After leaving Deniliquin we stayed a night at St Arnaud and then made our way down to Ararat to catch up with Vickie’s Sister Sue & Husband Greg. We had booked a site at the Acacia Van Park and a cabin for them. As most know I’m not a fan of Van Parks but if we have to stay in one this one ticked the boxes, very friendly staff, a small park, excellent amenities for those that need them and the cabin and site were a reasonable price, plus they allowed us to take up two sites so we didn’t need to unhitch the van.
Sue & Greg had arranged to take us the the former Ararat Jail & mental Asylum J Ward … not to be committed but to do a tour. 🥴🤪
Ararat Jail operated from 1859/1887
J Ward - Hospital for the Insane 1887/1991
Jim was our volunteer tour guide and he did an excellent job in showing us around and telling us stories of some of the patients / prisoners. Some very sad and disturbing stories as an example was a six year old boy institutionalised and spent most of his early life. His life didn’t improve with him being jailed in 1982, due to possible release in 1991 the Govt were concerned his self mutilation and threats to kill they kept him locked up, he died in 1993 from swallowing razor blades.
There were so many stories and so interesting we bought a book with all the information. The inmates were locked in their cell for 12 hours at night had their clothes removed and slept naked on a straw mattress with a heavy canvas cover to stop any possibility of suicide.
There was Bill Wallace the oldest incarcerated person in the World, he was 107 when he died.
A Frenchman Charles Foussard was the longest incarcerated person in the World with 71 years.
Another well known prisoner was Chopper Read who was sent to J Ward after cutting his ears off.
So many stories ….
If your ever around Ararat Victoria we can recommend you visit.
That night we all went to the local RSL and had a great meal and donated some $ to the pokie machines. 🥴🥴🫣🫣
No comments:
Post a Comment