Wednesday, 6 June 2012

J Ward Goal @ Ararat

J Ward is Ararat's premier tourist attraction with a unique
blend of infrastructure & history


Starting life as a goal to serve the gold rush in 1850's


Victoria's most secretive institution

J Ward housed Victoria's criminally insane men for more than 100 years



The goal closed in 1991, J Ward is now a museum preserving the living conditions
& stories of the men lost to society


Our guide for the tour was an ex nurse from the 1970's & had some interesting stories about inmates


Painting on a yard wall dates back to 1850's



In the cell block


One inmate came in as a young man & spent 55 years here, in this cold & unforgiving place & when it closed he was in his 80's & had no family or friends & was sent to another institution & lived to be 100 years old.  Imagine spending all your life in goal

Gallows



Net to stop inmates jumping down to ground floor

Exercise yard


Kitchen


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