Buildings within the gaol include the Great Hall, the warders' quarters and the cells. They are arranged around a central courtyard with a hiring depot located in the centre. The entire prison area is surrounded by 12 feet (4 m) stone walls studded with glass from broken bottles.In 1875 the Great Hall, the women's cells and additional quarters for the warden were built.
The gaol was last used in the 1930s during the Great Depression as a police lock-up. By 1941 the goal was put up for sale by the Public Works Department as it was declared unfit for habitation. It remained in a state of disrepair and was restored between 1989 and 1996 to become a museum.