Step back in time and walk the road to the gallows in a 19th century prison, be arrested in a modern-day Police Station or put yourself on trial in court.

Home to our oldest prison, historic Magistrates' Court and former Police City Watch House, Russell Street has been at the heart of crime, law and order in Melbourne since the 1840s.

Most of Australia’s infamous characters, including iconic bushranger, Ned Kelly and notorious gangster Squizzy Taylor have spent time within the walls of this amazing precinct.

A ticket to the Old Melbourne Gaol Crime & Justice Experience grants you visiting rights to the past, present and future of crime and justice in Australia.

The Old Melbourne Gaol Crime & Justice Experience won the Best Heritage and Cultural Tourism Award at the 2008 Australian Tourism Awards.

The City Watch House celebrates its Centenary

On 1st September, 1909 Melbourne crowds gathered around the newly opened City Watch House in Russell Street anxious to see who would be the first criminal to be arrested and locked up in the brand new justice facility.

It was not until the afternoon that Sergeant John Satchwell arrested Beatice Phillips for using improper language - an arrest which was not without incident.

Witness here a reenactment of this auspicious moment in performed by actors Wendi Huggins, Kevin Dee and Tim Radcliffe outside the Watch House exactly a century later.