J Ward originally the Ararat County Gaol, was an Australian prison, of the latter a psychiatric facility to house the
criminally insane
The insanity defense, also known as the mental disorder defense, is an affirmative defense by excuse in a criminal case, arguing that the defendant is not responsible for their actions due to an episodic psychiatric disease at the time of the cr ...
, located in
Ararat, Victoria
Ararat (Djabwurrung language, Djabwurrung: ''Tallarambooroo'') is a city in south-west Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, about west of Melbourne, on the Western Highway, Victoria, Western Highway on the eastern slopes of the Ararat Hill ...
, Australia.
Construction of the gaol commenced in 1859 and the facility was opened in October 1861. In 1887, it was converted for use as a maximum security psychiatric ward for the criminally insane. J Ward officially closed in January 1991, and in 1993, it was re-opened as a museum providing tours.
History
Construction of original building commenced in 1859, as a goldfields prison, based on the
Pentonville
Pentonville is an area on the northern fringe of Central London, in the London Borough of Islington. It is located north-northeast of Charing Cross on the Inner Ring Road. Pentonville developed in the northwestern edge of the ancient parish ...
concept, by the
Public Works Department
This list indicates government departments in various countries dedicated to public works or infrastructure.
See also
* Public works
* Ministry or Board of Public Works, the imperial Chinese ministry overseeing public projects from the Tang ...
. They were built out of
blue stone. On 10 October 1861, the gaol was opened, with a total of 21 prisoners incarcerated. The first
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
was Samuel Walker (previously the Governor of Portland Gaol). In 1864, the gaol housed 40 prisoners, and in 1867, John Gray became the gaol's second Governor, a position that he held for ten years. On 15 August 1870, the first execution was conducted at the gaol, when Andrew Vere was hanged for the murder of Amos Cheale in January 1869. The second execution at the gaol was held on 25 September 1883, when Robert Francis Burns was hanged for the murder of Michael Quinlivan. In 1877, Henry Pinniger was appointed as the gaol's third Governor. On 6 June 1884, the gaol held its third execution, with Henry Morgan being hanged for the murder of Margaret Nolan in November 1883. In 1884, George Fiddimont became the gaol's fourth Governor, he died of a heart attack at the gaol on 14 September 1886.
In the aftermath of the
Victorian gold rush
The Victorian gold rush was a period in the history of Victoria, Australia approximately between 1851 and the late 1860s. It led to a period of extreme prosperity for the Australian colony, and an influx of population growth and financial capit ...
the gaol was no longer required and in December 1886 the gaol building was proclaimed as the 'J Ward', part of the
Ararat Lunatic Asylum.
J Ward is now a museum open to the public. Tours are run every day except on public holidays at 11 am, 12 pm, 1pm & 2pm.
Other notes about J Ward include the amazing art work done by prisoners on the walls outside in their open area, the way this place makes you still imagine it being operated, and the thought to detail is amazing.
J ward was not only occupied by the criminally insane but also the insane who had not committed any crimes, but were eventually moved to a facility established to their needs.
Notable patients
*
Charles Fossard – admitted in 1903 at age 21 and died in custody in 1974 at age 92, he was the longest serving patient at the facility as well as the longest serving prisoner in the entire world (he was incarcerated for nearly 71 years)
*
Garry David – also known as Garry Webb, said to have served more time in prison than any other person in the history of the State of Victoria. David spent a total of 33 years in various institutions
*
Bill Wallace – admitted in 1926 at age 44 remaining in custody until his death in 1989 at age 107, he was both the oldest patient at the facility and the oldest prisoner in world history (he was incarcerated for 64 years), and a record that earned him a place in
Guinness World Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
*
Mark "Chopper" Read
Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read (17 November 1954 – 9 October 2013) was an Australian convicted criminal, gang member and author. Read wrote a series of semi-autobiographical fictional crime novels and children's books. The 2000 film '' Chop ...
– was transferred from
Pentridge Prison
HM Prison Pentridge was an Australian prison that was first established in 1851 in Coburg, Victoria. The first prisoners arrived in 1851. The prison officially closed on 1 May 1997.
Pentridge was often referred to as the "Bluestone College", " ...
in late 1978 after arranging for a fellow inmate to cut off both his ears. Read only remained in J Ward for a few months before being transferred back to Pentridge
Executions
See also
*
Aradale Mental Hospital
Aradale Mental Hospital was an Australian psychiatric hospital, located in Ararat, a rural city in south-west Victoria, Australia. Originally known as Ararat Lunatic Asylum, Aradale and its two sister asylums at Kew and Beechworth were commiss ...
*
HM Prison Ararat
*
List of Australian psychiatric institutions
References
External links
{{coord, 37.2788, S, 142.9303, E, type:landmark_region:AU, display=title
Government buildings completed in 1861
Infrastructure completed in 1861
Defunct prisons in Victoria (Australia)
Prison museums in Australia
Museums in Victoria (Australia)
Ararat, Victoria
Hospitals established in 1859
1991 disestablishments in Australia
Maximum security prisons in Australia
Psychiatric hospitals in Australia
Defunct hospitals in Victoria (Australia)
1859 establishments in Australia