Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 25 travelers
Overview
Dare to enter the dark heart of Australia’s criminal past at J Ward Lunatic Asylum—the notorious home for the criminally insane.
Once housing Victoria’s most dangerous men, including infamous figures like Chopper Read, Gary Webb, and William Wallace, this forbidding institution hides a legacy of madness, murder, and misery within its cold blue-stone walls.
Creep through the governor’s private bathroom, stand beneath the hangman’s gallows, and feel the chill of the original kitchen and shower block where whispers of the past still echo.
Venture through the haunted West Wing, the eerie J Ward Block, abandoned exercise yards, and shadowy grave sites—where prisoners lie buried beneath unmarked soil.
This is not just a tour… it’s a descent into Australia’s most haunted asylum, where the line between the living and the dead is terrifyingly thin.
What's included
Live commentary
Local guide
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off
What to expect
2h · Admission ticket included
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.
Meeting and pickup
Meeting point
Please meet at JWard Old Gaol , Girdlestone Street Ararat Victoria
End point
Please meet at JWard Old Gaol , Girdlestone Street Ararat Victoria
Additional information
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
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
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
