Old Melbourne Gaol + Melbourne: Skydeck Experience Packages

Meet and greet thousands of aquatic animals at Melbourne's premier aquarium

Learn all about the history and natural habitats of Australia

Take a day trip to Melbourne or simply enjoy a cruise with convenient ferry rides

Established in 1851 & largely constructed from 1858 - 64, Pentridge is the largest prison complex built in Victoria in the 19th century. Until its closure in 1996, Pentridge was Victoria’s central prison & the most well-known and used gaol in the State’s history. Most of Victoria’s convicted & notorious criminals were jailed there between 1900 and the 1990s. The aesthetic significance of the 19th century prison buildings at Pentridge derives from their monumental scale & austere Classical style, expressive of the requirements of containment and order and typical of prison buildings in the 1850’s & 1860’s. It also derives from the use of ashlar bluestone, much of it quarried on site. Visitors can explore the former prison’s B Division and the notorious H Division. This is a place that challenges & confronts, deeply connected to the social & cultural fabric of Australia. The stories within this journey are deep, unique, & expose the intricacies of prison punishment.