Old Melbourne Gaol dominated the Melbourne skyline as a symbol of authority when it was built in the mid 1800s. Between 1842 and its closure in 1929 the gaol (jail) was the scene of 135 hangings including Australia's most infamous citizen, the bushranger Ned Kelly.

The Old Melbourne Gaol was the first extensive gaol complex in Victoria. It is located on Russell Street, between La Trobe and Victoria Streets behind the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and opposite the old Russell Street Police Station.

Ned Kelly

Ned Kelly and his gang are Australia's most famous bushrangers, pursued by police for robbery and murder, his capture was finally made after a gun fight with police at Glenrowan.

Edward "Ned" Kelly was born near Melbourne in January 1855 and hanged
at the Melbourne gaol on 11 November 1880.

Ned was brought to the Melbourne Gaol on June 29 1880 from Benalla, where he had spent a night in the cells after capture at Glenrowan. Ned was put in the Gaol hospital to recover. He had been badly injured at the so-called "Last Stand" shoot-out with police at Glenrowan. He was the only member of the gang of four to survive the battle.

Ned was questioned in the kitchen of the Gaol hospital while on remand. The only member of the police to survive the gun fight at Stringybark Creek, Constable McIntyre, stands behind Ned. After Ned had recovered from most of his wounds he was kept in solitary confinement and refused visitors, except for his mother Ellen. She was serving three years hard labour in the female wing of the Gaol for the supposed attempted murder of Constable Fitzpatrick in 1878. 

At nine o'clock on the morning of execution Ned was led out from the old cell block across the hospital gardens and into the second cell block (which had been completed in 1857).

He received the last sacraments from the priest who had baptised him as a baby. Twenty-seven official witnesses were present at the execution. 

Ned was led out onto the gallows. Elijah Upjohn, was the executioner.