General News
13 April, 2026
Aradale left waiting for answers
A parliamentary question on the condition and future of Aradale remains unanswered more than a month after it was due, leaving one of Ararat’s most significant and emotionally loaded sites suspended in uncertainty.
The question, asked by Liberal MP Joe McCracken and directed to Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney, was due for response on February 17.
It remains unanswered in Parliament.
That matters not only because of the missed process, but because Aradale is no ordinary government asset. Opened in 1867 as the Ararat Asylum, the sprawling complex shaped the life of the town for generations. Thousands worked there. Families built livelihoods around it. Its closure left a mark that was economic, social and deeply personal. Even now, its scale and presence make it impossible to ignore.
When the Victorian Government did respond to media questions, the reply did not come from the Minister’s office. It came via the Office of the Premier of Victoria.
And it offered little clarity.
The statement did not outline any funding commitments, planned works or timeline for decisions about the site’s future.
Instead, a government spokesperson said: “Melbourne Polytechnic continues to actively manage Aradale as the site custodian. They support a range of ongoing community, residential, commercial and agricultural uses across the site.”
The spokesperson also said: “We are in ongoing discussions with Melbourne Polytechnic about future options for the site.”
Those two lines are among the only current statements the Government has put on record about a site locals say has deteriorated for years.
Background information accompanying the Government’s statement described the former hospital buildings as large, heritage-listed structures requiring significant specialised maintenance and remediation. It said the buildings are not suitable for occupancy due to their scale, condition and associated remediation requirements, and that the site is secured, with access restricted.
The statement did not outline who is responsible for funding repairs, whether money has been allocated or when any decisions about the site’s future might be made.
When McCracken first raised the matter in Parliament, he said the site was “in drastic need of repair” and pointed to images and video showing water damage, mould, failing walls and parts of the roof at risk of collapse. He also argued Aradale’s heritage value alone should be enough to justify preserving it, while noting the site still supports activity including tourism.
Aradale’s future is not simply a question of bricks and mortar. It also reflects broader questions about memory, responsibility and how Ararat approaches a site that has helped define the town.
Within its history are stories of work, care and community, alongside accounts of trauma and institutional harm. For many, it remains a place of significance — associated with both pride and pain.
Further questions regarding responsibility for maintenance, funding and timelines for the site’s future were put to the Government.
No response was received prior to deadline.
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