Adelaide Gaol
About This Museum
Tucked away just north of Adelaide's city centre, the formidable bluestone walls of the Adelaide Gaol have stood since 1841, a stark reminder of a harsher past. For nearly 150 years, this was a place of confinement and capital punishment, its corridors echoing with the stories of over 300,000 inmates. Today, you can walk those same corridors, from the cramped, cold cells to the hauntingly still execution yard. It’s an immersive, and at times chilling, journey into South Australia's penal history.
Collection Highlights
Don't miss the original hanging beam and gallows, a sobering exhibit that brings the prison's most severe history to the forefront. The museum also displays a vast collection of inmate-made artefacts, from intricate metal rings to escape tools, each one a testament to the human spirit confined within these walls.
Visitor Information
The gaol is open on weekends and most public holidays—check their website for specific times as they change seasonally. The famous ghost tours run on Friday and Saturday evenings; they're incredibly popular, so booking ahead is essential.
Architecture & Building
A classic example of a Victorian-era radial-design prison, built from local limestone and bluestone that feels cool to the touch even on a hot Australian day.
Contact & Location
Address: Adelaide Gaol, 18, Gaol Road, Adelaide, Adelaide City Council, South Australia, 5000, Australia
Phone: +61 8 8231 4062
Website: Visit Website
