The Old Mount Gambier Gaol

Hotels
9.4 (553 reviews)
25 Margaret Street , Mount Gambier , au

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
BBQ facilities
Luggage storage
Express check-in/check-out
Fax/photocopying
Soundproof rooms
Table tennis
Chapel/shrine
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Unique accommodation
Interesting history
Cons:
Limited room space
Shared amenities

Categories

Cleanliness
9.55
The place was exceptionally clean with not a single fly anywhere!
Service
10
Owners were really nice people and attentive.
Location
9.52
Unique location close to many amenities.
Room Quality
9.06
Bedrooms are quiet small, expected in a cell.
Amenities
8.51
No toaster in the kitchen, and some amenities require sharing.
Value for Money
9.54
Great concept and value, especially given the unique experience.
Food and Beverage
9
Standard quality for this hotel tier.
Overall Experience
10
Loved the history and unique experience of staying in a former jail.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-06 07:18

Property Description

Historic Gaol Accommodation
Experience a one-of-a-kind stay at The Old Mount Gambier Gaol, a historic property just minutes away from the stunning Blue Lake. Choose from unique accommodation options like sleeping in a cell or staying in an old warden's office or a cozy cottage.

Complimentary Amenities
Enjoy complimentary WiFi and a self-guided tour of the gaol during your stay. Relax in the shared lounges, make use of the communal kitchens, and freshen up in the shared bathrooms provided for guests.

Comfortable Stay
Each room is equipped with heating and bed linen for your comfort. Whether you prefer shared or private facilities, our rooms cater to your needs, ensuring a cozy and memorable experience at The Old Mount Gambier Gaol.

Ready to experience a historic stay like no other? Book your accommodation now at The Old Mount Gambier Gaol.

Important information:

Please note that The Old Mount Gambier Jail does not accept payments with American Express credit cards.

Please note that in some rooms towels are not included in the price. You can rent them at the property or bring your own.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Airport code: MGB

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 0 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

Location

Guest Reviews

9.4
Based on 553 reviews
Cleanliness: 9.55
Service: 10
Location: 9.52
Room Quality: 9.06
Amenities: 8.51
Value for Money: 9.54
Food and Beverage: 9
Overall Experience: 10
S
Shi • extended_group • au
7
2026-05-01 • via Nuitee
A
Alessandra • solo_traveller • au
10
Unique accommodation in a prison cell
Pros:

Such a special place to stay! Loved the unique accommodation. Like staying in a museum. Spotlessly clean and with fantastic, quirky facilities. Convenient location to

2026-04-27 • via Nuitee
R
Robert • family_with_children • au
8
Pros:

Most of the gaol was open to walk through at any time day of night with facts all around the place. There were plenty of amenitites and the anitial self check in was easy

Cons:

We saw no staff at all however they were available to contact via phone or sms at any time

2026-04-26 • via Nuitee
C
Charlotte • solo_traveller • au
10
Intreeging stay full of history and the comforts of home
Pros:

Such an interesting property to stay at. I enjoyed reading the historical information on the walls and admiring the beautiful mural painted by a prisoner at the time. The communal areas were lovely and even though there is a spooky element to the stay the accomodation felt welcoming and cozy.

Cons:

The main pointer I would say would be though it was cool to have the light show the bars at night it was a bit bright when trying to sleep with no way to really block the sensor lights.

2026-04-22 • via Nuitee
J
Jodie • couple • au
9
Quirky and a great experience
Pros:

All the information about its history and the novelty of staying in a Gaol cell

Cons:

Nothing, it was exactly as it was described.

2026-04-17 • via Nuitee
M
Marinela • extended_group • au
10
Amazing stay! Would love to go there again.
Pros:

This accommodation was a great full experience. We did not need to go out from this propriety. It had so much to offer in terms of history, spaces to search and look around to find more about the place. I thought that will feel weird to be sleeping in an old jail, but we were really relaxed. My two boys loved exploring the place and play with the two host’s cats. The amenities were basic but enough.

Cons:

Due to the way the place is locked by the front big jail door you not able to park close to your room, so you need few trips back and forth to your car with luggage.

2026-04-09 • via Nuitee
P
polavarapu • family_with_children • au
10
2026-04-09 • via Nuitee
M
Mao • couple • jp
10
Great experience!
Pros:

James is very nice and helpful. He also provided us with extra information about the city. It was a very nice place to stay.😌

Cons:

Nothing bad about the stay at all. I was just a bit nervous about staying in a gaol, but that’s just me. The place itself is very good.🙏

2026-04-08 • via Nuitee
S
Sandra Milena • couple • co
10
2026-04-07 • via Nuitee
S
saxena • family_with_children • au
5
Gaol re live the experience literally, good for short stays with heavy sleepers.
Pros:

The Gaol is beautifully conserved property keeping the gaol antics in place more like living in a museum. The location is pretty good right in the middle of everything you will need. Its quietly tucked in with sufficient parking.

Cons:

The beds are spring beds which are not so comfy add to it they were bunk beds so adds squeakiness and hence a lot of discomfort for the light sleepers. The walls are strong but the rooms not so sounds proof , there is moisture seeping in , there are pests that might wake u up. If you are a heavy sleeper and dont might these things might be fine too.

2026-04-07 • via Nuitee
H
Hilal • extended_group • au
8
It was good
Pros:

We had a really unique and enjoyable stay at this property. The location was amazing and offered a different experience from typical accommodations, which we truly appreciated. The kitchen was well-equipped with all the essentials, making it easy to prepare meals. The room also had a TV, and an attached bathroom with towels provided, which added to the comfort. Overall, everything was set up nicely, and we stayed at No. 27.

Cons:

That said, there were a couple of issues. The toilet flush was not working properly, so we had to use the outside toilet, even at night, which was inconvenient. Additionally, the Wi-Fi didn’t work well and seemed to have connection issues.

Apart from these concerns, it was a pleasant stay and a memorable experience.

2026-04-05 • via Nuitee
B
Bagavathi Devi • couple • au
10
Pros:

The unique experience of living in a jail which was so comfortable and full of life..😀

2026-04-04 • via Nuitee
S
Samantha • couple • au
10
Pros:

Loved the atmosphere staying here, wandering around and reading up on the history and working of the jail.
The rooms were functional and comfortable.
The toilets, bathrooms and communal areas were clean and easily accessible.

2026-04-02 • via Nuitee
B
Bianca • couple • au
9
Pros:

Great location, easy walk into town, clean and cosy rooms

2026-03-30 • via Nuitee
C
Christian • solo_traveller • de
8
Cons:

Ich mag diese unpersönliche Art nicht, mit dem Gastgeber nur über Chats zu kommunizieren. Sonst war alles in Ordnung.

2026-03-23 • via Nuitee
A
Antony • solo_traveller • gb
8
A good opportunity to stay in an old gaol - definitely suited to back packers
Pros:

It was good to experience staying in the gaol.
The kitchen facilities weee really good & it was good to look round.

Cons:

There weren’t any staff when we arrived or left - this seemed a bit strange

2026-03-18 • via Nuitee
S
Susan • couple • au
10
Loved our overnight stay here. Great accommodation.
Pros:

Location was great. No traffic noise, very quiet.
Had a great feel to the accommodation, very comfortable.

Cons:

There wasn’t anything we didn’t like.

2026-03-13 • via Nuitee
T
Tom • family_with_children • gb
8
Pros:

Unique location staying overnight in a cell. The gaol is well preserved and effectively doubles as a museum (for guests only).
Room was perfectly fine for our one night stay

2026-03-09 • via Nuitee
K
Korrin • couple • au
8
2026-03-08 • via Nuitee
C
Christopher • couple • au
8
2026-03-08 • via Nuitee