The Old Melbourne Goal, is a popular landmark where many school children and tourists visit. When you walk past this historic building during the daytime you will never fail to find many school buses and tourist coaches parked along the roadside.
For 3.5 years of my time in Melbourne I thought that the Old Melbourne Goal is just a 9 to 5 daytime education and tourist attraction. One day, when I was browsing through the community spirit calendar web page, I was surprise that the Old Melbourne Goal opens at night for people with “strong hearts” to visit. The reason why I said people with “strong hearts” is because 135 people were hanged in this ionic site long time ago, and to visit the place when the night falls, some of us might get the chill down our spines.
Immediately, I’ve made up my mind that I will participate in this activity, bringing UniLodge Community Spirit Program (CSP) members to an experience of crime and justice in the dark. On 25th June, when the sky was dark, UniLodgers from UniLodge @ Melbourne met up with UniLodgers from Swanston and Lonsdale outside the Old Melbourne Goal. We gathered together like a one big family and begun the Hangman Tour.
The tour started by us standing in a semi-circle around the a small candle light which was placed on the floor in the middle of The Melbourne Goal’s ground floor. Apart from very minimal light coming from the candle, the other parts of the place were pitch-dark. To be honest, I was a bit afraid because I could not see anything properly and the place was cold. On top of that, the cell
doors were opened, that made my imagination went wild. I kept thinking would anything or someone jumped out of the cells to give me a fright. We began to stand closer together to one another, hoping to ease some of our frighten hearts.
We were told of the histories of the place and how the residents of the Goal lived and treated. In the Goal itself, we were confirmed that 135 successful death sentence in the form of hanging were carried out. One of which was belonged to the infamous Ned Kelly. He was hanged because he committed numerous murders under interesting circumstances but we wont get into the Bush Ranger tale now.
After about 45 minutes of the guided tour in dark, we have about 30 minutes of wondering around in brightly lighted goal. I’ve taken some photographs around the place. I’m not the best photographer around, so if you visited the goal with us and have some photos to contribute to the album please let us know. We will definitely put them up in our blog and share it with our fellow UniLodgers. Enjoy!
Ok! I’m going to do a mini advertising here. If you are interested to do some charity work and
meet new friends, sign up at reception for the 16th August cupcake baking session (Maximum: 20 members). The cupcakes will be on sale on the 17th August to raise funds for the RSPCA, 100% of the proceeds will go to RSPCA. There is no limit for people to help out in selling the cupcakes, more the merrier!
This is Haozhen signing off. Hope to see you all soon!
For 3.5 years of my time in Melbourne I thought that the Old Melbourne Goal is just a 9 to 5 daytime education and tourist attraction. One day, when I was browsing through the community spirit calendar web page, I was surprise that the Old Melbourne Goal opens at night for people with “strong hearts” to visit. The reason why I said people with “strong hearts” is because 135 people were hanged in this ionic site long time ago, and to visit the place when the night falls, some of us might get the chill down our spines.
Immediately, I’ve made up my mind that I will participate in this activity, bringing UniLodge Community Spirit Program (CSP) members to an experience of crime and justice in the dark. On 25th June, when the sky was dark, UniLodgers from UniLodge @ Melbourne met up with UniLodgers from Swanston and Lonsdale outside the Old Melbourne Goal. We gathered together like a one big family and begun the Hangman Tour.
The tour started by us standing in a semi-circle around the a small candle light which was placed on the floor in the middle of The Melbourne Goal’s ground floor. Apart from very minimal light coming from the candle, the other parts of the place were pitch-dark. To be honest, I was a bit afraid because I could not see anything properly and the place was cold. On top of that, the cell
doors were opened, that made my imagination went wild. I kept thinking would anything or someone jumped out of the cells to give me a fright. We began to stand closer together to one another, hoping to ease some of our frighten hearts.We were told of the histories of the place and how the residents of the Goal lived and treated. In the Goal itself, we were confirmed that 135 successful death sentence in the form of hanging were carried out. One of which was belonged to the infamous Ned Kelly. He was hanged because he committed numerous murders under interesting circumstances but we wont get into the Bush Ranger tale now.
After about 45 minutes of the guided tour in dark, we have about 30 minutes of wondering around in brightly lighted goal. I’ve taken some photographs around the place. I’m not the best photographer around, so if you visited the goal with us and have some photos to contribute to the album please let us know. We will definitely put them up in our blog and share it with our fellow UniLodgers. Enjoy!Ok! I’m going to do a mini advertising here. If you are interested to do some charity work and
meet new friends, sign up at reception for the 16th August cupcake baking session (Maximum: 20 members). The cupcakes will be on sale on the 17th August to raise funds for the RSPCA, 100% of the proceeds will go to RSPCA. There is no limit for people to help out in selling the cupcakes, more the merrier!This is Haozhen signing off. Hope to see you all soon!
Haozhen was supposed to look scared in that photo... but I guess she couldn't help herself.
ReplyDelete-Michelle