Aradale - 1863 - 1997
Here we take a brief glimpse into the world of Aradale Mental Hospital, situated in Ararat, VIC. This Asylum is by far my favourite to explore and research.
Aradale is an E-Plan barracks style Asylum, similar to sister asylums, Kew and Beechworth. This style of Asylum was based on the 1850′s model in Colney Hatch, England. There are two seperate wards, separating women from men to prevent obvious mingling.
Aradale, much like Kew and Beechworth, was home to some horribly unfavourable treatment towards patients that we would find barbaric today. Such treatments involved isolation, starvation, electroshock therapy (ECT is still commonly used for effective treatment of mental illness today, although far less invasive and far more comfortable these days), and of course... the lobotomy. I have to say how humbling, devastating and incredible it is to walk the same hallways and be present in rooms where these techniques took place all those many years ago.
Aradale is mostly untouched by vandalism, unlike sites such as Larundel Asylum, where large amounts of vandalism can be seen from quite some distance away. I like to think that people visiting Aradale can respect it for what it is, and the historical significance that she bares.
I will never quite be able to capture these buildings in a way that conveys the epic magnitude of each and every inch of the 63 structures that all once stood harmoniously together on Mad Mans Hill. Unfortunately, not all 63 are still standing. Some have been removed due to safety concerns (e.g- the infectious diseases building was burnt down deliberately to remove all traces of contaminants that may have remained after the hospital closed), and some have been remodelled by Melbourne Polytechnic to suit their study plans.
I would absolutely recommend visiting Aradale to anybody interested. Please either book a tour via Eerie Tours, or a day tour via the Jward website. Remember to respect the grounds and the contents inside.
abi. x