Trial Bay Gaol

Type

Historic buildings/places

Where

73 Trial Bay Gaol Road, Arakoon, NSW, 2431 - in Arakoon National Park in North Coast

Accessibility

Hard

Price

Adult $11. Concession $8. Family $30 (2 adults and 2 children).

Opening times

9am to 4.30pm daily. Closed on Christmas Day. Self-guided tours are available all day and an entry fee applies. Allow about 1 hour to explore the gaol.

Hire this venue

Trial Bay Gaol is available for events and function hire.

Please note

• Peak rates apply from 1 December to 31 January and NSW school holidays (excluding winter school holidays).
• Shoulder period is from 1 February to the start of the Easter holiday break.
• Between August and September, Trial Bay hosts the annual Sculpture in the Gaol, a public sculpture competition. For more information contact the park office.
• Mermaid Pools, near Trial Bay Gaol, is not recommended for swimming. Large waves wash over the area and visitors can be swept off the rocks.

Step back in time on a guided tour of Trial Bay Gaol, soaking up the history and the amazing coastal views that surround it in Arakoon National Park.

The gaol opened in 1886, after 13 years of construction. It must have been a strange feeling building a prison in such a beautiful setting. The prison labourers were there to construct a breakwater to make Trial Bay a safe harbour between Sydney and Brisbane. Unfortunately the scheme failed, however you’ll still be able to see the remains of the breakwater from the guard tower lookout. During World War I the gaol became an internment camp for people of German descent who were feared to be enemy sympathisers.

Today, this picturesque historic ruin stands as a testament to those who lived and died here, with a museum and memorial for visitors to get a better idea of life in those days. Feeling energetic? Try the nearby Powder Magazine walking track or Monument Hill walking track.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info