Old Melbourne Gaol

The Old Melbourne Gaol in Victoria, Australia, is now a museum that offers a fascinating glimpse into prison life in the nineteenth century. A former jail, it housed some of the region's most notorious criminals, including the famous bushranger Ned Kelly, and was the site of 135 executions. The history of the complex began in 1838 with a temporary facility, before the main building was constructed between 1841 and 1844 at the corner of Russell and La Trobe Streets. Because of overcrowding and escape attempts, the facility was significantly expanded in the 1850s. The new bluestone wing was based on designs by the British prison engineer Joshua Jebb and followed modern reform theories. By the time it was completed in 1864, the jail occupied an entire city block and had separate areas for male and female prisoners, a chapel, a hospital, and living quarters for staff. Since its closure in 1924, the architecture has served as a reminder of the building's authoritarian presence on the Melbourne skyline and of the harsh conditions of the era.