maitland prison tours'

Sign Up Today

Start your 14 day free trial today

The History Hit Miscellany of Facts, Figures and Fascinating Finds

Maitland Gaol

Maitland, New South Wales, Australia

Maitland Gaol was Australia’s longest continuously operating prison and now operates as a museum and tourist attraction.

Antara Bate

24 nov 2020.

About Maitland Gaol

Maitland Gaol in New South Wales was Australia’s longest continuously operating prison before being closed and reinvented as a museum and tourist attraction.

First opened in 1848, Maitland was finally shut in 1998 as part of a general upgrade to Australia’s prison system.

Maitland Gaol history

For almost 150 years Maitland Gaol kept some of Australia’s most infamous criminals contained behind its towering sandstone walls and razor wire fencing.

The award-winning tourist attraction is one of around a dozen historic gaols and similar sites that are now open to the public across Australia, providing an insight into the country’s prison system, as well as many other aspects of early life in the colony.

Maitland Gaol was built in the mid-1800s using sandstone sourced from the local area including Morpeth and Farley. Positioned prominently on top of a hill in East Maitland, the foundation stone was laid in 1844, with the first prisoners incarcerated in the multi-building complex in December 1848.

The gaol was built over several stages between 1844 and 1900, with much of the masonry work carried out by prisoners. Some additions and alterations were undertaken in the late 1960s and ’70s yet the closure of the gaol was announced in 1996 as part of an upgrade to the state’s prison system.

Maitland Gaol closed as a maximum-security prison on January 29, 1998, with the honour of being Australia’s oldest structure in continuous use as a gaol. Thirteen months later Maitland City Council was awarded a 50-year lease for the site, with plans to adaptively reuse the Gaol as a museum. The Gaol was also added to the State Heritage Register in 1999.

Over the years since being reopened as a tourist attraction, a number of guided tours have been developed at the Gaol.

The Gaol was also the site of numerous daring escapes, with almost 40 attempts made throughout its history, although most of them failed. The last recorded escape plot, on May 17, 1997, was thwarted before it even began.

Guided tours led by ex-warders and ex-inmates are among the Gaols’ most popular offerings, providing a unique perspective into life behind bars with stories that are not for the faint-hearted.

Maitland Gaol is rumoured to be the most haunted site in the Hunter, making its regular ghost tours another popular activity for those curious about the paranormal.

Maitland Gaol today

Thousands of visitors from all over the world visit the convict-built structure every year to explore the stories of what life was like behind its grim stone walls. Today, visitors to Maitland Gaol can learn about its vibrant history, which spanned more than 150 years.

Maitland Gaol doesn’t contain signage with information for our visitors to read, instead, a self-guided audio tour is available, along with a number of guided tour options. Each tour has a route to follow and visitors are provided with a map of the site.

Getting to Maitland Gaol

Maitland Gaol is located at 6-18 John Street in East Maitland. Visitors can take the train to Maitland Gol, East Maitland Train station is located 100m away from the entrance of Maitland Gaol.

Featured In

Famous Prisons

Discover the most famous prisons in the world, from Alcatraz to the Devil's Island, where you can follow in the footsteps of the world’s most high profile prisoners in these notorious penitentiaries.

Australia Historic Sites

Discover the best Historic Sites in Australia, from Hyde Park Barracks to Fort Scratchley.

Related Articles

Hiram Bingham III and the Forgotten Inca City of Machu Picchu

‘Whisky Galore!’: Shipwrecks and their ‘Lost’ Cargo

Watch and listen.

The Biggest Prison Breakout of WW2

Arnhem For Ever: A Pilgrimage

You may also like.

The World’s 10 Best Dinosaur Museums

Important Maritime Museums to Visit Around the World

10 of the Most Famous Shipwrecks Around the World

10 of the World’s Most Beautiful Cemeteries to Visit

12 of the Most Haunted Hotels in the World

The 10 Most Intriguing Medical Museums in the World

15 of the Most Haunted Places in the World

12 Eerie Cemeteries to Visit Around the World

10 Key Historic Sites from the British Empire

The World’s Most Notorious Historic Prisons

10 of the Best Historic Sites and Heritage Locations in Australia

Darwin Military Museum

Fort Scratchley

Port Arthur

• Tours and Tickets
• Book a Space
• School Holidays
• Meeting spaces
• Get Out Escape Rooms
• Battlezone Playlive Laser Tag
• Bitter & Twisted Boutique Beer Festival
• How to Get Here
• FAQ’s
• Gift Vouchers
• Accessibility
• Snitch’s Spot
• Goodies for Grownups
• Private Tours
• General History
• Share your stories
• Family Research
• Other Justice Museums
• Conservation Works
• Maitland Gaol Development Plan
• Maitland Gaol Tower Experience
• Site Information
• @MaitlandGaol Social Media House Rules

MAITLAND GAOL TO CLOSE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Maitland City Council has announced the immediate closure of Maitland Gaol following an independent safety review of the site including the fire and electrical systems.

The Gaol, which is managed by Council on behalf of the NSW Government, will be closed until further notice while an assessment of required repair work and associated costs takes place. All tours and planned events have been cancelled and refunds will be provided.

Maitland Council is working with businesses and community groups who use Gaol facilities and will assist where possible in finding alternate arrangements.

General Manager Jeff Smith says ‘this decision has not been taken lightly but the safety of Council staff, visitors and the Maitland community is of the utmost importance.’

‘As a 170 year old heritage site, Maitland Gaol has always required ongoing specialist maintenance but it has now become clear that the safety issues pose a risk to staff and visitors leaving me no choice but to close the site,’ Mr Smith says.

Maitland Council will provide regular public updates about the status of repair work and ongoing communication with community stakeholders.

For more information regarding event cancellation or obtaining refunds for booked tours, please contact [email protected]

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER GREAT ATTRACTIONS IN MAITLAND, PLEASE VISIT MYMAITLAND.COM.AU

Maitland Gaol tour: chasing ghosts in a notorious prison

Maitland Gaol closed in 1998, but is now open to the public as a museum. Read more about visiting and what you should expect to see or experience during a Maitland Gaol tour.

“It was here in the C-Wing that notorious prisoners Ivan Milat and George Savvas plotted to escape in 1997. Their attempt was thwarted and the two, separated. George Savvas was found dead , twenty four hours after what would have been the day of their escape… in the very cell you stand in now.”

. .. …

I looked around the cell block, nervously. I was alone in the C-Wing, the last cell block constructed at Maitland Gaol. Doors were routinely slamming behind me as I walked through the wing. Was it the wind? Or something else…?

I think it was fair to say I was officially freaked out. And as I was currently standing in Australia’s most notorious prison, with the evidence of prisoner’s past still on display on every wall and around each corner, I had every right to feel this way.

This post forms part of my guide to the Hunter region of NSW. See things to do in Lake Macquarie and the best beaches in Newcastle . And here’s some suggestions of wonderful weekend getaways in New South Wales .

What to expect on a Maitland Gaol tour

Well, what can I tell you about Maitland gAOL? Apart from the fact that the building it is possibly/probably haunted, which can be rather thrilling if you’re into that sort of thing.

It’s certainly a top thing to do in Maitland . If you’re spending any sort of time in the Lower Hunter, you should sign up for Maitland Gaol tour.

Maitland Gaol history

The Gaol first opened its doors to unwilling occupants on 31 December, 1848 (making it pretty much ancient in colonial Australian terms). At the time it consisted of merely what is now known as the “A Wing”.

Everything started off hunky dory, with the male prisoners being housed in the ground floor cells and women contained in the floor above them.

They were grouped together at first, although the cells were soon turned into single units.

This was done under the theory that criminals would repent and find salvation, if left alone with only their thoughts for company. Of course.

Women were removed from the gaol in the 1950s, when it became male only territory. As the years went by, it got overcrowded, holding more prisoners than it could possibly cope with.

These tiny single cells could see three people housed in them at one time.

Part of the reason that it closed in 1998, was because it was an 1840s gaol trying to meet 1990s conditions… a feat which would prove to be impossible.

Life at Maitland Gaol

You could get a better insight into what life was like in prison from taking a Maitland Gaol tour, than from let’s say, binge-watching Orange is the New Black .

There was a code of conduct between prisoners – you could be a murderer, a thief, or a thug and you’d probably find some sort of acceptance within the gaol.

Those who hurt children or animals were considered to be completely intolerant to other criminals and often had to be kept in isolation, for fear of their safety.

Maitland Gaol was the setting for 16 executions, before Australia abolished capital punishment forever (federally in 1973, although Queensland kicked things off in 1922 and New South Wales, dragging their feet, didn’t completely abolish it until 1985).

The last execution in Maitland took place on 21 May 1897, when Charles Hines was hanged for raping his step daughter, despite protesting his innocence all the way to the gallows.

Australia has been forward thinking in some ways, not so much in others. Homosexuality was illegal in the state of New South Wales until 1984, although the last prisoner flogged for homosexuality was in 1905.

Overall, it was not a fun place to be, as you might imagine. Prisoners were miserable. Wardens were miserable and quite a few escapes were made over the years.

Escapes at Maitland Gaol

Maitland Gaol achieved some notoriety for some of these escapes, particularly those plotted by high profile criminals.

In 1977, Raymond John Denning and six other prisoners made their escape through an air vent in the showers.

How did they do this? They lured the supervising officer out of the block and cut off the grills of the vent, before climbing through.

The group stood out like sore thumbs as they ran across Maitland and were seized and hurled back inside.

Just one of the many things you’ll hear about on a Maitland Gaol tour.

Twenty years later, another attempt was made by the aforementioned Backpacker Killer Ivan Milat and George Savvas in May, 1997. The attempt was thwarted by staff and the two, separated.

Savvas was housed in C-Wing and found dead the day after he and Milat would have attempted their escape, with the coroner ruling his death a suicide.

Milat was transferred out of Maitland, to continue serving out his life sentence in Goulbourn (a town known for its giant Merino Big Thing ).

Taking a Maitland Gaol tour

These days, the gaol exists as a museum, one that visitors to the area have the opportunity to tour for themselves.

Self guided tours are available every day of the week – 9am–4pm Monday to Friday and 10am–4pm on weekends (make sure you get in before 3pm).

These cost $19 a pop, at the time of writing. You’re given a map and your own guide and are free to wander around the gaol to your heart’s content.

You start at the visitor’s room and continue through the C, B, and A blocks, then onto the kitchen, the hospital, the chapel and the industry centre.

It’s an easy way to get a solid overview of the history and impact of Maitland Gaol on its inmates, staff and the surrounding community.

There are a bunch of other tours on offer, for those wanting to get a little more out of the experience.

Ex-Wardens offer tours by day, or night for people who are far less wimpy than I am. It’s a chance to hear first hand, the harrowing stories of those who experienced the worst aspects of the gaol. Tickets are $28 for adults and $22 for children for day tours – tack another $5 on the ticket price and BYO torch for a night time tour.

There are a bunch of other specialised tours, including the Psychic Experience , where you’ll hear some ghost tales and possibly be lucky enough to get your palm read at the end.

Fancy yourself a Ghostbuster? Maybe the Ghosthunting 101 Tour is for you.

There have been spooky sightings at the gaol, so you may be lucky (or unlucky) enough to experience one yourself.

There’s plenty of other tours and experiences to choose from .

Getting to Maitland Gaol

The Gaol is a highlight of the Hunter region, a perfect little detour for those who perhaps plan on visiting the nearby wine region. It’s a two hour drive from Sydney and only half an hour from Newcastle , so worth considered if you’re making a trip to Australia’s neatest coastal city.

Should you do a Maitland Gaol tour?

Maitland gaol is a top dark tourism destination in Australia and definitely worth visiting.

I’ve been through a few ex-gaols in Oz (as a visitor, not a ‘guest’!) and this is one of the best.

Definitely put it on your list of things to do in the Lower Hunter, whether you live here or are just passing through.

For more, check out this article on creepy Australian urban legends and discover the most haunted places to visit in Melbourne .

Like this post? Pin it for future reference 📌

All prices are in Australian dollars.

Similar Posts

27 fun & quirky date ideas in Sydney

Whether you’re single and playing the field or in a long-term relationship, you don’t want to find yourself doing the same thing, time and time again. Check out these quirky Sydney date ideas, which are sure to impress on your next day or night out. You’ve met someone you fancy. You’re chatting online. Things are…

Perth to Kalbarri road trip: 5 day itinerary for 2023

If you want to take in a bit of Western Australia’s luscious coastline, plan a road trip from Perth to Kalbarri.

Go for gold: 18 things to do in Bendigo

Just two hours from Melbourne, this historic city has a lot to offer. Discover things to do in Bendigo and where to eat, drink and stay.

Open House Melbourne: Exploring the City’s Historical Buildings

There are various cities around the world who for two days of the year, fling open the doors of buildings that normally deny access to the public. They’re known as Open House [insert whichever city is in question here] (such as London, Bendigo, etc) and it’s quite simply, a marvellous event. Melbourne is one such…

3 days in Adelaide itinerary: 2023 guide for first-timers

Adelaide is one of Australia’s most underrated destinations. Make the most of your time in the city with this extensive guide.

11 fun things to do in Maldon, Victoria

Maldon is a small town found in Victoria’s Goldfields region. It was named Australia’s First Notable Town in 1966, due to its authentic appearance – it’s been almost perfectly preserved since the goldrush era of the 1850’s. Find out why you should visit, some things to do in Maldon, Victoria and spend some time drooling…

27 Comments

Oh, this is a very spooky place! An interesting blog to read, thank you.

No worries!

It was very resourceful turning this unused gaol into a tourist attraction. I can outright say that I wouldn’t want to spend a night here!

I’m not too keen, either!

What an interesting blog! Sounds a little bit scary! Not sure if I would stay a night here! Lol. Keep up the great content! 🙂

Haha dunno if I would, either.

An interesting place for a visit! We always travel with the kids and I’m wondering what they would think about this place??!!

It would be a great way to introduce the legal system! We always read about things before we go so the kids will have a greater understanding of the things we see during an adventure!

There are always stacks of kids at the gaol and it’s well catered to suit them (particularly the interactive tours). Kids are so fearless, I suppose because they don’t think, they just do!

Also the jolly nice and free Maitland gallery is just round the corner too!

With their delicious golden lattes – yum, yum!

This sounds amazing. I’m kind of obsessed with serial killers (in a totally non-creepy way!) so staying here overnight would be like a dream come true for me. Can I also just take a moment to say that homosexuality has been legal in Old South Wales since 1967 AND you can get married these days. OSW 1 – 0 NSW 😉

The psychology of them is really interesting and there were some real creeps housed at Maitland. Yeah, we’re so far behind, in so many ways these days. Fun factoid – the Australian crest has an emu and kangaroo on it, because neither animal can move backwards and our federation fathers wanted it to be a country intent on “moving forwards”. I’m sure they’re turning in their graves.

I’m from Adelaide & while i know of Ivan Milat and George Savvas of course, I didn’t know anything about Maitland Gaol. How fascinating & that’s interesting that you can visit on a tour as well or even stay for the night?! I will have to think about at least 1 of those options!

Yeah they’ve done well with making it accessible for everyone of different ages and… well levels of nerve, haha.

Very spooky! I bet there are some serious conspiracy theories behind his death…? II’m probably on the East Coast (well, I am now… but further north I guess) in February.. I will have to check this out!…… but not for a night tour. No. No way. 😉

I’m sure there were – it’s all very suspect! It’s worth coming to Newcastle if you’re heading east side and the Gaol isn’t too far away from it.

What a cool place to visit. That would be interesting to be able to stay the night there. I haven’t seen a place like that before.

I’m sure there’s a few of them littered around the world!

What a creepy experience it must have been! Sounds very interesting, though. I didn’t know that same sex marriage is still not legal in Australia…I hope they change that soon 🙂

Yeah me too, I’m really ashamed of that fact. That and our stupidly slow internet puts us very far behind other developed countries.

I’ve never heard of this before, but it sounds so creepy! Like omg…you had me at the opening line. Cool to hear a bit of the history surrounding this site!

Super creepy! I nearly peed my pants.

I t looks so modern to say it was built in 1848!! I have visited a few prisons in the past so if I was in the area I would visit this one. It would be interesting to get a tour from an old prison guard, am sure they would have lots of stories to tell!!

Ah, the first block was built in the 1840s and other blocks added after, but conditions were apparently pretty rough even in the 1990s… fantastic piece of local history. I’d love to go to one of those tours, too!

This was in interesting read…I can read posts on jails…but I dont like to go on a tour that takes me there. It makes me feel depressed. I saw on in Bolivia, but again, only from the outside. Thanks for sharing the interesting stories here.

I have never visited an ex prison before but I can see why the place was terrifying. If you choose to spend the night there do you actually sleep in the same cells? Alone? I guess it would be an interesting trip for a ghost hunting experience.

You book as a group and sleep in an entire wing together. Had a chance to do it when I was 17, but didn’t… slight regret now!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

New tour at Maitland Gaol takes you all along the watchtower

For the first time in 175 years, visitors to Maitland Gaol will be allowed access to the metal catwalks once patrolled by armed officers.

From Thursday 7 December, the new Tower Tour will give both newcomers and returning visitors a brand new view of the former maximum security prison, after walking up a spiral staircase built inside the thick sandstone walls.

‘The Tower Tour is an exciting opportunity for us,’ says Maitland Gaol’s Heritage Interpretation Specialist Zoe Whiting.

‘Not only is it a new way to interpret the Gaol’s heritage, but visitors will also have a unique perspective of its position near key parts of East Maitland like the railway station and former courthouse.’

These armed posts provided a bird’s eye view to the day to day life below, and ‘were responsible for the safety of fellow officers and security of the site’, Ms Whiting said.

‘As you move along the catwalk, your guide will explore how the towers were operated as a security measure, when they were used in a crisis and the working conditions for staff that occupied them.

‘We want to identify changes in how the towers were used and examine the impact of the towers on staff and prisoners.

‘There’s so much history and heritage at Maitland Gaol we’re confident the Tower Tour will attract both new and returning visitors.’

The Tower Tour is proudly supported by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, through the 2020-21 Experience Enhancement Fund.

More than $11.7 million worth of additional works at Maitland Gaol will be funded by over $10 million in State and Federal funding announced in January 2022.

Tickets for the Tower Tour are on sale from today and can be purchased individually or as an add on for other guided tours. For more information and to book, visit www.maitlandgaol.com.au .

Recent News

home | about | advertise | contact

• Michelle Meehan
• Jul 16, 2020

Step Back in Time - Maitland Gaol

For almost 150 years it kept some of Australia’s most infamous criminals contained behind its towering sandstone walls and razor wire fencing. These days, however, Maitland Gaol welcomes a far more law-abiding crowd through its foreboding iron gates.

Thousands of visitors from all over the world flock to the commanding convict-built structure every year to explore the fascinating, frightening and sometimes far-fetched sounding stories of what life was like behind its grim stone walls.

The award-winning tourist attraction is one of around a dozen historic gaols and similar sites that are now open to the public across Australia, providing an insight into the country’s prison system, as well as many other aspects of early life in the colony.

Positioned prominently on top of a hill in East Maitland, Maitland Gaol was built in the mid-1800s using sandstone sourced from the local area including Morpeth and Farley. The foundation stone was laid in 1844, with the first prisoners incarcerated in the multi-building complex in December 1848.

The gaol was built over several stages between 1844 and 1900, with much of the masonry work carried out by prisoners. While some additions and alterations were undertaken in the late 1960s and ’70s, the closure of the gaol was announced in 1996 as part of an upgrade to the state’s prison system. It was determined that security at the site no longer met community expectations, while the overall conditions were considered unsuitable and the cost of operating the antiquated facility was excessive.

Maitland Gaol closed as a maximum security prison on January 29, 1998, with the honour of being Australia’s oldest structure in continuous use as a gaol. Thirteen months later Maitland City Council was awarded a 50-year lease for the site, with plans to adaptively reuse the Gaol as a museum. The Gaol was also added to the State Heritage Register in 1999.

Over the years since being reopened as a tourist attraction, a number of guided tours have been developed at the Gaol, with themes covering everything from crimes of passion to daring escapes.

There is certainly plenty of source material to draw from for the tours, with the Gaol housing some of the country’s most notorious criminals at one time or another. Previous ‘guests’ included Sydney underworld figure Arthur 'Neddy' Smith, John Travis and the Murphy Brothers, who were convicted of the murder of 26-year-old nurse Anita Cobby, bank robber Darcy Dugan and backpacker serial killer Ivan Milat.

A total of 16 executions (carried out as public hangings until 1861) were enacted on the Maitland Gaol site between 1843 and 1897, including 13 for murder and three for rape, while the last corporal punishment in NSW – the whipping of an inmate – occurred at Maitland in 1905. The Gaol was also the site of numerous daring escapes, with almost 40 attempts made throughout its history, although most of them failed.

The last recorded escape plot, on May 17, 1997, was thwarted before it even began after drug baron George Savvas, Milat and two other prisoners planned to overpower the prison officer in A Wing, steal his keys and use them to gain access to the general yard. From here they would have escaped over the wall to a car waiting for them on the other side. However, increased security regulations meant the plot was uncovered before it could be put into action.

Not surprisingly, the ex-warder and ex-inmate guided tours are among the Gaols’ most popular offerings, providing a unique perspective into life behind bars with stories that are not for the faint-hearted.

Among those who believe, Maitland Gaol is said to be the most haunted site in the Hunter, making its regular ghost tours another popular activity for those curious about the paranormal.

For more information about its history and the wide variety of activities now on offer at the site, visit www.maitlandgaol.com.au

• FEATURE ARTICLES
• THINGS TO SEE | THINGS TO DO

PETERSON HOUSE

March-April Monthly Market Fix

Rural Museums Step into the Spotlight at Maitland Regional Art Gallery

Maitland is the Star in a New Edition of Monopoly

Signature Wines

Significance of Signature Wines

Tower Whiskey Distillery

Tamburlaine Organic Wines

Hunter Valley Gardens Shopping Village

A Magical Autumn Experience | Beyond Ballooning

Making Memorable Moments at Mega Creatures!

Incredible Transformation of Award-Winning Winery | Winmark Estate

International Secrets of Exquisite Chocolate Right Here in Wine Country! | Hunter Valley Chocolate Co.

Sabor in the Hunter

Celebrating the Season's Bounty at Hunters Quarter

Raise Your Glass to a New Beginning at Savannah Estate

Old But Far from Old-Fashioned | The Parish of Pokolbin

Autumn Dining Guide

Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival 2024

A Little Bit of Broke

Hunter Valley Holi Festival

Live Music at Lovedale Bar and Grill

Tatler Easter Family Day

The Good Old Days of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Smokin Hot BBQ Masterclass

Easter Weekend at Chateau Elan

Red Hot Summer Tour

Easter Long Weekend at Harrigans

A Day on the Green with Chris Isaak

Hunter Valley Steamfest

Bimbadgen Pizza Sunday sessions

A Day on the Green with James Taylor

Low and Slow Smoking Masterclass

The Gum Ball Music Festival

Summer/Autumn Dining Guide

Live Music @ Harrigans

White Party Featuring DJ Havana Brown

Wollombi Exhibition

Locals Night

The Wharf Revue: Pride in Prejudice

An Afternoon at the Opera

Stomp! 2024

A Night with Van-Anh Nguyen and Lisa McGuigan

Maitland Show

Winemaker's Table Lunch

Sourdough Master Class

Dining Under the Stars

Huntlee Tavern

Sunset Vibes

Vintage Dinner

Maitland Gaol: What To Know Before Your Visit to This Former Maximum Security Prison – CURRENTLY CLOSED

Home > Museums & Galleries > Maitland Gaol: What To Know Before Your Visit to This Former Maximum Security Prison – CURRENTLY CLOSED

For an experience your family won’t forget, take your kids on a tour of Maitland Gaol in East Maitland, New South Wales.

20 MARCH 2024 UPDATE: Following an independent safety review of the Maitland Gaol site including the fire and electrical systems, Maitland City Council has made the decision to CLOSE THE SITE until further notice.

This tourist attraction isn’t for the faint-hearted but it’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in local history and learn more about Maitland Gaol, a heritage-listed former prison.

As you approach Maitland Gaol, you’ll notice its large imposing sandstone structure, high walls and barbed and razor wire. It’s an introduction to the penal conditions you’ll find inside.

Opened in 1848, Maitland Gaol has a vibrant history operating as a correctional facility spanning more than 150 years including a maximum security prison. The heritage-listed site is preserved as exactly as it was upon its closure in 1998.

Visit Maitland Gaol and you can experience what life was like for inmates serving time. Unlike other museums, there are no interpretative signs for visitors to read.

Instead, you’ll need to take a tour, either a guided tour or a self-guided audio tour to learn about the buildings you’re walking through. The lack of signage definitely makes the facility feel less like a museum and more authentic. It feels like inmates might return at any moment.

In terms of the atmosphere, Maitland Gaol delivers. You definitely get a sense of what life was like for the inmates. The high walls, razor and barbed wire and watch tower add to the prison feel.

If you opt for a guided tour, choose the 150 Years Under Lock and Key or the Escapes tour. These are suitable for family groups. Some of the other tours contain content not suitable for kids.

If you choose to do the self-guided tour, you’ll need to bring your own device and headphones. Download the Maitland Gaol App available in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and choose from one of the tour tracks to listen to while walking around the gaol.

The audio track for kids is Snitch’s Gaol Exploration . The narrator is a ghost rat who arrived with the first inmates in 1848. Snitch with the help of his friends shares secrets and stories of Maitland Gaol. Just be ready for Snitch’s accent and his jailhouse slang.

Each of the audio tracks corresponds to a different area of the gaol and there are coloured decals on the buildings which indicate which track to listen to. Snitch’s Gaol Exploration is aimed at primary school-aged children but parents can listen to it too. If a kids track isn’t for you, choose the Maitland Gaol Revealed audio track instead while you tour the facility.

The tour takes you throughout the site and is full of interesting information and anecdotes, moderated for kids.

The different buildings at Maitland Gaol each have their own story. A Wing was the first wing to be built at Maitland Gaol and housed men downstairs and women and their kids upstairs. It’s a bleak spot. It’s also where condemned men spent their final days before execution by hanging.

Explore the Chapel. With its stained-glass windows, it provides a respite from the jail conditions, much like it did for the inmates each Sunday.

In the shower block, you’ll learn how seven inmates escaped through a red exhaust vent in September 1977.

Looking at this narrow space, you’ll marvel how the “’Magnificent Seven” as they were dubbed managed to squeeze through. Although they managed to break out of Maitland Gaol, they were all recaptured within two hours.

To really experience life in gaol, walk through the cell blocks and go into a cell and close the door. Each prison block has at least one cell that you can wander through.

Seeing the confined space, small bed and thin mattress, open toilet reveals the conditions that inmates had to endure. The graffiti and drawings on the wall add to the experience.

The absence of light in these buildings are especially noticeable. We visited on a bright sunny day yet when we toured through some of the buildings and walked into cells, it was dark and dreary with little natural light.

In terms of the inmates, there were some that definitely deserved to be incarcerated. Venture through C Wing which was originally opened in 1897 for female prisoners and their children.

It was used in its final five years from 1993 to 1998 to house some of NSW’s worst offenders whose crimes made them unsafe to be with the other inmates.

The newest building at Maitland Gaol is 5-Wing, It was built in 1993 and was designed to be a high security area for inmates who had committed the most heinous crimes or serious crimes against other inmates. This is where backpacker murderer Ivan Milat was imprisoned.

In contrast, there were other inmates whose crimes seem minor especially some of the early female inmates whose crimes include petty theft, public drunkenness or keeping a disorderly house (running a brothel).

Maitland Gaol is a fascinating walk through penal history but you’ll appreciate the taste of freedom as you leave!

Good to Know

Website: Maitland Gaol

Suitability: We would recommend this for older primary school-aged kids and teens. Snitch’s Gaol Exploration self-directed tour at Maitland Gaol is aimed for primary school-aged kids. We would recommend kids 8+ listen to this tour.

If your kids are sensitive or prone to nightmares, maybe skip visiting Maitland Gaol. If you’re not sure if the content of Snitch’s Gaol Exploration is appropriate for your kids, you can listen to it beforehand by downloading the app and tour track.

Cost: It costs from $19 for adults and $13 for kids aged 5 and over for a self-guided audio tour. For a guided tour, adults are from $30 and kids aged 5 and over are $24.

Tours: Choose from guided tours or self-directed tours. Allow 60 – 90 minutes for the audio tours. If you want to leave the kids at home and experience a more harrowing tour, choose a night tour. There are a few to choose from including the Psychic Experience tour, Crimes of Passion Night Tour or a Ghost Hunting Tour.

If you visit during school holidays, sign the kids up for kids activity. There are different sessions each holiday with fun activities to explain the history of Maitland Gaol.

Opening Hours: Maitland Gaol is open 7 days a week. Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm and 10am to 4pm on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

Getting There: Maitland Gaol is located at 6 – 18 John Street in East Maitland. For a fun excursion, catch the train to Maitland Gaol. East Maitland Train Station is located 100m to the entrance of Maitland Gaol.

Cafe: Bread and Water Cafe is located in the former Warden’s Cafeteria and is the region’s first 100% gluten free cafe.

Additional Activities: You can book a session of laser tag at Maitland Gaol with Battlezone Playlive Laser Tag. Want to escape from Maitland Gaol. Get Out Escape Rooms have launched their first escape game, Jail Breakout! Situated in cells of the notorious 5 wing, you can take part in a thrilling and realistic live game experience.

Disclosure: Newy with Kids received free admission to Maitland Gaol for review purposes. However, all opinions are our own.

You might also like:

Visit Maitland Park Playground

Enjoy a Family Day Out at Morpeth

15 Things to Do in Maitland With Kids

Started in late 2012 by a local mum, Newy with Kids has grown into a thriving go-to family guide for the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter region. Parents visit the Newy with Kids website to find things to do with babies, kids and teens. Whether it’s local attractions, upcoming events, kids eat free, school holiday activities or birthday party ideas, Newy with Kids is the best website for local parents to find local kid-friendly activities and information 24/7.

Newy with Kids

We’re the go-to family guide for the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter region.

Whether it’s local attractions, upcoming events, kids eat free, school holiday activities or birthday party ideas, Newy with Kids is the best website to find local kid-friendly activities and information 24/7.

Advertising

Privacy Policy

Newsletter Subscribe

Quick links

Parks & Playgrounds

School Holidays

Family Day Out

Newy with Kids acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we live, play and work. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continued connection to the land and waters of this country.

© 2024 Newy with Kids

Five of the Most Fascinating Prison Museums in America

From Alcatraz to Cell Block 7, these jails now hold tours instead of prisoners

Jennifer Billock

Travel Correspondent

Since the 1980s, mass incarceration has become a booming business in the United States, with 670 people out of every 100,000 becoming a prisoner. And it’s not because we have more criminals, either—research shows that this change is thanks to alterations of sentencing law and policy. The boom has led to prison overcrowding , which in the 1990s meant we needed to build bigger and better prisons. Many states simply didn’t have the capital to remodel or demolish the prisons. So instead, they turned to dark tourism.

Dark tourism is the travel industry surrounding places that are linked to suffering or death—think Chernobyl and the Sedlec Ossuary , a "church of bones" in the Czech Republic. Abandoned prisons easily fell in line with that ethos, and so in order to save the costs of drastically altering or removing a building, prison museums began to open inside the former facilities. With some dating back 180 years, these prison museums offer a fascinating look into the lives of some of our country's most notorious prisoners.

Squirrel Cage Jail; Council Bluffs, Iowa

Built in 1885, this Iowa jail was one of the most unique styles in prison history. It’s a rotary jail—meaning the facility has a cylinder of pie-shaped cells attached to a central pole. When the warden turned a hand crank, the entire jail shifted, locking prisoners away without access to a door. It was meant to be a simple way to control an entire jail at once. Many of these types of jails popped up in the Midwest in the late 1800s. Squirrel Cage was the only one with three stories. This unique style of jail fell out of fashion thanks to accidental amputations when the cells turned, poor lighting and ventilation, mechanical issues and fire hazards. Only three of the original 18 or so built remain, and they all operate as museums: Squirrel Cage, Gallatin and Montgomery County (which is the only one that can still rotate).

Alcatraz; San Francisco, California

Alcatraz may only have operated federally from 1934 to 1963, but it quickly took its place as one of the most infamous prisons in the world. Al Capone faced time here, as did killer Robert Stroud. Prior to "The Rock" as we know it today, though, Alcatraz Island served as a military prison in the 1800s. Inmates consistently worked to build new cellblocks, and when the work finished in 1912, it was the largest reinforced concrete building in the world. The prison finally shut down in 1963, when it became too expensive to operate as the salty sea wind was causing buildings to deteriorate. Now, several tour options of the facility are available, and it sees about a million tourists come through each year.

The Wyoming Frontier Prison; Rawlins, Wyoming

When construction on Wyoming’s first state prison began in 1888, it was meant to handle the criminals of the wild west—but thanks to weather and funding problems, it didn’t actually open until 1901, when the wild ways were on the decline. Still, the prison stayed open for about 80 years and housed around 13,500 prisoners. In the beginning, it had no electricity, minimal heating and no running water. The Wyoming Frontier Prison (named so in 1988) was more than just cellblocks, though. It also had a dungeon, a punishment pole that men were handcuffed to and then whipped, solitary confinement cells, and a building with six cells for death row inmates called the death house. The penitentiary closed for good in 1981. Today’s tours include the prison itself, a museum about peace officers, a gift shop and the old prison cemetery.

Cell Block 7; Jackson, Michigan

To get to Cell Block 7 , you’ll have to actually go into the real State Prison of Southern Michigan. Its first iteration was built in 1839, a small log building that could only hold 35 prisoners. By 1934, though, the prison had evolved into a massive fortress housing more than 5,000 inmates. With Cell Block 7 included, it became the world’s largest walled prison, though it no longer holds that distinction. Cell Block 7 closed in 2007, and it now exists as a museum within the walls of the still working state prison. The museum today runs tours and holds a variety of permanent and temporary exhibits, like one about the prison farm and another on prison-made furniture.

Museum of Colorado Prisons; Cañon City, Colorado

The Museum of Colorado Prisons isn’t exactly inside a working prison like Cell Block 7, but it is adjacent to one—the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility. This museum is in what used to be the women’s prison, and it shares a wall—and a tower with armed guards—with the current prison. The facility was built in 1871. Now, the former women’s prison houses 30 cells, all outfitted with unique exhibits related to incarceration in Colorado over the past 148 years. Visitors will also learn about famous past inmates, like convicted cannibal Alfred Packer , and see prison artifacts like a hangman’s noose and a gas chamber.

Get the latest Travel & Culture stories in your inbox.

Jennifer Billock | | READ MORE

Jennifer Billock is an award-winning writer, bestselling author, and editor. She is currently dreaming of an around-the-world trip with her Boston terrier. Check out her website at jenniferbillock.com .

12 Abandoned Prison Tours That Are Now Popular Attractions

Prisons, especially old and spooky ones, have always held an interest in tourist’s hearts. You get to learn the history and walk through a place most of us will never visit outside of a tour group. Prison tourism is on the rise and here are 12 prisons turned attractions to check out for yourself!

Alcatraz Island – San Francisco, California

We had to start off with one of the most famous prisons of all time. Alcatraz is a small island off the coast of San Francisco, California that held some of the most well-known criminals like Al Capone. 

Eastern State Penitentiary – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Running for over 100 years, Eastern State Penitentiary was extremely controversial, even when it was first opened. The operators supported methods such as solitary confinement and hard labor in order to “rehabilitate” their prisoners. 

Fremantle Prison – Fremantle, Australia

This prison is located in Australia but first housed criminals from England! They also held prisoners of war before eventually being a prison for run-of-the-mill criminals. Having opened up in 1855, it eventually became too old and is now solely used for tours. 

West Virginia Penitentiary – Moundsville, West Virginia

Built by prisoners in 1866, the prison operated for a little over 100 years, closing its doors in 1995. They were cited for inhumane conditions, which is obvious from the tiny cells and the capital punishment that occurred in the walls of this prison. 

Devil’s Island – French Guiana

This French penal colony saw over 80,000 of France’s worst criminals over the years. It isn’t just named for its inhabitants, however. The horrific conditions these people faced were what finally got it closed down. Many died from disease and hunger.

Yuma Territorial Prison – Yuma, Arizona

Built on stone cliffs in Yuma, Arizona, this prison is actually known for having better living conditions than the others on this list. Prisoners commonly made items for the local Sunday markets, and it had one of the first public libraries that allowed them to learn to read and write.

The Clink Prison Museum – London, UK

This is one of the oldest prisons on our list, opening up in 1144! Unfortunately, your tour won’t take you through the original building as it was burned down in 1780 during a riot. The museum in its place, though goes through all 500 years of its history.

Hostel Celica – Ljubljana, Slovenia

Not only can you tour this prison, you can stay the night in it as well! Located in Ljubljana, Slovenia as a former military prison. Local artists have turned some of the rooms into amazing places to stay. 

Maitland Gaol – East Maitland, New South Wales, Australia

Maitland Gaol in East Maitland, New South Wales, is another prison in which you can spend the night. Opened in 1848, they used to hold public hangings by the main gate until 1897. They closed in 1998, making them one of the longest-running prisons in NSW. 

The Tower of London – London, UK

Not just home to the king’s quarters, the Tower of London also held a prison. Crossing the King specifically could see you end up here. With famous inmates like Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, and Sir Thomas Moore. 

Old Idaho Penitentiary – Boise, Idaho

This prison opened up in Idaho before Idaho was even an official territory. It is known as one of the most haunted prisons, having held 13,000 prisoners and seeing many deaths in its time. Make sure to visit Cell House 5, where some of the most violent criminals were kept. 

Robben Island – Cape Town, South Africa

Just a few miles from Cape Town, Robben Island was a prison, a hospital, and a military base historically. You probably know of one of their prisoners, Nelson Mandela, who served 18 years in its walls. 

Step Into the Past: 10 American Ghost Towns to Explore

America may not have a history as old as other countries, but we do have our share of ghost towns. Around 3,800 of them, according to a recent report by the New York Times. From the largest ghost town in Jerome, Arizona, to quirky ghost towns like Calico, California, here are ten of the most well-known in America.

14 Cities That Must Have Been Named on a Dare

Ever come across a town named Odd or considered a vacation to a place called Why? Fancy a leisurely stroll in Dull or perhaps a detour to Nowhere? As surprising as it may sound, these towns actually exist and their peculiar names are sure to amuse… or perplex. If you’re a fan of humorous quirks and obscure trivia, then you’ll definitely be entertained by some of the globe’s most eccentrically named locations.

Best Gas Stations in America Worth Stopping For

Gas stations are typically nothing more than mere pit stops during long journeys, serving the functional purpose of refueling vehicles. However, there are some exceptional gas stations across America that go beyond the ordinary, offering unique experiences and amenities that make them destinations in their own right! 

Best Cities to Vacation in That Don’t Require Renting a Car

When planning a vacation, there’s enough to worry about without stressing over renting a car, where to park it, and whether you can afford the extra insurance. What if you simply choose a location designed for people without cars and skip the rental car altogether? You could plan on walking, rent an e-Bike, or Uber when the occasion calls for it. It will still be cheaper than renting a car. Here are some of the absolute best cities for vacationing without getting behind the wheel. 

10 Places You Should Never Use Your Debit Card

Debit cards are a convenient way to pay for things without carrying a lot of cash around and without piling up credit card debt. However, debit cards can place you more at risk of identity theft and fraud. That’s because most debit cards don’t come with the same protections major credit cards do. If someone hacks your debit card, they can drain real money from your personal account, and that money might be gone for good.

Here are some places where it’s safer for you to use a credit card than a debit card.

Featured Image Credit: Eric Broder Van Dyke/Shutterstock

Karee Blunt

Karee Blunt is a nationally syndicated travel journalist, focused on discovering destinations and experiences that captivate and inspire others through her writing. She is also the founder of Our Woven Journey, a travel site focused on inspiring others to create memory-making adventures with their loved ones. Karee is passionate about encouraging others to step out of their comfort zone and live the life they dream of. She is the mother of six kids, including four through adoption, and lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. You can learn more about Karee on her about me page.

• Karee Blunt https://ourwovenjourney.com/author/bluntpeeps/ A Close-up Look at Tulips (Like, Really Close Up) Plus Fun Facts You Probably Didn't Know
• Karee Blunt https://ourwovenjourney.com/author/bluntpeeps/ 15 Movies to Watch if You Loved "Eat, Pray, Love"
• Karee Blunt https://ourwovenjourney.com/author/bluntpeeps/ 15 Places You Need To Visit ASAP if You’re Into Wine Tasting
• Karee Blunt https://ourwovenjourney.com/author/bluntpeeps/ 15 Volcanoes Tourists Can Actually Visit

Get Out Escape Rooms - Jail Breakout At The Maitland Gaol

• Orange Jumpsuits
• 6-18 John St, East Maitland NSW 2323, Australia Welcome to Get Out Escape Rooms Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your session start time. The Maitland Gaol is located at 6-18 John Street, EAST MAITLAND. Please meet at the front gates and wait until Escape Room Wardens collect you from there. Do not go into the Maitland Gaol Reception Area.
• Wheelchair accessible
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travellers can participate
• This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 4 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

• natashapE8209BV 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles First one and I’d do it again So interactive and fun you get a little tour first and look through some of the cells. The little safety info was easy to understand. The people/guards were definitely a bonus. Was super fun Read more Written 2 December 2023
• Trek35771190818 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great fun! Great themed place with a bit of interesting history. Our host Allison was hilarious and friendly would love to go again if I didn't know how to escape already Read more Written 25 October 2023
• Chloeg1907 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best Experience We went as a bigger group for a family outing and it was one of the best experiences. Highly recommend Read more Written 23 September 2023
• K2339JFlindas 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Worth the themed experienced We decided to do this as a family to celebrate my Mums 70th birthday. We had very experienced and novice escape room players and everyone enjoyed themselves. Loved this escape room - the theme was complete- location , dress-up and story line was seamless. Our game masters aka wardens completed the experience. Loved being in the goal cell and the stories/history the wardens shared just added to the experience. The puzzles were good - not too hard or easy but the whole role playing aspect make this room worth doing and worth recommending. Thanks for a great Saturday evening out!! Read more Written 18 July 2023
• traceymS9910DW 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best Fun Its tough trying to find something for Grandparents to do with teenagers that we can all enjoy - we found it! We had so much fun and would highly recommend Get Out Escape Rooms at Maitland Goal to everyone! Read more Written 20 July 2022
• Laylagibson 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Escape room Amazing time with my family and my mum loved it as a Mother’s Day gift. Beautiful worker and a great bonding exercise. Read more Written 8 May 2022
• emtheflamingo 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Brilliant experience My group had a blast, and I'd definitely recommend the experience to anyone! Everyone we interacted with before, during and after the experience were fantastic, super friendly and helpful. The puzzles were at a decent difficulty level for people of different experience levels. In our group, we had two people (including me) who had never been to an escape room before and three people who had, and we all enjoyed the level, finding there was a good balance of clues that were easy and clues that were more challenging. Read more Written 27 March 2022
• Phillip H 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Well they let us out! Visited with a mature group and the organisation by the staff was fantastic. The facilities are still in god condition and I would think could easly be brought back into service. No 5 starr BUT more than adequate. The Bread & Water Cafe serves excellent coffe & meals. Read more Written 21 March 2022
• E4068EVtomt 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Venturer Gaol break Excellent fun. Escaping from an actual gaol cell. All the staff (even during the bookings) were great, helpful, and accommodating for our group of Venturers (scouts age 15-17). More expensive than some other escape rooms, and no student discount, but still a great night out. Read more Written 18 March 2022
• CameronDorn 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic Jailbreak Experience We had a wonderful time in the escape room. It added a lot to the experience having to escape a real cell, and the puzzle created using the space was truly impressive. I would highly recommend Get Out Escape Rooms to anyone looking for a fun activity in the area. Read more Written 20 January 2022
• T5907JKjonw 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best escape room ever! Get Out went above & beyond to make sure we could reschedule our "escape" when we couldn't get to Maitland on the day we'd originally booked. And we had an absolute ball. We've done a lot of escape rooms but this was one of the absolute best! Locked in an actual cell, handcuffed together & using various objects & to break out. It was so brilliantly done & satisfying & the guards were tough but secretly helpful & hilarious. Everyone should do this experience - & you can use your Discover NSW vouchers for it! Read more Written 12 January 2022
• Alicia P 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great experience - we escaped! Went to Get Out Escape Rooms at Maitland Gaol today and it was great! Had great wardens help with the experience and our cell we had to break out of was Ivan Milats. Had a little tour of some cells beforehand and the escape room itself seemed simple at first but the more you got into it, the more clues we found. Recommend to beginners and experienced escapees! Read more Written 7 January 2022
• christinarX4077JA 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Highly Recommend First time escape room experience. So much fun. The wardens and guards made the experience as well as the location of an actual gaol. Highly recommend. Read more Written 29 December 2020
• 376lesya 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Unique Experiance Doing the Escape Experience from a jail cell in a maximum security facility is a unique eye opening event. We had to think fast and outside the square and despite bribing the (extremely handsome) guard to help us we did not manage to escape ..... If you are visiting the surrounding wine country, this is a must as it blends history with a bit of unusual fun! Read more Written 3 July 2019
• Terri-lee72 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Escape room This was our first escape room experience. We booked a private session for my daughters 21st birthday. Joyce during booking was more then helpful and accommodating. The guys who ran the experience on the day were great and made it fun! The experience itself was alot of fun and hard enough to get your mind thinking. Cant recommend it enough. We made it out just in time!!! Read more Written 22 April 2019

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Get Out Escape Rooms - Jail Breakout At The Maitland Gaol provided by Get Out Escape Rooms - Jail Breakout

1-407-539-2181 — [email protected]

Haunted Tours at the Maitland Art Center

October 4, 2019 @ 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm, art & history museums – maitland.

Advance tickets: $10 member, $15 general; Walk-up (limited): $15 A&H members; $20 general

Tours run every half hour from 6:30-9pm. Space is limited to ensure a great tour experience for all guests. Advance purchase is recommended as this event typically sells out!

Looking for more haunts? Join us at the Victorian-era Waterhouse Residence Museum for a paranormal investigation!

Napier's 162yo prison to close to tourists

N apier's former prison is closing due to safety concerns, leaving the man who runs tours through the site unhappy he will be locked out.

The 162-year-old prison, New Zealand's oldest jail, has become a popular attraction since Toro Waaka began leasing the Bluff Hill property more than two decades ago.

He first opened a backpackers' lodge, which has since closed, before beginning the popular tours. They attract more than 30,000 people a year.

Toitū Te Whenua Land Information NZ, which manages the Crown landbanked site, told Waaka last month his lease was up.

Land Information said the site was an earthquake risk and retaining walls needed an upgrade.

Waaka has closed off the areas around the walls, including a hole dug into them that was used to punish misbehaving prisoners.

"You can't even stand up in there. There's barely enough room to lie in there, but because it's only dug into the hill with no supporting structure it has incrementally collapsed," he said.

The barricades were not enough for Land Information, which has decided it needs to start investigations to see what work is required to fix the problem.

"The wall was the issue," Waaka said.

"But now they're using other things like health and safety, but we've been here 22 years... I would have thought that if there were issues they would have been picked up. In today's world if you're looking for reasons they will find them."

The last prison tour will happen on 19 April, and Waaka has to move everything out of the heritage-listed buildings early next month.

He said he had spent a lot of his own money over the years on maintenance and strengthening work to prison buildings, so was disappointed at how quickly it was all ending, especially as he had not seen any reports documenting the safety concerns.

"I have kept this place intact. Prior to me coming here we had a lot of glue sniffers in the area," he said.

"They were up here, moving in here. This was closed for 11 years. If I hadn't come up here this place would no longer be here."

Waaka said the closure was a shame given the prison's history - including playing host to well-known names such as serial escaper George Wilder, drug smuggler Terry Clark and 19th century Māori leader Te Kooti before its 1993 closure.

"This is a very iconic place for Napier because it wasn't just a prison. When all the people came off the ships, this is where a lot of them came because they were sick. This is were they were treated.

"It was also an orphanage, and the bottom [building] was a mental institution.

"It was like Napier's first social services centre."

Eight staff will lose their jobs, including Maika Wanoa, who has worked there part-time for three months.

"This place should stay and remain open because people want to come here. I have experienced that over the last week or so where people are saying, 'We better get there'."

Kenzie McLean, 16, who works part-time around her school classes, will also miss the job.

She gets to lock people in the popular escape rooms, which she said about 50 percent of visitors managed to get out of.

Napier mayor Kirsten Wise said the closure saddened her, and she had memories of passing the prison when it was still open on her way home from school in the late 1980s.

She was advocating to Land Information to get the site reopened.

"It's really, really disappointing. It's such a huge part of our local heritage and history, and in fact for the whole country.

"When Toro contacted me to tell me that his lease wasn't being re-assigned, it was really disappointing to hear."

Another person disappointed at the closure was Kelly Dunning, who now lives in Georgia. She has a special reason to remember the prison, as she met her husband Lee Carter there.

"It was really funny because whenever people ask us that question, 'Oh, where did you guys meet?' I always say, ''Oh, we meet in prison'.

"It always gets a bit of a side eye."

The pair were travelling around New Zealand and worked and stayed at the prison in 2009, at the since-closed backpackers.

Dunning, then a 23-year-old on her first long trip away from home, set eyes on Carter, who is from northern England, when he was covered in Zombie makeup, working on a haunted night-time tour.

"It's a special place for me because it changed my life. Having it be a place for backpackers, it may be strange because it was so different to what it was initially built for."

That encounter with Carter led them to a life of travelling the world together and blogging about their experiences - all thanks to an encounter at Napier Prison.

Waaka said he would miss the chance to create memories like that, as well as being able to share the prison's stories.

Land Information head of crown property Sonya Wikitera said the prison needed to be vacated for site works, because it would be impractical to have visitors there while that happened.

Once the investigative work was done, Land Information would have a clearer picture of future options for the site and the cost of the works needed.

"The former prison and site present an earthquake risk and the surrounding retaining wall needs strengthening, taking into account the heritage considerations," she said.

"We recognise the property is important to the local community and is part of the wider history of New Zealand."

Waaka was given notice to vacate on 18 March.

"The tenancy agreement ran on a month-to-month basis and reflected our need to undertake this work at some point," Wikitera said.

"We are now working with the tenant on transition arrangements to support their moving out of the building.

"We are mindful this is a frustrating experience for the tenant, and we will work with them to co-ordinate their move as close to the 20-day notice period as possible."

• Spooky New Zealand - Napier prison