J Ward Gaol and Aradale Asylum tours have been closed for the second half of the year due to the government-imposed restrictions.

Lantern Ghost Tours office manager Liz H said they are hopeful of a return in early November.

"It is not confirmed yet but we should be opening for ghost tours in the coming weeks," she said.

"We are anticipating we can re-commence tours on the fifth of November, and tours will run every Friday and Saturday at 9.30pm.

"We are definitely hoping for the start of November."

Ararat's most famous tourist attraction, J Ward, turns 160 years old this month.

The facility opened in 1861 as The Ararat County Jail and was later used as a maximum-security psychiatric ward for the criminally insane before eventually closing its doors in 1991.

J Ward is now a museum that provides an insight into conditions for 19th-century psychiatric patients and prisoners. Friends of J Ward operate historical tours throughout the week, which allow visitors to walk in the footsteps of the people who lived and worked in the establishment.

Lantern Ghost Tours explore the original cells, hangman's gallows, kitchen, shower block, gravesites, Governor's bathroom West Wing, J Ward Block, exercise yards, and grounds searching for the souls that still linger.

Lantern Ghost Tours' founder Jacqueline Travaglia said she looks forward to welcoming tourists back.

"We are proud to work with Friends of J Ward to share the venue's unique history.

"Our guests travel from far and wide, including interstate and Melbourne, to explore J Ward and the greater community of Ararat.

"We are thrilled to be able to promote not only J Ward but the entire Grampians Region through our tours".

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Ms H said the team is raring to return after a lengthy lay-off.

"We can't wait to get back to it," she said.

"We are all happy to get back to the tours. We have missed the ghosts.

"We have already dealt (COVID-19 safe) with all of that.

"We have reduced tour numbers and we have set up check-ins, masks, and sanitisers, it is very COVID-19 safe."

For more information, visit https://lanternghosttours.rezdy.com/85289/jward-lunatic-asylum-ghost-tour-victoria.