What is Old Melbourne Gaol?
[[File:Old Melbourne Gaol.jpg|thumb|220px|Old Melbourne Gaol]] The '''Old Melbourne Gaol''' is a large, historic [[prison]] in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]. The [[basalt|bluestone]] building was the first large prison built in Victoria. It was the location of many [[execution]]s, including [[Ned Kelly]] who was hanged at the prison in 1880. It closed in 1929 and is now a museum. Melbourne was first settled in 1835 and its first small gaol was built in 1839.<ref name=omg>{{cite web |url=http://www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au/old_melbourne_gaol |title=Old Melbourne Gaol &#124; Old Melbourne Goal |first= |last= |work=oldmelbournegaol.com.au |year=2011 |accessdate=26 February 2011 |archive-date=28 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528232105/http://www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au/old_melbourne_gaol |url-status=dead }}</ref> A second gaol was built in 1841 next to the [[Supreme Court]] buildings. In 1852 work started on a new gaol based on the [[Pentonville Model Prison]] design.<ref name=omg/> This had its own outside wall of solid bluestone. A second stage started in 1857, and the wall was extended in 1859. In 1860 the north wing, chapel, central hall and entrance was built. A western wing for female prisoners was started in 1862, and the outside wall was finished in 1864.<ref name=omg/> There were also 17 jailer's houses, a chief warden's house and a hospital. It was built on a high point at the edge of the city. However a report in 1870 said the gaol should be closed and the prisoners moved to a more suitable location. The prison finally closed in 1929.<ref name=omg/> During [[World War II]], the gaol was used as a military prison for Australian soldiers.<ref name=omg/> After the war it became a storage building for the [[Victoria Police]].<ref name=omg/> Some of the buildings were pulled down to allow for the building of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, now [[Victoria University]].<ref name=omg/> In 1972 the buildings were taken over by the National Tru