Hay Gaol Museum, New South Wales, Australia

4.0 (97 reviews) Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent Ranking #2 in Hay Speciality Museums

Excellent Display, Wonderful Gaol

We had no idea of the history of the area let alone the Gaol until we visited. We visited on a Sunday and paid our $4 each into an honesty box and took ourselves around. The displays are excellent, illustrating life in the region in the early days. Loved the Aboriginal artefacts, what a rich heritage. The farming equipment and early living conditions including household goods, clothes, radios and appliances are great. But what really amazed us was the Gaol itself, the thickness of the walls, the darkness and coolness inside. It had been used as a Gaol, hospital, POW camp during the war and what rather upset me was a home for girls. Those poor girls.
Hay review images

Address

Church Street, Hay, New South Wales, Australia.

Website

http://www.hay.nsw.gov.au

Working hours

Monday : 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday : 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday : 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday : 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday : 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Current local date and time now

Monday, May 13, 2024, 17:09

User Ratings

4.0 based on (97 reviews)

Excellent

38%

Good

42%

Satisfactory

19%

Poor

Terrible

Reviews

5Abbykat 5:00 PM Mar 31, 2021
Great that it was open on Good Friday
He were in Hay on Good Friday and this was the only attraction open. Entry is a bargain at $4pp via an honesty box. There are individual themes in each of the cells as well as entrance and outside displays. I listened with sadness at the audio of the women who were incarcerated there as girls after being deemed troublesome and sent there from Parramatta. This only ceased in 1974! Make sure you listen to their stories. The gaol has been used for many purposes including a maternity hospital, pow camp, and hospital for the insane. Well worth spending 1-2 hours there doing the self guided tour.
4Liz & Paul 5:00 PM Feb 1, 2023
Jam packed full of historical items - if you like history it’s great value viewing.
IF you like historical info/stories and seeing really cool items from bygone times this place is fascinating. We read lots of the info at a steady pace and it still took us a few hours-you could spend ages here if you were inclined and interested. Great value but you need to take $4 cash with you.