*** CAUTION: SOME MAY FIND SOME IMAGES IN THIS GALLERY DISTURBING ***

The old Melbourne Gaol (or Jail) is located in Russell Street Melbourne. Work on it began in 1841, with the first block opening in 1845. It was already overcrowded by 1850, and a second block was built between 1852 and 1858. This is the block that remains today. At its height the gaol covered an entire city block.

Its most famous resident was Ned Kelly, a bushranger (highwayman, armed robber, call him what you will) from the colonial days, famous for wearing suits of armour to protect against gunfire from police. (Unfortunately for him, he forgot that the police also know how to aim at un-armoured legs.) He was hung here in 1880, and his death mask appears in the gallery. (As do some others, which is why I caution about the contents.)

The gaol closed in 1924 but was reopened briefly during World War II to house military detainees, mostly those who went AWOL. It's been open as a museum since 1972. I'm glad to have gone to see it but have to admit to having had a very uncomfortable feeling through my entire time there.

The tour also includes an interactive exhibit where you can go through the process of being charged and booked into the system. However as I was feeling weird enough during the jail tour I decided that if even a pretend copper wanted to even pretend to charge me, they'd have to catch me at it first.