Trial Bay Gaol

Trial Bay Gaol Review

Trial Bay Gaol, a jail dating from the 1870s, occupies a dramatic position on the cliffs overlooking the seaside village of South West Rocks, 100 km (62 mi) north of Port Macquarie. The building, now partly in ruins, was used to teach useful skills to the prisoners who constructed it, but the project proved too expensive and was abandoned in 1903. During World War I the building served as an internment camp for some 500 Germans. The A$7.50 admission includes entry to a small museum. Discovery tours are run during the school holidays in December and January, April or May (usually around the Easter holiday), July, and October. Make sure you climb the tower for a stunning view of the coast. To get there, travel north through Kempsey and turn off to South West Rocks and follow the signs.