A Haunted Journey through Aradale

Join the Aradale Ghost Tour and venture deep into the heart of one of Australia’s most haunted buildings, the notorious Ararat Lunatic Asylum. Built in the 19th century this place has a spine chilling history that still echoes through its walls. Located in the rural town of Ararat, Victoria, Aradale Asylum, also known as Aradale Mental Hospital, once held thousands of patients from the mentally ill to the “worst lunatics”. Today it stands as a reminder of Australia’s dark past of mental health treatments and the ghosts that still roam. This tour will be an experience you will never forget with lots of ghost stories, weird history and personal stories from those who walked its haunted halls.

Ghost Stories and Ghostly Encounters at Aradale Asylum

Visitors to the Aradale Ghost Tour have reported many ghost encounters and strange paranormal activity. The asylum is known for its brutal treatments and rough practices and is often described as one of the creepiest ghost tours in Australia. Paranormal investigators with ghost hunting equipment have captured videos of ghostly activity that will chill even the most experienced ghost hunter. The infamous “Nurse Kerry” is one of many ghosts said to haunt the surgery theatres, administration building and intact cell blocks. Guests have reported strange sensations like smells, unexplained footsteps and cold spots during the evening tours of the facility. It’s a haunting detour worth adding to your Grampians tour itinerary.

The Weird History of Aradale Asylum

Aradale Asylum, formerly Ararat Lunatic Asylum, opened in 1865 and was one of three sister asylums built to treat mental illness in Australia. With its vast array of patients and weird psychiatric treatments including electroshock therapy and lobotomies it soon became notorious. Thousands of people described it as a place of horror where the treatments were brutal and merciless. The asylum’s history is full of violence with many patients never making it out alive. This dark history and sheer size makes it one of the most haunted buildings in the country.

Notable Occurrences

During its operation Aradale Asylum saw many notable events, both tragic and weird. One of the most significant was the fire in the early 1900s that killed several patients and staff. Another dark moment in its history was the introduction of the controversial treatments that often made the patients worse. Nathaniel Buchanan, a former superintendent, was responsible for some of the most rough practices and the asylum earned a notorious reputation. These events and the asylum’s part in Australia’s mental health history have left a lasting impression on those who visit today.

Patients: The Brutal Truth

Life inside Aradale was tough. Patients were treated badly and with no regard for their lives. Aradale became infamous for its brutal treatments, electroshock, hydrotherapy and lobotomies were common. The dark history of the asylum is a reminder of the harsh reality of mental health care in the 19th and 20th centuries. These brutal methods contributed to the high mortality rate and many believe the spirits of these poor patients still haunt the halls of Aradale.

Ghosts of Aradale: Personal Accounts and Experiences

Aradale Asylum is said to be haunted by many famous ghosts including former patients, staff and even Nathaniel Buchanan one of the asylum’s early superintendents. There are many ghost stories from the administration building, morgue and patient wards. Visitors have seen shadowy figures or heard strange noises, others have experienced ghostly activity like strange smells and sudden temperature drops. Many believe the walls of the asylum whisper the chilling tales of those who suffered within.

The Eerie Buildings

Aradale’s buildings are beautiful and creepy. The Victorian style was once considered an architectural wonder, now it’s a horror. The asylum has big walls, ha-ha walls and long dark corridors that amplify the spookiness visitors feel. The combination of derelict buildings and intact cells makes Aradale a very haunted place. The wide crumbling corridors where patients once roamed are now explored by paranormal investigators and visitors. The administration building and surgery theatres are part of these decaying structures making Aradale one of the most visually stunning locations in Australia.

Aradale Ghost Tours

The Aradale Ghost Tour has become a favourite for those looking for a spooky experience. This 2 hour ghost tour takes you through the asylum’s most haunted areas, sharing ghost stories, weird history and personal accounts from its haunted past. For those who want a more in depth experience the 6 hour tour gives you access to the administration building, surgery theatres and paranormal investigation areas. Ghost Tour Bookings are available all year round with options for different tour lengths and intensity. Parental discretion is advised as the content may be too disturbing for younger participants. If you’re interested in ghostly activity Aradale Ghost Tours are a must do.

Tour Highlights

Administration Building: Where the ghosts of former staff members are said to roam.
Intact Cell Blocks: Walk through the ha-ha walls and asylum walls and hear about the asylum’s brutal treatment of patients.
Surgery Theaters: Explore the rooms where experimental psychiatric treatments took place and feel the eerie atmosphere.