Trial Bay Gaol

Have been here several times over the years and still find something interesting on every visit.
The intro video (continuously running in the room in the right-hand corner after entering the entry gates) gives a great description of the gaol that puts everything into perspective as you walk around.
Signage around the site is pretty informative if you have time to read it. Don't forget to have a look at the museum on the way out (through the left hand door as you exit the gates). It's over 2 levels which may not be accessible to everyone as there is a narrow staircase.

I love Australian history
And yes their is heaps of it.
A must to see if you like Australian history 👌

A must see place of you are nearby! Wonderful jail with a lot of history. Highly recommend the Twilight Tour (book ahead online). It's 1.5 hour with a very knowledgeable guide. Really explains the full story behind the place. Lots of signs with photos bring the history to life.

Very interesting place with lots of history. Definitely worth a visit. Oh and there were 3 resident roos living in the compound.

This is an excellent site for people who are looking for a taste of Australian history. Whilst being an aesthetically pleasing place to visit it holds a lot of information a out the prison itself - from when it was first created and used for and who even tried to escape.

Right next to it is a fantastic beach and a park with rocks you can stand upon and watch the ocean and waves. Haves a fantastic mini-museum and a great gift shop! On top of all this you get a fantastic view from the lookout.

Would highly recommend!

Wow, what an incredible piece of history! So well preserved. Great stories and information to help imagine the people kept at the gaol. A highlight of our trip to South West Rocks.

Interesting place - with remarkably no creepy vibes. A beautiful location, with interesting signage and a spectacular campsite below that is worth staying at. The jail was used intermittently as a reform/public works prison for good behaviour prisoners, to an internment camp for well-to-do German / other “enemies of the state” during WW1. Also site of indigenous significance (although not as much mentioned on that). And a failed breakwater project which sits as a reminder of failed public works projects from days of yore.

Interesting history. People who don't know the history of the past are doomed to make the same mistakes again. Get out there and learn the history of our past of our great nation

Nothing quite like learning about historic events and the world well before our time.
Had no idea the English treated the Germans so poorly but I guess that’s the way the world was back then.
There’s a small fee everyone must pay if you want to wander through Trial Bay Gaol and absorb the impressions of the people left behind in this place. Visitors can read through stories of prisoners and why they ended up in here and the daily sufferings of abuse victims had to endure for months and years as a consequence for their petty crimes which wasn’t petty back then. After all we are referring to 1885 where life was a lot harder and small crimes sometimes punishable by death.

On a more positive note. Visitors get to see another part of Trial Bay Gaol. As you walk around to the rear from the entrance and climb a set of stairs. You’ll get to enjoy picturesque ocean scenery and wonder wildly and differently from what you’ve just learnt about life way back then.

It’s obvious the workers of Trial Bay Gaol had it good. So glad to live in times where jails like this … merely exist. Society as a whole had become more open to kindness rather than cruelty and violence. But who knows what the world will become in 50 - 100 years from now. Places like this sure do make you wonder.

Great visit lots to see and read, roaming kangaroos and Joey's and right next to a beautiful beach and campsite

very interesting spot and learnt a bit history as well - worth a quick visit

Well worth the $11 entry fee. I really enjoyed my time there. So much to explore. Plus as an added bonus you get to see the kangaroos that live there and the lookout if South West Rocks just sensational. The staff were friendly. You can go into the cells, watch a 10min documentary, there’s a museum and much more. Full 1min versions of videos on my YouTube page.

A very interesting and enigmatic place to visit. Awesome photo opportunities and an exquisite view up the coast from the car park. Great value at $11 per adult. BYO picnic lunch for food tho, they only sell ice creams and sparkling spring water at the reception

If you like history then this is the place for you.
As you walk around you will be captivated by what it would feel like to be a prisoner back in the day.
Don’t forget to have a look in the little museum just as you go through the entry on your right.
And take the short walk up the hill to where you will find the graves and an amazing view of the goal.

Excellent little slice of Australian History.

Kids loved reading about the prisoners, and what the different buildings were used for. There is a very small entry fee, but it's worth the spend. The location is stunning now... but must have seemed like the end of the earth in the 1800's.

Grounds were full of Grey Kangaroos, and we even glimpsed a tree snake sunning on the wall near the guards tower!

Highly recommend the after dark tours. Brilliant knowledge of the landmark and comedy to boot. Well worth the small entry fee.

Well worth a visit - and perhaps if you are lucky when there, you might get to see some migrating whales, from the carpark space, out front

Trial Bay Gaol is a excellent place to see a little of Australia's history. It was such a great time exploring the grounds. There was a small entry fee of $10 but this was defiantly worth it. Spend around 2 hours just walking around looking at all the different cells and sights.

Beautiful area and good to see the history being preserved. Happy to pay the full price entrance fee to support the works. National parks are doing a great job here. Thumbs up!

Loved the bush walk to Monument Hill and then on to Little Bay Picnic Area.