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J Ward Lunatic Asylum Ghost Tour: Journey into Australia's Dark Past
4.4
20 Ratings
Ararat
Embark on a spine-chilling journey into Australia’s dark past at the J Ward Lunatic Asylum. Explore the museum and join a guided ghost tour to encounter the lingering souls of notorious criminals. Tours available every Friday and Saturday evening.
Embark on a spine-chilling journey into Australia’s dark past at the J Ward Lunatic Asylum. Explore the museum and join a guided ghost tour to encounter the lingering souls of notorious criminals. Tours available every Friday and Saturday evening.
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- J Ward Museum - Visit Australia’s home to the criminally insane, J Ward Lunatic Asylum. Explore the museum followed by a 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,…
- J Ward Museum - Visit Australia’s home to the criminally insane, J Ward Lunatic Asylum. Explore the museum followed by a 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.
What's Included
- Live commentary
- Local guide
- Live commentary
- Local guide
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information
Visit Australia’s former home of the criminally insane, the J Ward Lunatic Asylum, about two hours outside of Melbourne. During this evening experience, check out the museum that now sits here before the 2-hour guided ghost tour begins. The tour introduces you to some of the notorious criminals who resided in the ward, including Chopper Read, as you…
Visit Australia’s former home of the criminally insane, the J Ward Lunatic Asylum, about two hours outside of Melbourne. During this evening experience, check out the museum that now sits here before the 2-hour guided ghost tour begins. The tour introduces you to some of the notorious criminals who resided in the ward, including Chopper Read, as you explore the grounds in search of the souls who still linger here.
Tours run every Friday & Saturday evening.
- Minimum age is 12 years
- Children 12 and over must be accompanied by a supervising adult ticket holder
- Flat, comfortable shoes are recommended
- The 2-hour tour is mostly indoors with moderate walking and some steps
- Tours take place in wet weather; in the case of extreme weather, the local tour operator will contact you directly to offer alternative options
Location
Girdlestone Street
Please meet at JWard Old Gaol , Girdlestone Street Ararat Victoria
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.4
(20 Ratings)
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Flyer8888888
Oct 17, 2024
J Ward night tour. - This is an interesting and informative tour, which gives a concise and detailed history about J Ward's infamous past. It is a little confronting when you hear about some of the detainees stories, which are well presented by the guides. You receive access into a lot of areas inside the asylum, which itself is a wonderful and historic collection of buildings, including the underground kitchens.
We didn't find any ghosts, despite our best efforts with the divining rods, but this makes the two hour tour a bit of fun and lightens the experience which is good.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K7702bpnadinec
Aug 24, 2024
Amazing - Best ghost tour of the town, couldn't recommend this enough, both Sandra and Graham did an amazing job with the tour and shared so much insite into the history of the place. A few ghostly experiences enough to make the hairs stand up. Overall 10/10..
Review provided by Tripadvisor
619jeffry
Mar 4, 2024
Ararat ghost tour is definitely worthwhile - J Ward was a psychiatric institution in Ararat. J Ward was mainly for the criminally insane. Since the inpatients were transferred to other institutions, J Ward has been opened up for ghost tours. This former "lunatic asylum" is a reminder of the ethical challenges involved in the mental health involved in this forensic mental hospital in Ararat. The ghost tour can be a bit alarming, but it arouses your interest and curiosity; it's definitely worthwhile.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
900graemes
Jun 12, 2023
Great night - We had a great group of people and funny, informative and friendly guides.
Very entertaining and informative night out.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bronm2018
Apr 18, 2023
Worthwile doing whilst in Ararat - Absolutely fantastic. Highly recommend you do this tour as well as Aradale. The history behind J-Ward and the inmates is something we should all learn about. Respect the history for the time it was open.
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Danielmy8678gw
Sep 22, 2024
Great experience, would be better in smaller groups. - This was a really good experience. The host was great, very spiritual but not over the top. It's a shame that there were so many rude people trying to be funny and talk over the top of her, but she definitely handled it well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
P8085cykimp
Oct 6, 2023
J Ward Ghost Tour - A great history lesson about the place and some people that were there, No scary stuff occurred while we were there but still it was a fun night
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Claytonp511
Sep 22, 2023
Fantastic insight to the establishment - It was definitely an experience for the whole family to enjoy. The 2 hours night tour was very well paced for time. Watching the short video of actual inmates truely bought the moment to life. One of my group was fortunate to feel a spirit in the kitchen area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kond698
Nov 1, 2022
Interesting and quite humbling from a historical perspective, but no ghosts on hand. - I loved learning about J Ward from a historical perspective. It's history and the role it has played in terms of housing the "criminally insane" is in itself both sad and compelling. I think that the preservation of the buildings, cells and surrounding structures is paramount to Ararat and it represents a key tourist attraction. I also felt that the building itself is both claustrophobic and disturbing, making the additional "ghost related" activities somewhat unnecessary. The use of diving rods and so on, was I felt a little gimicky and really didn't add to the experience at all. The hosts were fantastic, very knowledgeable and told the story beautifully. I also thought that the scariest person there was the lady who held the keys, didn't speak a word all night, just threw out the odd smile but didn't engage with anybody. Could this be the one and only true ghost at J Ward?
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deef690
Jul 15, 2023
Got completely ripped off - Bought tickets, organised accommodation in Ararat, took time off work, drove from Melbourne, turned up early for tour, there was no one there. Tour had been cancelled and we weren’t informed. Really disappointed, rang on return to Melbourne, no one could help, no one would even refund my money!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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