Discover the rich history of Adelaide Gaol at your own pace anytime between 10am-4pm daily. We recommend allowing up to two hours for your experience.
What will I see?
From early prison life to the Adelaide Gaol's closure in the late 1980s, there were many remarkable characters who once populated this intriguing place so it's well worth learning via your self-led Adelaide tour.
Cell 18
In 2019 Adelaide Gaol worked with the award-winning team at illuminart to bring some of the most infamous stories of Adelaide Gaol to life. This unique art instillation was created from archival material, including oral histories taken shortly after the site's closure.
Mugshot Exhibition
Discover the rare and unique opportunity to learn the untold stories behind nine of Adelaide Gaol's convicted prisoners, many who were hanged for their crimes in the wing directly above The Mugshot Exhibition. The photographs were recently rediscovered within the Adelaide Gaol’s archives and have never been publically released, until now.
Archaeological Dig Site
Check out the archaeological dig by the South Australian Museum in the grounds of the Gaol. The dig revealed that the Gaol site was once a temporary site for the earliest white settlement of Adelaide. The dig uncovered finds reflecting the changing nature of prisoners' activities at Adelaide Gaol, their personal life and hidden secrets.
Adelaide Gaol Museum
Drop in to the interactive exhibition and touch the artefacts that were once used during Adelaide Gaol's operational life. Try on handcuffs and leg irons and get a feel for what it was like to wear them. Have a go at unpicking the locks and discover just how hard it was for prisoners to escape!
