Educational group tours at the Old Melbourne Gaol

Students learn through the history of the Gaol about the key moments in Melbourne's cultural and social history.

Our Gaol Tours make a lasting impact on all students who visit and provide an understanding of Melbourne’s origins as a city built during the gold rush.

Learn about a prisoner’s journey from their admission at the bathhouse through the trials of daily life for a prisoner, their deprivations and the punishment system and the context of the Gaol in Melbourne’s history.

Examine how the very design of the buildings was intended to act to reform prisoners and how incarceration is the last link in the chain of legal processes.

You can combine a Gaol tour with one of our Court room drama programs or a visit to the Watch House.

Scroll below for Student Resources, image gallery, introductory video and more.

Gaol Tour Details

Year Levels:Yr 5 - VCE, Tertiary/ESL (Not recommended for P - Yr4)
Available Days:Monday to Friday
Tour Times:9.30am – 10.30am                           
10.30am – 11.30am                        
11.30am – 12.30pm                        
1pm – 2pm                                        
2pm – 3pm                                        
3pm – 4pm 
Duration:45 mins tour with viewing time (Option to package with Watch House Tour & Court Room Drama).
Numbers:30 students per group.
Location:377 Russell Street, Melbourne
Resources:Online information
Cost:$12.00 per student. (Teachers free at ratio of 1:12)
$13.00 for Tertiary & ESL Students
Bookings:Online Booking Form or Email: bookings@nattrust.com.au
Phone: (03) 9656 9889

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Student Resources

How was the Gaol run?

Scroll through the narrative galleries below to explore how the Melbourne Gaol represented nineteenth century ideas of using punishment as a way of reforming
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Who was sent to the Gaol?

Scroll through the narrative galleries below to explore the reasons why many different types of people might end up in gaol in the second half of the
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Why was the Gaol built?

Scroll through the narrative galleries below to discover the story of the Melbourne Gaol and where it sits within Victoria’s criminal justice history.
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Virtually There 3D Resources

Take a virtual visit of our historic sites using new 3D technology. This application lets you wander around our sites and see them just as though you could
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3D Interactive Court Room

Click here to open the Interactive Court Room   Judge/Magistrate The Judge presides over the court and deals with any legal issues that arise during the
More

Plan your Visit

Educational group tours at the Old Melbourne Gaol

Victorian Curriculum Links - Gaol Tours

HistoryLevel 5 and 6Level 7 and 8Level 9 and 10
All ToursDescribe perspectives and identify ideas, beliefs and values of people and groups in the past (VCHHC084)

Explain the significance of an event and an individual or group that influenced change in the Australian colonies and in Australian society since Federation (VCHHC087)

The social, economic and political causes and reasons for the establishment of British colonies in Australia after 1800 (VCHHK088)

The nature of convict or colonial presence, including the factors that influenced changing patterns of development, how the environment changed, and aspects of the daily life of the inhabitants, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (VCHHK089)

The effects of a significant development or event on a colony (VCHHK090)

The role that a significant individual or group played in shaping and changing a colony (VCHHK092)

The significance of key figures and events that led to Australia’s Federation, including British and American influences on Australia’s system of law and government (VCHHK093)
Sequence significant events in chronological order to analyse the causes and effects and identify continuities and changes (VCHHC097)

Analyse and corroborate sources and ask questions about their accuracy, usefulness and reliability (VCHHC099)

Sequence significant events in chronological order to analyse the causes and effects and identify continuities and changes (VCHHC097)

Sequence significant events in chronological order to analyse the causes and effects and identify continuities and changes (VCHHC097)

Identify and explain patterns of continuity and change in society to the way of life (VCHHC102)

Changes in society and the perspectives of key groups affected by change including the influence of law and religion (VCHHK110)
Analyse and evaluate the broad patterns of change over the period 1750–present (VCHHC122)

Analyse and corroborate sources and evaluate their accuracy, usefulness and reliability (VCHHC123)

Analyse the different perspectives of people in the past and evaluate how these perspectives are influenced by significant events, ideas, location, beliefs and values (VCHHC124)

Identify and evaluate patterns of continuity and change in the development of the modern world and Australia (VCHHC126)

Causes of population movements and settlement patterns during this period and the significant changes to the way of life of groups of people(VCHHK130)

Patterns of continuity and change and their effects on influencing movements of people, ways of life and living conditions, political and legal institutions, and cultural expression around the turn of the twentieth century (VCHHK136)

Significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including Australia’s involvement in the development of the declaration (VCHHK151)
‘Falling Through the Cracks’Identify and describe patterns of continuity and change in daily life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, ‘native born’ and migrants in the Australian colonies (VCHHC085)

Explain the causes of significant events that shaped the Australian colonies, contributed to Australian Federation and the effects of these on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and migrants (VCHHC086)

The causes and the reasons why people migrated to Australia from Europe and Asia, and the perspectives, experiences and contributions of a particular migrant group within a colony (VCHHK091)

The different experiences and perspectives of Australian democracy and citizenship, including the status and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, migrants, women, and children(VCHHK094)

The stories and perspectives of people who migrated to Australia, including from one Asian country, and the reasons they migrated (VCHHK095)

Significant contributions of individuals and groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and migrants, to changing Australian society (VCHHK096)
See above for
'All Tours'
Intended and unintended causes and effects of contact and extension of settlement of European power(s), including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (VCHHK134)

Different experiences and perspectives of non-Europeans and their perspectives on changes to society, significant events, ideas, beliefs and values (VCHHK137)
‘Children in Gaol'The different experiences and perspectives of Australian democracy and citizenship, including the status and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, migrants, women, and children (VCHHK094)See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
‘Machine for the Changing Minds'See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
Causes that led to the Industrial Revolution, and other conditions and ideas that influenced the industrialisation of Britain and of Australia (VCHHK129)
‘Prisoner's Journey'See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
Personal and Social CapabilityLevel 5 and 6Level 7 and 8Level 9 and 10
All ToursExplore and discuss behaviours that demonstrate sensitivity to individual, social and cultural differences (VCPSCSO029)

Define and recognise examples of stereotypes, discrimination and prejudice and discuss how they impact on the individual (VCPSCSO030)
Explore their personal values and beliefs and analyse how these values and beliefs might be different or similar to those of others (VCPSCSO038)

Investigate human rights and discuss how these contribute to a cohesive community (VCPSCSO039)
Analyse how divergent values and beliefs contribute to different perspectives on social issues (VCPSCSO047)
‘Falling Through the Cracks’See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
Acknowledge the importance of empathy and the acceptance of diversity for a cohesive community and reflect on the effectiveness of strategies for being respectful of diversity and human rights (VCPSCSO048)
‘Children in Gaol'See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
‘Machine for the Changing Minds'See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
‘Prisoner's Journey'See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
Civics and CitizenshipLevel 5 and 6Level 7 and 8Level 9 and 10
All ToursExplain how and why laws are enforced and describe the roles and responsibilities of key personnel in law enforcement, and in the legal system (VCCCL013)Explain how Australia’s legal system aims to provide justice, including through the rule of law, presumption of innocence, burden of proof, right to a fair trial and right to legal representation (VCCCL022)
Discuss the key principles of Australia’s justice system, including equality before the law, independent judiciary, and right of appeal (VCCCL034)
‘Falling Through the Cracks’Identify who can be an Australian citizen and describe the rights, responsibilities and shared values of Australian citizenship and explore ways citizens can participate in society (VCCCC014)See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
‘Children in Gaol'See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
‘Machine for the Changing Minds'See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
‘Prisoner's Journey'See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
EnglishLevel 5Level 6Level 7Level 8Level 9Level 10
All ToursRecognise that ideas in literary texts can be conveyed from different viewpoints, which can lead to different kinds of interpretations and responses (VCELT315)

Consider the importance of giving reasons and evidence and how the strength of these can be evaluated (VCCCTR025)


Understand that the pronunciation, spelling and meanings of words have histories and change over time (VCELA333)
Identify and explain how analytical images like figures, tables, diagrams, maps and graphs contribute to our understanding of verbal information in factual and persuasive texts (VCELA340)

Analyse and evaluate similarities and differences in texts on similar topics, themes or plots (VCELT341)
Understand the way language evolves to reflect a changing world, particularly in response to the use of new technology for presenting texts and communicating (VCELA391)

Identify and discuss main ideas, concepts and points of view in spoken texts to evaluate qualities, using interaction skills when sharing interpretations or presenting ideas and information (VCELY395)
Explore the interconnectedness of Country and Place, People, Identity and Culture in texts including those by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors (VCELT404)

Interpret and compare how representations of people and culture in literary texts are drawn from different historical, social and cultural contexts (VCELT435)

Evaluate the social, moral and ethical positions represented in texts (VCELT462)

Analyse and evaluate how people, cultures, places, events, objects and concepts are represented in texts, including media texts, through language, structural and/or visual choices (VCELY466)

Identify and analyse implicit or explicit values, beliefs and assumptions in texts and how these are influenced by purposes and likely audiences (VCELY467)
‘Falling Through the Cracks’See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
Understand how language use can have inclusive and exclusive social effects, and can empower or disempower people (VCELA483)
‘Children in Gaol'Show how ideas and points of view in texts are conveyed through the use of vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions, objective and subjective language, and that these can change according to context (VCELY317)Make connections between own experiences and those of characters and events represented in texts drawn from different historical, social and cultural contexts (VCELT365)Identify and explore ideas and viewpoints about events, issues and characters represented in texts drawn from different historical, social and cultural contexts (VCELT393)Recognise and explain differing viewpoints about the world, cultures, individual people and concerns represented in texts (VCELT406)Explore and reflect on personal understanding of the world and significant human experience gained from interpreting various representations of life matters in texts (VCELT437)Compare and evaluate a range of representations of individuals and groups in different historical, social and cultural contexts (VCELT460)
‘Machine for the Changing Minds'See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
‘Prisoner's Journey'See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'
See above for
'All Tours'

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