Ararat Motor Inn

Ararat Asylums

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  • History & Heritage

Highlights

  • Explore the haunting history of J Ward Lunatic Asylum, where over 10,000 visitors uncover chilling tales each year.
  • Join an award-winning ghost tour and experience the eerie atmosphere of Ararat's notorious criminal past.
  • Engage in a paranormal investigation, delving deep into the mysteries of Australia's home for the criminally insane.
  • Wander through the original kitchen and governor's bathroom, immersing yourself in the asylum's unsettling heritage.
Today's Weather
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Google Rating
4.8 / 5 460 Google reviews

Take a guided evening ghost tour or paranormal investigation of Ararat’s premier tourist destination, J Ward Lunatic Asylum.

J Ward is the premier tourist venue in Ararat, visited by more than 10,000 people annually (greater than Ararat’s population).

Relive the past by taking a guided ghost tour conducted by Lantern Ghost Tours, an award-winning evening ghost tour or an overnight paranormal investigation with an expert paranormal investigation team.

14°C Partly cloudy
4.8 / 5 460 Google reviews

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Tour/s

J Ward Lunatic Asylum Ghost Tour

J Ward Lunatic Asylum Ghost Tour

Visit Australia’s home to the criminally insane, J Ward Lunatic Asylum. Explore the museum followed by a two hour ghost tour of the home of notorious criminals including Chopper Read, Gary Webb and William Wallace. Explore the governor’s bathroom, hangman’s gallows, original kitchen, showerblock, grave sites, West Wing, J Ward Block, exercise yards and grounds in search of the souls that still linger. Learn of governors whose spirits are still lurking, prisoners buried in the grounds and the many souls trapped within these walls.

The duration of the tour is two hours. It involves moderate walking with some steps.

Paranormal activity: very high. Due to the nature of stories, children must be 12 years or older for the J Ward Tour.

Meet at J Ward, Girdlestone Street, Ararat – a two and a half hour drive from Melbourne.

J Ward Paranormal Investigation

J Ward Paranormal Investigation

Meet at J Ward, Girdlestone Street, Ararat 3377. Allow 2.5 hours drive from Melbourne.

Join us on the ultimate overnight paranormal investigation. Visit Australia’s home to the criminally insane, J Ward Lunatic Asylum. Your night starts with a two hour ghost tour of the home of notorious criminals including Chopper Read, Gary Webb and William Wallace. Enjoy a casual supper of pizza and soft drink in the original dining room and then follow our expert paranormal investigation team as they explore the governor’s bathroom, hangman’s gallows, original kitchen, shower block, gravesites, West Wing, J Ward Block, exercise yards and grounds in search of the souls that still linger.

Maximum group size 15 guests, for ages 16 and above.

Approximate Duration: Starts 8pm, ends approximately 7am.
Venue: Mainly Indoors Terrain: Moderate walking, some steps
Paranormal Activity: Very High

Remember to bring along your own mattress/camp mat and sleeping bag. Torch, sleeping bag, very warm clothes, snack/drinks (no alcohol)

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