Main Gates
You’re now standing outside the historic Ballarat Gaol, built in 1857 with 58 cells. Just behind it lies a tunnel designed to securely transport prisoners between the courthouse and the Gaol. This tunnel was essential for the safe movement of prisoners. The gaol here was part of a series of new Gaols that were constructed in Ararat, Ballarat, Castlemaine, and Beechworth.
The gaol saw thousands of people incarcerated over its century of operation between 1857 and 1965.Among the infamous prisoners held here was Andrew George Scott, popularly known as the bushranger Captain Moonlite. Born in Ireland in 1842, Scott was a war veteran who fought in Garibaldi’s army during the Second Italian War of Independence and later in the Maori wars in New Zealand. A severe ankle injury left him with a permanent limp and led to his discharge from the army.
Public Record Office Victoria Collection | PROV
Scott arrived in Melbourne in 1868 at the age of 28. By 1869, he was in Bacchus Marsh, where his sermons attracted large audiences. However, his tenure as a preacher was cut short when his wages were reduced. Captain Moonlite’s story is a fascinating chapter in the history of Ballarat Gaol, reflecting both the era’s complex social fabric and the colourful characters who passed through its doors.
Other Information
Next Stop: Stop 2 Governors’ Quarters
Head Through the main gates, and into the next courtyard.
Tales from Rat City 