Old Melbourne Gaol

On Russell Street in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, the Old Melbourne Gaol is a former prison and contemporary museum. It consists of a bluestone structure with a courtyard next to the historic City Police Watch House and City Courts buildings, as well as the Russell Street Police Headquarters. It was built in 1839 and jailed and killed some of Australia's most renowned offenders between 1845 and 1924, including bushranger Ned Kelly and serial murderer Frederick Bailey Deeming. Though it was temporarily utilized as a prison during World War II, it was officially closed as a prison in 1924, with sections of the prison becoming part of RMIT University and the remainder becoming a museum.

The three-story museum houses information and mementos from the inmates and employees, as well as death masks from the executed offenders. Before it was taken in 1978, the museum housed what was thought to be Ned Kelly's skull, as well as the pencil used by wrongfully convicted Colin Campbell Ross to declare his innocence in writing before being hanged.

Location: 377 Russell St, Melbourne, VIC 3000

Website: oldmelbournegaol.com.au