In this section, I will
try and list the most easily accessible haunted places in the Brisbane
area that are open to the public. I will not, however, list addresses
of homes that are still occupied, as we are all entitled to our privacy
and I don't want people creeping around private houses in the middle of
the night hoping to stir up a ghost. The only thing you will stir up will
be the anger of the owners and in turn most probably the Police. So
please - if you decide to check out any haunted places, make sure they
are able to be accessed legally, without injury or disturbance to others. I
recommend public places as these are usually easy to get to and you will
have the freedom to walk around, without trespassing.
Newstead
House: This historic house was built in
1846 on the banks of the Brisbane River. It is a restored period
homestead with formal gardens, large verandahs, antique furniture and period
exhibits. Most occurrences here are fairly low key, with strange sounds
such as doors opening and closing and at times footsteps can be heard in
various parts of the house. The main ghostly presence is believed
to be that of a woman, most probably a maid, who would have worked in the
house some time ago. She is harmless, being responsible for
moving items about the house. If specific items are placed somewhere
before closing, at times they are found relocated to different sections
of the house at opening time. Newstead House can be found on
Breakfast Creek Road in Newstead and is open Monday-Friday 10am to 4pm and
Sunday 2pm to 5pm. Old
Government House: This is the present day
headquarters of the National Trust of Queensland, but used to be the Governor's
office up until 1910. Built in 1860, it is a huge mansion with beautifully
sculptured gardens. It is believed to be haunted
by the ghost of George Ferguson Bowen who died in 1899 in England, although
the number of times he has visited the Old Government House is unknown.
Even though he died in England, it is possible that he returned here due
to his connection with this building in life. It can be found at
the end of George Street next to the Queensland University of Technology
Gardens Point campus. Parliament
House: This historic building has been
the seat of power in Brisbane since 1868 when it was built. It is
a beautiful sandstone building with a very plush interior. It is
believed to be haunted by three ghosts. One of the ghosts just
moves about the building as he would have done long ago. The Speakers
Room is thought to be home to another ghost, who in life committed suicide
by shooting himself in this room. The third has also been seen moving
about the place, believed to be the spirit of a man who also died within
Parliament House in 1879. It can be found on the corner of George
and Alice Streets in the city, and tours of the building are available
when Parliament is not in session. Boggo
Road Gaol: One of Brisbane's old prisons,
it is no surprise that there are ghosts residing here. Boggo
Road was closed down only a few years ago, and now lies empty. Although
there is a possibility that many ghosts reside here, one of the most believed
is that of Ernest Austin, convicted of murder and hanged within the prison
walls in 1913. Gaurds of the prison kept fairly tight lipped about
the strange occurrences within the prison, although one guard made an official
report about a ghostly form he saw one night while doing his rounds. Further
research has found that over the 80 years the prison was open after Austin
was hanged, there were many sightings, although none bar one were ever
officially reported. Most were just passed around the guards
as lunchtime stories. Austin was most commonly seen in the area
that was once the gallows, however has now moved across to Number 2 Division,
the only remaining section of the prison. Boggo Road can be
found in Dutton Park. The
Plough Inn: The Plough Inn near Southbank
at East Brisbane may seem like a very innocent pub, although it has its
fair share of ghostly stories too. Built in the late 1800's,
the Plough Inn has been one of Brisbane's favourite historical nightspots
for many years. The owners of the Inn believe the ghost to be
that of a girl who was strangled in the building in the 1920's when the
area was still fairly rough. Nobody has actually seen her, although
many have heard her voice around the building. Her favourite
part of the Inn is around guest room 7, although she has been heard in
other parts of the Inn. The Plough Inn can be found at Southbank
in East Brisbane and is open when you would expect a Hotel to be open.
City
Hall: Brisbane City Hall is probably the
last place you would think of being haunted, although many who have worked
there and have visited have seen things they cannot explain. The
Hall is reported to be the home to at least 3 ghosts. One is
of a female spirit who is usually seen on the main staircase
or at the top of the stairs overlooking the foyer. The second
is of a workman who is linked to the lift, after being killed back in the
1930's. The third is said to reside in the Red
Cross Tea Room, and is supposedly the ghost of an American sailor killed by another
sailor after a fight over an Australian girl. Apparently, every
now and then people in the rooms nearby can here the sounds of an argument,
the sound of a knife being drawn and the gruesome sounds of the sailor
being murdered. Although there are no ghost tours through City Hall,
there are normal tours which may include tales of the hauntings. Tours
are held on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with bookings taken
on (07) 3225 4890.
Brisbane
Arcade: Brisbane Arcade is a beautifully
restored shopping arcade in the city. It runs from the Queen
Street Mall through to Adelaide Street and has two floors. The
ground floor cuts between the two streets, however the second floor consists
of a balcony that runs its way around the walls of the building with the
centre cut out to look back down onto the first floor. Quite a bit
of work has been done on the restoration process, with a wood finish and
beautiful cast iron latticework on the second floor. Rumour has
it that the ghost of a shopkeeper still walks the arcade on the second
level, and has been seen by the arcade security guards on numerous occasions. After
her death, her shop was closed, however she decided to remain and keep
a watchful eye on the place!