The short answer
The Old Melbourne Gaol is a National Trust museum at 377 Russell Street in Melbourne’s CBD, open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Adult entry is $38, plus a booking fee. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours, and arrive by 3 pm so you see it all. Ned Kelly was hanged here in 1880.
Old Melbourne Gaol at a glance
- Where: 377 Russell Street, Melbourne (corner of La Trobe Street)
- Open: daily, 10 am to 5 pm. Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day
- Cost: adult $38, child (5 to 15) $22, concession $30, family from $70. Booking fees apply
- Getting there: tram 30 or 35 to Stop 8 Exhibition St (Free Tram Zone), or a 5-minute walk from Melbourne Central station
- Time to allow: 1.5 to 2 hours; last entry about 3 pm
- Step-free access: partial. Ground floor only (about 80% of the displays); no lifts or ramps to the upper levels
Checked on 14 Nov 2026 at oldmelbournegaol.com.au. Prices and hours change, so check before you visit.
Key takeaways: 7 essential facts
- What it is: the Gaol is a bluestone prison museum run by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria).
- Hours: 10 am to 5 pm, 7 days, except Good Friday and Christmas Day.
- Tickets: general admission covers the Gaol, the audio guide and the Women and Children of the Gaol exhibition.
- Add-ons: the City Watch House experience and Ned Kelly’s Last Stand tour cost $7 each with a day ticket.
- Night tours: two ghost and history tours run on select nights for ages 16 and over, from $45.
- History: 133 people were hanged here between 1842 and 1929, including Ned Kelly on 11 November 1880.
- Kids: some displays are confronting, and the Trust suggests parents research first.
Old Melbourne Gaol hours and tickets
The GaolThe Old Melbourne Gaol’s Plan Your Visit page#8217;s official Plan Your Visit page lists opening hours of 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Sunday. It closes on Good Friday and Christmas Day. The Gaol suggests arriving no later than 3.30 pm, and its FAQ gives a last entry time of 3 pm, so aim for 3 pm or earlier.
A general admission ticket lasts all day, and you can leave and come back the same day. It includes a self-guided visit, the audio guide (English and Mandarin) and the Women and Children of the Gaol exhibition on the second floor.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | $38 |
| Concession and student | $30 |
| Under 30s (current offer) | $30 |
| Child (5 to 15 years) | $22 |
| Family (2 adults, 2 children) | $90 |
| Family (1 adult, 2 children) | $70 |
| Extra child on a family ticket | $10 |
| National Trust members | Free (general admission) |
Prices are from the official tickets page, checked on 14 November 2026. Booking fees apply. The $30 under-30s price is described as a limited-time offer, so check before you visit. Companion Card holders get a second ticket free for their companion.
Old Melbourne Gaol tours and add-ons
Most visitors explore with the audio guide, then add a short guided experience or book a night tour. Night tour dates go up on the What’s On page about two weeks ahead.
| Experience | When | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life in the City Watch House | Daily at 11.30 am, 12.30 pm, 2.45 pm and 3.45 pm (subject to availability). 30 minutes | $7 with a day ticket | Under 16s need an adult. Some themes and language may not suit children |
| Ned Kelly’s Last Stand guided tour | Weekends, selected times between 10.30 am and 2.30 pm | $7 with a day ticket | Bookings essential; includes stairs |
| Hangman’s Night Tour | Select nights. 1 hour | Adult $45, concession $40 | Ages 16+. In the dark, with confined spaces |
| Ghosts! What Ghosts? Night Tour | Select nights. 1 hour | Adult $45, concession $40 | Ages 16+. Arrive 15 minutes early |
The Watch House is next door and ran as Melbourne’s central lock-up from 1909 to 1994. On the tour, a “charge sergeant” books you in, you see the cells and old exercise yards, and you finish with your own mug shot.
Plan your Old Melbourne Gaol visit
Pick a start time and any add-ons. The planner uses the official hours, the suggested 1.5 to 2 hours and the Watch House times above. It runs only on this page and stores nothing.
Old Melbourne Gaol visit planner
Opening hours and tour times as checked on 14 Nov 2026.
Choose your arrival time.
Source: oldmelbournegaol.com.au, checked 14 Nov 2026. Tour times are subject to availability. Check before you visit.
Ned Kelly and the Old Melbourne Gaol
The bushranger Ned Kelly is the best-known prisoner of the Gaol. According to the National Trust’s history of the Gaol, he was hanged on the gallows here on 11 November 1880. He was the 101st person executed at the Gaol, after eighteen months on the run and a controversial trial.
His story did not end there. When the Gaol closed, the bodies of executed prisoners were dug up and moved to Pentridge Prison in 1929. Kelly’s remains were found there in 2008 and identified a year later. A skull long shown at the Gaol as his was stolen in 1978, recovered in 2009, and proved by DNA not to be Kelly’s.
Old Melbourne Gaol history and facts
The Gaol’s first cellblock opened in 1845. After gold was found in 1851, Melbourne’s population grew from about 23,000 to nearly 90,000 in four years, and the Gaol quickly became overcrowded. A second cellblock followed in 1859, and a matching block for women prisoners was finished by late 1864.
Between 1842 and its closure in 1929, the site saw 133 hangings. The Gaol closed in 1924 and was decommissioned in 1929. During the Second World War it reopened as a military detention barracks. The National Trust reopened it as a penal museum in 1972.
Inside, the three-level cell block still has its iron walkways and narrow cells. Many cells hold displays on the people kept there, from serious offenders to the homeless.
Getting to the Old Melbourne Gaol
- Tram: route 30 or the City Circle (35) to Stop 8 Exhibition St, on La Trobe Street between Exhibition and Russell Streets. The stop is inside the Free Tram Zone, so the ride is free from elsewhere in the city.
- Train: about a 5-minute walk from State Library or Melbourne Central station.
- Car: no on-site parking. Use paid street parking on La Trobe Street, or the Melbourne Central or QV car parks. La Trobe Street has three accessible parking bays.
Nearby, within a short walk: State Library Victoria, Melbourne Central and Queen Victoria Market, all on our CBD guides list. Walking times are estimates.
Good to know before you go
- Access: the Gaol is partly wheelchair accessible. It is spread over three levels with no lifts or ramps, but around 80% of the displays are on the ground floor. Cell doors are narrow. Read the accessibility information (PDF).
- Children: displays include punishment equipment, death masks and the execution area. The Trust takes school bookings from Year 5 up and advises parents to decide first.
- Food: no cafe on site. Cold drinks and ice creams are sold, but no eating or drinking inside the heritage buildings.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to get into the Old Melbourne Gaol?
Adult entry is $38, child (5 to 15) $22, and concession $30, plus booking fees. Family tickets are $90 for two adults and two children. Prices were checked on the Gaol’s official tickets page on 14 November 2026.
What are the Old Melbourne Gaol opening hours?
The Old Melbourne Gaol is open 10 am to 5 pm, seven days a week. It is closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day. Last entry is about 3 pm.
How long do you need at the Old Melbourne Gaol?
The Gaol recommends 1.5 to 2 hours. Add 30 minutes for the City Watch House experience.
Was Ned Kelly hanged at the Old Melbourne Gaol?
Yes. Ned Kelly was hanged on the Gaol’s gallows on 11 November 1880, the 101st person executed there, according to the National Trust.
Is the Old Melbourne Gaol suitable for kids?
It can be. Some displays, such as death masks and the execution area, may upset young children, so the Trust suggests parents research first. Children aged 5 to 15 pay $22.
Do you need to book Old Melbourne Gaol tours in advance?
Booking ahead is wise. The Watch House and Ned Kelly tours have limited spaces, and night tours must be bought before the night.
Is the Old Melbourne Gaol in the Free Tram Zone?
Yes. Its nearest stop, Stop 8 Exhibition St on La Trobe Street, is inside the Free Tram Zone.
Who was the most famous prisoner at the Old Melbourne Gaol?
Bushranger Ned Kelly, hanged at the Gaol on 11 November 1880. The National Trust says he was the 101st person executed there.
What are some Old Melbourne Gaol facts?
The first cellblock opened in 1845, 133 people were hanged there between 1842 and 1929, it reopened as a military detention barracks in the Second World War, and the National Trust opened it as a museum in 1972.
Old Melbourne Gaol: the bottom line
Give the Old Melbourne Gaol two hours, arrive by 3 pm, and add the 30-minute Watch House experience if you like hands-on history. Weekends add the Ned Kelly tour. It’s a free tram ride from anywhere in the city grid. Prices and tour times change, so check the official site before you visit.
Sources
All checked on 14 November 2026.
- National Trust of Australia (Victoria), Old Melbourne Gaol: Plan Your Visit: hours, address, getting there, access, children, food, FAQ
- National Trust, Tickets: prices and membership
- National Trust, Life in the City Watch House, Ned Kelly’s Last Stand, Hangman’s Night Tour and Ghosts! What Ghosts?: times, prices, ages
- National Trust, History and The Original Gaol: dates, Ned Kelly, 133 hangings