Step back in time and explore the layered and often confronting history of crime, punishment, and community in Ballarat at the historic Ballarat Gaol site.

Join their knowledgeable guides as they lead you through the remnants of this once formidable prison, sharing stories that reveal Ballarat’s criminal past and the wider social world of the gold rush era.

This year’s tours place a special focus on the experiences of the Chinese community in colonial Ballarat, examining how racism, policing, and the justice system shaped everyday life on the goldfields. Through stories, historical interpretation, and exhibition material, visitors will gain new insight into the challenges faced by Chinese migrants and their place within the history of the gaol and the wider region.

Visitors can also explore exhibitions featuring artefacts, blueprints, and images from the site. This year we also feature student projects on the complex history of solitary confinement at Ballarat Gaol, alongside artefacts from Old Melbourne Gaol and Old Geelong Gaol that help tell this difficult story.