Redruth Gaol
South Australia's first country gaol, a stark stone ruin on the Burra Heritage Passport trail and a film location for 'Breaker Morant'.
Built in 1856, Redruth Gaol was the first country gaol in South Australia, holding prisoners from the booming copper town of Burra and later serving as a girls' reformatory. Today its roofless stone cells and high walls stand as one of the most evocative ruins on the Burra Heritage Passport trail.
Wandering the empty exercise yards and peering into the bare cells, it's easy to feel the hardness of colonial justice. Film buffs may recognise the gaol as a location in the 1980 Australian classic 'Breaker Morant'.
Access is via the Burra Heritage Passport key, which unlocks this and a string of other historic sites around the town. Allow time to combine it with the Monster Mine and Paxton Square cottages nearby.
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Redruth Gaol — frequently asked questions
What is Redruth Gaol?
Redruth Gaol near Burra was the first country gaol built in South Australia, opened in 1856. It later served as a reformatory before closing, and survives today as a stone ruin.
Was Redruth Gaol in a movie?
Yes. Redruth Gaol was used as a filming location for the 1980 Australian film Breaker Morant.
Can you visit Redruth Gaol?
Yes. Redruth Gaol is one of the sites on the Burra Heritage Passport self-drive trail and can be accessed with the Passport key from the Burra Visitor Centre.
Image credits
- Redruth Gaol front.JPG by Peripitus , CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons