Day 13

Sue

We arrrived in Melbourne in the early afternoon and headed straight to the Old Melbourne Gaol. It would have been very depressing not only to have been incarcerated there but to have worked in the gloomy, dark, bleak gaol.

The gaol was originally built in the 1840's and only one cell block remains. The cells are vaulted in brick, are lit by very small windows set high in the outside walls. The doors are thick, solid wood with a small peep hole for the guard to see through. There are 37 individual cells on the main floor and the upper two floors are made up of 21 multiple cells for four or more inmates. I found it very depressing imagining the life of the inmates at the mercy of the gaol guards.

The Ned Kelly display was very interesting and the tour guide pointed out that Ned should be considered a legend and not a hero as he did kill a policeman and rob banks.

There are death masks of many of the hung prisoners as the medical profession studied the bumps on the heads of criminals to try and understand the workings of the criminal mind.

Probably the greatest fun I had at the gaol was when the tour guide had David lean against a lashing triangle and we got to "cane" him. Unfortunately the guard gave David a cat of nine tails as his reward for taking his licks. I think I woke Ned Kelly's ghost in my attempts to flee!!

We left the gaol and checked in to the Kingsway Motel. Bill and Mary (the motel owners) are excellent hosts and welcomed us to Melbourne. After a quick change we took a taxi down to Southgate where we were to meet Rob (Mando) and Victoria.

While we waited for Rob and Vic to show up Amanda and I peopled watched. It is very interesting to look at the fashions and people. We found that there is very little difference from people here and in Canada (except in Canada we do wear more clothing!)

We ended up having dinner at a cute little cafe along the Yarra River. Rob created a sensation at the table with his "entree" (appetizer for all those in North America). Rob found it funny that all the adults ate their desserts while Adam and Amanda left some. It was a wonderful evening filled with red wine, laughter and good friends!

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