J Ward Museum Complex

One of Ararat's premier tourist destinations, the J Ward Museum Complex tells stories of goldfield early history, through to criminals and the criminally insane. Starting out as a goldfields prison in 1859, J Ward was taken over in the mid 1880's to become temporary housing for the criminally insane, home to some of the most dangerous men in Victoria. Daily tours of the prison are conducted and each guide has their wealth of favourite stories to tell. Get a group together for a night tour and enjoy the spooky stories that are housed within the J Ward Museum Complex.