What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 5pm

Old Dubbo Gaol

Name: Old Dubbo Gaol
Address: 90 Maquarie Street, Dubbo, NSW, 2830, AU
Telephone: +61268014460
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.6

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Old Dubbo Gaol

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For more information about Old Dubbo Gaol visit our website www.olddubbogaol.com.au Alternatively book a night tour to experience the Old Dubbo Gaol after dark
(704)

A historic site and museum, Old Dubbo Gaol is a place to visit Australia's history in regional justice. During school holiday periods and on weekends the Gaol comes to life with performances and tours.

06/10/2026

🎉We’re Finalists! 🎉

We're excited to share that Old Dubbo Gaol has been named a finalist in two categories in the NSW Tourism Awards 2026!

This recognition is a testament to the passion, dedication and hard work of our incredible team, who strive every day to deliver memorable and meaningful experiences for our visitors.

Being recognised among the state's leading tourism operators is a fantastic achievement, and we are incredibly proud to be representing the Dubbo Region on the state tourism stage. This recognition reflects the strength of our region's tourism industry and the exceptional experiences that continue to attract visitors to regional New South Wales.

Congratulations to all fellow finalists, and best of luck for the awards. View the full list here:
🔗 https://nswtourismassociation.com.au/nsw-tourism-awards

Dubbo Regional Council NSW Tourism Association

02/10/2026

Take a look at this photo of Macquarie Street in 1907. Before cars took over, horses were the main engines of our town.

If you think modern commutes are frustrating, take a look at the fines and offences that kept the local police busy when horsepower literally meant horses 🐎:

⚡Speeding and Cornering: Taking corners too fast wasn't just a car problem. Locals were sometimes fined for driving their horse-drawn cabs around corners in town at a pace faster than a walk, as occurred multiple times at the corner of Macquarie and Talbragar streets.

🔆Driving Without "Headlights": Forget broken taillights, George Cawsley was fined £1 for driving his horse and cart on Macquarie Street at 11 p.m. without showing the proper lights. When the magistrate asked if he realised how dangerous this was, Cawsley casually replied, "I had a torch."

🏇"Joyriding" (Illegally Using a Horse): "Joyriding" existed long before cars. William Cook was arrested and charged with illegally using a chestnut mare and riding it furiously down Macquarie Street. It turned out he had simply taken the wrong horse by mistake from outside a hotel.

🌨Weather Hazards: While a modern hailstorm means worrying about dents in your car’s roof, during one storm in 1933 that dropped hail the size of pigeon eggs horses were sheltered under the shop verandas in Macquarie Street. While necessary for the horses' safety, this actually went against traffic regulations!

🅿Parking Violations and Runaways: Leaving a horse and cart unattended in the street without proper control of the horse resulted in court fines for drivers. Runaways were also a public hazard, one runaway horse and dray went on a "nocturnal jaunt" right past the Gaol until it was seized by the head to bring it to a stop.

🐴It seems that whether you have four wheels or four hooves, Macquarie Street has always had its share of traffic drama!

Image credit: Local Studies Collection, Dubbo Regional Council

30/09/2026

Looking for something to do these school holidays? Come and explore the Old Dubbo Gaol!

29/09/2026

🗝We’re proud to announce that our very own Chris Anemaat will be speaking at Dubbo Library about his book, Sandstone Heart: The History of Old Dubbo Gaol! 🗝

Join Chris in conversation with Jen Cowley as he shares the fascinating stories behind one of Dubbo's most iconic heritage sites and the inspiration behind his captivating exploration of the gaol's history.

🗓Friday 13 November 2026
🕑2:00pm - 3:00pm
📍 Dubbo Library Macquarie Regional Library
✏RSVP: https://shorturl.at/eBNcw

About the book
Nestled in the heart of Dubbo, the heritage-listed Old Dubbo Gaol stood as a place of confinement for more than a century. In Sandstone Heart, Chris brings its rich and often dramatic history to life, uncovering stories of notorious escapes, harsh punishments, daily prison life, and the tragic fate of the eight men executed within its walls.

Whether you're passionate about local history, fascinated by true crime, or simply curious about Dubbo's past, this promises to be an engaging and insightful afternoon.

We hope to see you there!

24/09/2026

The Old Dubbo Gaol proudly presents;
Nosey Bob ‘No one regets this more than I do’. A Michael Bourke art exhibition, featuring words by Rachel Franks.

On display at the Old Dubbo Gaol from the 25th September - 27th November.

Walk into history with Nosey Bob: Unlikely lessons from a Noseless hangman.

18/09/2026

History Unlocked // The Court House Hotel 🍻⚖️

Look at these snapshots of Macquarie Street’s past! Shown here is the Court House Hotel which once sat between the old Post Office Clocktower (today’s Exchange) and the old National Australia Bank building (now home to Mission Australia).
Built in 1868, substantial improvements were made in 1883 (hence the year on the hotel), it was demolished in 1960.

Thanks to being just steps from the old Macquarie Street Court House, and the gaol walls, it was often used as lodging for travelling circuit court judges, barristers and court reporters.

However, being that close to the justice precinct was a double-edged sword for local troublemakers, it meant that when crime happened at the hotel, the trip from the bar to the cells was a very short walk!

Dubbo's historic newspapers are packed with mischief from inside and outside the hotel gates:
The Midnight Prowler (1896): Herbert Self was caught red-handed inside visiting physician Dr. Slate’s private hotel room at 1:00 AM. Self was sentenced to 6 months in Dubbo Gaol for being unlawfully on the premises.
A Bad Round of Drinks (1912): A visiting butcher kindly shouted a man named John Sheedy a drink at the Court House Hotel bar. Sheedy repaid the hospitality by swiping the 8/6 in change off the counter and running for it. He was swiftly tracked down and escorted just up the street to serve 14 days in gaol.
The Backyard Ambush (1919): Hotel porter Charles Thistleton went into the backyard late at night to turn off a running tap, only to be ambushed, knocked out, and robbed by a gang. Culprit Thomas Carrol copped two months' hard labour behind our sandstone walls.
From brazen con men to late-night scuffles, the Court House Hotel was rarely quiet, and the gaol was always close enough to welcome the rowdiest guests.

Images courtesy of the Australian National University Archives.

17/09/2026

Tilly and the warden were lucky to appear on a special Sunrise breakfast show this morning! Did you catch us?
We are so proud to be able to represent the Dubbo Region, showcasing our tourism and all there is to see and do! 🗝

16/09/2026

🗝 Need to ESCAPE? 🗝

Live Performances, Twilight & Beyond the Grave tours available now!

Click link in bio....

11/09/2026

What on earth is Tilly up to? Come along to a Twilight Tour this school holidays to find out. Tickets are limited and selling fast!

31/08/2026

The Old Dubbo Gaol looks back at 60 years of its closure.
Not the end of our history, as we continue to bring it to life.

Address

90 Maquarie Street
Dubbo, NSW
2830

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61268014460

Website

http://www.olddubbogaol.com.au/

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