Aerial View of Maitland Gaol

Maitland Gaol has a vibrant history spanning more than 150 years. After housing some of Australia's most hardened and notorious criminals from 1848, Maitland Gaol closed as a correctional facility in 1998. At the time of its closure it was the longest continuously operating prison in Australia.

Maitland City Council lobbied and was successful in obtaining an operational licence from the State Government with a proposal to use tourism as a tool to conserve the facility by developing a key cultural and heritage tourism operation within the Hunter. To achieve further tourism growth, in July 2004, Council resolved to engage its own staff and directly manage and develop the operation within the Economic Development and Marketing Division.

In line with Hunter Regional Tourism Organisation’s strategy to build Australia’s premier tourism region, the development of the Gaol as an attraction has been carefully implemented to ensure its match with consumer desires, a key strategy in growing specific markets. The Gaol has since established itself as an anchor cultural and heritage tourist attraction, to give the public an insight into both the facility and the living conditions and hardships of both prisoners and warders of the past.

The Gaol’s vision is of creating a visitor experience that enhances awareness, understanding and development of the unique and authentic culture, heritage and environment of the facility.

This section of the website provides Contact Information and How to Get Here. It also proudly provides details of our most important asset, Our Staff, and lists the Awards of Recognition the Gaol has received in it's relatively short period as a unique Hunter attraction. There are also details of the other Businesses and Activities which call Maitland Gaol home.