Tertiary Education Opportunities

Step back in time to Melbourne’s most complex carceral landscapes since 1845. Explore the buildings that housed some of Australia’s most notorious criminals, including Ned Kelly and Squizzy Taylor, and discover the stories that never left. Whether you explore the Old Melbourne Gaol by day or night, or the Watch House “lock up” experience, this is a highly engaging destination not to miss.

Established in 1851 and closing in 1997, Pentridge Prison is a heritage listed former state prison that has undergone adaptive reuse over the last decade. Following the closure of the Old Melbourne Goal in the 1920s, Pentridge became the primary remand centre for metropolitan Melbourne. Offering tours of B Division as well as the notorious H Division, visitors get to experience the harsh realities of life inside the bluestone walls. Ideal for tertiary students studying criminal psychology, law, or social geography, Pentridge Prison is a diverse learning landscape.

Built in Belfast in 1885, the three-masted cargo vessel carried coal and wheat between England and South America. Polly Woodside is a rare surviving example of a Tall Ship now docked at South Wharf. Step aboard Polly Woodside to experience what life was like on a sailing ship in the 1800s and explore the museum to discover first-hand accounts of her voyages and view the maritime collection.

Rippon Lea is a large mansion built in 1868, by the visionary Frederick Sargood, he resided there in the late 19th century with his wife and 9 surviving children. The mansion is listed on the National Heritage Register as one of the finest examples of original suburban estate in Australia. The garden is complex and covers almost 14 acres, which includes a large lake, extensive shrubberies and flower gardens, an orchard of historically significant fruit varieties, a fernery, rose gardens and many other features of historical, landscape and architectural interest, all forming the setting for the polychrome brick mansion completed in 1868.

Built in 1847, Como House and Garden is an intriguing mix of Australian Regency and classic Italianate architecture. Como offers a glimpse into the privileged lifestyle of former owners, the Armytage family, who lived there for nearly a century. Famous among Melbourne high society for its elegant dances, dinners and receptions, the Armytage home remains furnished with original family heirlooms.

McCrae Homestead is one of Victoria's oldest homesteads and is a physical reminder of the early pioneering life. Built in 1844 by Andrew and Georgiana McCrae, the homestead is a rare example of drop slab construction.

Labassa is an outstanding Victorian-era mansion with opulent architectural features. Labassa was home to Melbourne’s elite until 1920 when it was divided into flats. The residents included Hollywood’s first Australian silent film star and other colourful bohemians. Labassa is the most lavish of the few surviving nineteenth-century mansions and the magnificently restored interiors of the main rooms impress all its visitors.

Rich in flora, fauna and habitat diversity, Endeavour Fern Gully is Mornington Peninsula's original rain forest. A rural bushland remnant of 27 hectares of rain forest containing a variety of natural habitats and rich in local flora and fauna. A visit to Endeavour Fern Gully is to experience the original natural environment of the Mornington Peninsula.