hanged.

Visiting Old Melbourne Gaol with Kids

Table of Contents

The History of Old Melbourne Gaol

The Old Melbourne Gaol, built in the mid-1800s, is a significant historical landmark in Melbourne. It served as an active prison until 1929 and witnessed 133 hangings, including that of the notorious bushranger Ned Kelly. Today, the Old Melbourne Gaol preserves the stories and remnants of its past, allowing visitors to step back in time and gain insight into the harsh realities of Melbourne’s criminal history.

In its heyday, Old Melbourne Gaol held up to twenty children at a time and was a dual-sex gaol for much of its history until a female prison was built next door. The City Watch House was built in 1909 and operated right up until 1994. It was here that felons were brought when caught conducting minor misdemeanours in Melbourne City or if they were awaiting a court appearance.

Preparing for Your Visit

Before we delve into our visit, it’s important to note that the atmosphere of Old Melbourne Gaol can be unsettling for children (and even adults) if they are unprepared. The stories you’ll hear about the past inhabitants, their crimes and the punishments they endured can be violent and scary. It is crucial to frame the visit appropriately for younger children and clarify the purpose of your trip before entering the Old Melbourne Gaol.

Additionally, scoping out the tour beforehand will also ensure you are able to avoid some of the more graphic spaces (for example, when we visited the Mob Museum in Vegas, T walked ahead and checked the exhibits. There was one room that the kids and I skipped). These steps will ensure a more enjoyable and suitable experience for everyone involved.

Take the Guided Tour

We decided to pay extra and do the guided tour which a lot of other parents also joined with their children. Our guide walked us through the cellblock at ground level, to begin with, and pointed out a few of the bizarre beliefs that were held by society about criminals.

The most notable was the belief in Phrenology which is the study of the shape of skulls and the bumps in them which apparently represented psychological attributes. If you feel behind your ear you will likely find a bump. This means you have criminal tendencies if phrenology is to be believed. I guess we’re lucky for this belief as it led to the creation of death masks of each prisoner executed at the gaol which you can now view. Morbid perhaps, but strangely fascinating.

We then walked upstairs to the gallows. I wandered around to some of the cells while our guide explained how they were used. Finally, she told us about Ned Kelly’s time at Old Melbourne Gaol.

Ned Kelly’s History at the Old Melbourne Gaol

If you know your Australian history, you will understand that Ned Kelly was captured at Glenrowan, Victoria after a bloody shootout where he wore a homemade suit of metal armour. He stood trial in Melbourne on 19 October 1880 and was convicted of the wilful murder of a policeman.

Ned Kelly became the 101st person hanged at Old Melbourne Gaol. He is a very complex character – one of Australia’s greatest folk heroes but also a criminal. Ned was no Robin Hood, stealing for himself and his family rather than for the poor.

Sunshine and Striker found his history fascinating, especially his death mask (I don’t think they have any concept of what it really is despite us being told how they are being made). They were able to try on some replica Ned Kelly body armour and helmets which they loved.

The tour concluded here.

City Watch House Experience

Our exploration of the Old Melbourne Gaol took an exciting turn when we ventured to the City Watch House, ultimately becoming the highlight of our visit.

Accompanied by a tour guide, we were guided into the City Watch House, where a policewoman took over. The following 40 minutes was an incredibly interactive experience, led by a Charge Sergeant who arrested us and provided an authentic glimpse into the gaol experience.

Grouped into small cells, we were plunged into darkness for a brief period, although it proved overwhelming for one young child in our group. Afterwards, we were led to the exercise room, where the remainder of the experience unfolded, leaving us thrilled and eagerly anticipating each surprise.

The City Watch House Experience is integral to the Old Melbourne Gaol experience and is included in the ticket price.

How Long Will You Need to Explore Old Melbourne Gaol?

To fully explore the Old Melbourne Gaol and immerse yourself in the City Watch House experience, you should allocate a few hours of your visit.

The guided tour through the Old Melbourne Gaol, including the cell block and gallows, typically takes around 1 to 1.5 hours. Following that, the City Watch House experience lasts approximately 40 minutes. Taking into account additional time for viewing exhibits, reflecting on Ned Kelly’s history, and wandering through the gaol, I would suggest at least 2 to 3 hours for a comprehensive exploration of both the Old Melbourne Gaol and the City Watch House.