Richmond Gaol
Richmond Gaol
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Richmond Gaol is the oldest fully intact convict Gaol in Australia. It was built 5 years before Port Arthur. It is rare in that it housed both male and female convicts. The cost is $12 per adult $6 per child and $30 per family. Discount for group bookings on request. Ph03 62602127
Suggested duration
< 1 hour
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Richmond Gaol and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
12 within 5 kms
Attractions
28 within 10 kms
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
650 reviews
Excellent
332
Very good
270
Average
37
Poor
9
Terrible
2
char5656
Adelaide, Australia347 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
The history of this goal is really interesting and the information provided in each room was really good. If you are interested in Goals this is a must visit.
Written 24 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daydream44832470856
7 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
Really enjoyed our visit to Richmond and this will be a highlight for anyone interested in discovering our history. Incredibly well preserved gaol with excellent modern interpretation. Don't miss it and make sure you stop at the Richmond Arms either before or after for a well earned drink.
Written 18 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PeterLangston
Tamworth, Australia1,005 contributions
Mar. 2023 • Couples
We started at the Old Richmond Gaol, where in 1825 a plentiful supply of convict labour was sent to Richmond to first build a gaol as a home for them and the a number of public infrastructure projects. One of those is the outstanding bridge which crosses the Coal River at the north end of the town.
The gaol was originally a one story, single building, with a room for women prisoners and one for men. This was extended owing to overcrowding, until it ended as four buildings flanking a central courtyard. By the completion of the buildings, there were two types of prisoners: convicts and debtors. The latter were low risk prisoners who couldn't pay their bills and their incarceration was a lot lighter that the former.
It was interesting but seems to need a bit of a rethink of how visitors absorb information now. The use of technology in providing commentary for each room for mobile phones would be a good start and more engaging than the speaker system used currently.
Cheap entry price,
The gaol was originally a one story, single building, with a room for women prisoners and one for men. This was extended owing to overcrowding, until it ended as four buildings flanking a central courtyard. By the completion of the buildings, there were two types of prisoners: convicts and debtors. The latter were low risk prisoners who couldn't pay their bills and their incarceration was a lot lighter that the former.
It was interesting but seems to need a bit of a rethink of how visitors absorb information now. The use of technology in providing commentary for each room for mobile phones would be a good start and more engaging than the speaker system used currently.
Cheap entry price,
Written 15 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lifelovetravelfood
Brisbane, Australia1,342 contributions
Jan. 2023 • Family
Small gaol that's worth a visit. Not an expensive attraction and easy to do with young kids. They found it a little boring as it's a lot of reading, but we still enjoyed it.
Written 17 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FyingKiwi
Christchurch, New Zealand940 contributions
Jan. 2023
Other than its exterior, devoid of any bars, it is now nothing more than an empty hall. There are no indications of it having been a gaol. The fact that it is located where it is though makes one wonder whether in the days it was used, prisoners were found guilty before being judged guilty.
Written 17 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, I'm not sure that you visited the correct place. Maybe you looked at the Richmond town hall or Court House? The Richmond Gaol is still in its original condition, consisting of solitary confinment cells and has Bars on all windows. Open daily 9-5 to explore.
Written 17 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BS Adventurer
Brisbane, Australia20 contributions
Dec. 2022 • Friends
Very friendly staff. The information panels in the rooms are very informative - and the stories of actual prisoners are placed throughout the buildings which makes the history a little more real.
Written 29 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guy B
Melbourne, Australia7 contributions
Dec. 2022
Basically, the building is a bunch of empty rooms. You could read the history online and have a look from the outside.
If you've been to Port Arthur or are not really into convict history, I'd give this one a miss.
If you've been to Port Arthur or are not really into convict history, I'd give this one a miss.
Written 7 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LyndaPerkins
Brisbane, Australia222 contributions
Nov. 2022
great place to go and step back in time, Took lots of photos and learnt lots of history
I feel this is a place everyone should visit and the little gift shop was amazing and bought lots of treasures to bring home for the grandkids
I feel this is a place everyone should visit and the little gift shop was amazing and bought lots of treasures to bring home for the grandkids
Written 15 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mez H
Newcastle, Australia105 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
We were no sooner through the front gate when you are overcome with a very ery feeling, by the time you have been through the women's solitary confinement you really want to leave but can't as you want the whole experience
Written 2 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JeanL
Brisbane Region, Australia121 contributions
Oct. 2022
Visited Richmond for the day and stopped to see the old Richmond Goal. Great insight into exactly what the convicts had to endure, the survivors certainly where tough to withstand the harsh and cruel conditions dealt out to them. Well worth the visit.
Written 22 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingRichmond Gaol: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Richmond Gaol
- Hotels near Richmond Gaol:
- (0.39 km) Richmond Barracks
- (0.21 km) The Richmond Arms
- (0.25 km) Mrs Currie's House
- (0.26 km) Bridge Cottage
- (0.48 km) Mulberry Cottage Unique B&B Accommodation
- Restaurants near Richmond Gaol:
- (0.16 km) Czegs' Cafe
- (0.10 km) Richmond Bakery and Cafe
- (0.10 km) Tasting House
- (0.18 km) Coal Valley Creamery
- (0.18 km) Richmond Chocolate Shop