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Firstly i apologise for the lateness! I've been that busy at work with paperwork up to my eyeballs but here goes...
If you are easily frightened or upset then i suggest you give this one a miss!
Don't say i didn't warn you!
Yes this article is flipping long so don't say i didn't warn you on that either! 🙂

Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, there are plenty of locations around the world which have gained the reputation of "Haunted". Australia has its fair share of these and the below are 10 of the most well known.

10.
Port Arthur – TAS



Port Arthur is a small town and former convict colony in Tasmania. It is also the location of one of the deadliest shooting massacres in the world; in 1996 35 people were killed and another 23 wounded by a 28yr old Australian man Martin Bryant. From 1833 to 1853, Port Arthur functioned as a prison for the hardest British convicts and rebellious repeat offenders from across Australia and used psychological punishment instead of physical. Well behaved prisoners were rewarded with extra food and luxury items such as tea, tobacco and sugar, while the rebellious prisoners received only bread and water. They were also hooded and made to keep silent, to allow them to think about their actions that bought them there. However, many convicts developed serious mental illnesses from lack of light and sound. The prison also housed young juvenile offenders who lived and slaved in the same cells as the adult population. Paranormal activity is very real here, with reports of prisoners and staff wandering the buildings. The most famous ghost is Rev. George who died in an upstairs bedroom in The Parsonage. He has been identified by numerous people and is believed to have never left the prison. Prisoners who died at Port Arthur were taken to “The Island of The Dead” where a reported 1676 graves lay on the small island, however only 180 are marked. Unexplained events include reports of spirits who haunt the grounds occasionally attacking tourists, screams coming from a young boy awaiting execution, moving furniture and rattling windows, and several well known prisoners have been recognised hanging around the cells. In 2014, Port Arthur is one of Australia’s biggest historical sites with over 250,000 visitors each year.


9.
Alkimos - WA



Alkimos was a US Navy Ship built in 10 days in World War II in Maryland by Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards and launched on October 11, 1943. It was originally supposed to be called George M. Shriver but was renamed Viggo Hansteen after the vessel was re-assigned to the Norwegian Merchant Fleet on October 20, 1943. During the war, it served as a troop ship carrying Norwegian and Canadian crew and transported primarily ammunition and materials needed to produce weapons across the Mediterranean Sea and India Sea. During the end of the war, it was used to transport US Soldiers and German POW. The ship was sold to a Greek shipping company who renamed it “Alkimos” (meaning “Strong” in Greek) after it ran aground in New Zealand in 1952. In 1963 it hit a reef off the coast of Western Australia and was towed to Freemantle for repairs. After repairs it was scheduled to be towed to Hong Kong to receive new parts; however it mysteriously broke free during a storm. This caused huge damage and the Alkimos became trapped in shallow waters once again. It was decided to try and salvage the ship but was soon abandoned after an unexplained fire and a series of unexplained events. In the coming years, Alkimos housed several salvage crews and caretakers all of whom were eventually forced to leave the ship due to paranormal activity. In 1944 a murder-suicide took place on board when female Canadian Radio Operator Maud Steane was shot dead by her fellow crew member who then proceeded to commit suicide. Maud’s ghost is said to haunt the ship and many people blame it for the bad luck experienced. There have been countless unexplained occurrences linked with the Alkimos. Crew would not leave their cabins alone as ghostly footsteps would follow, a long distance swimmer from Perth disappeared while training and his skull was found inside the Alkimos wreck, animals will not come within 500m of the ship and horses refuse to ride past. Numerous drownings, boat engines failing and tourists injuring themselves are just a few of the coincidences. Many divers have disappeared at the shipwreck and the Australian Government has asked people to avoid the area.
In 2014 the Alkimos is almost fully disintegrated above the water and is no longer visible from the beach. Australia’s very own Bermuda Triangle!


8.
Brisbane City Hall - QLD



Erected in 1930 by his Excellency the Governor Sir John Goodwin, Brisbane City Hall stands in the heart of the city and is home to the Brisbane City Council. Legend states that a Lift Attendant jumped to his death during the lift installation early in 1930 and his ghost can be seen riding the elevator and constantly causes mechanical failures in the shaft. Other known spirits residing here are a woman in period style clothing who is usually seen on the main staircase overlooking the foyer. There is an American sailor who was murdered by his shipmate after an altercation over a young woman. He is seen in the Red Cross Tearoom and visitors have reported hearing an argument, followed by a knife being drawn and the gruesome sounds of him being killed. The caretaker is also said to haunt room 203 on the third floor, where he committed suicide in the 1940’s. Countless workmen died during the construction of this impressive structure, which was built on swamp land and reportedly right on top of an old very significant Aboriginal site. In 2014, Brisbane City Hall closed its doors in 2010 to 2013 for restoration and still functions as a backdrop for many cultural and social events.


7.
Princess Theatre – VIC



Princess Theatre is a large theatre sitting in the Victoria capital of Melbourne. Built in 1864 by actor Charles Coppin, it is often seen as Melbournes first theatre and is the first to have a retractable roof. The location is said to be haunted by British/Italian actor Frederick Baker, or “Frederici” which was his stage name. During a play in 1888, Frederici was to be lowered down through the stage through a trap door into a basement signifying his character Mephistopheles being sent into Hell. It is presumed he became overwhelmed by the play and suffered a fatal heart attack; he was dead before he made it to the basement. Strangely enough, he told his fellow cast mates “I will give a fine performance tonight, but it will kill me”. After the play, the director informed the cast what had happened but was met with confusion as they had all just seen Frederici on stage bowing to the audience with them. Since that day, he is often seen wearing several different outfits in Princess Theatre and appears more often when there is a show taking place, especially in the dressing rooms as if he was preparing to go on stage and perform. Frederici is a “friendly ghost” who will remain in sight for sometimes minutes and people believe that is he is spotted on the night of a premiere, its good luck and he is reserved a seat in the dress circle to this day. In 2014, it is still a functioning theatre.


6.
Studley Park House – NSW



Studley Park House is a Victorian mansion located in a place called Narellan South West of Sydney. Built in 1889 by businessman William Charles Payne, however was sold to The Camden Grammar School Headmaster Dr Henry Oliver in 1902 and was then used as a school. In 1909 a 14yr old schoolboy Ray Blackstone and a few of his friends decided to go for a swim in the local dam, despite numerous warnings of the dangers. While trying to swim from one side to the other, Ray drowned. His body was brought ashore by senior students and was then stored in the basement until burial. In 1933 the house was sold to Twentieth Century Fox Australia Sales Manager Arthur Adolphus Gregory who converted the student’s dining room into a theatrette and created a golf course in the surrounding land; however disaster struck in 1939 when his son died in the theatrette from appendicitis and his body was also stored in the basement awaiting burial. It is said these boys now keep each other company forever at the house and are heard causing a nuisance and scurrying around the bedrooms. There is also a lonely old woman who is often seen in the tower. The Department of Defense took over the property when World War II started and turned it into a training facility. In 2001 it was the location for filming of “Scream Test”, a psychological reality game show. Participants were locked in the house for the night while cameras filmed them. One contestant was too spooked and could not continue the challenge, and another said she heard a baby crying from the corner of the room. The Camden Golf Club purchased Studey Park House in 1996, and in 2014 it runs ghost tours every second Friday night.


5.
Ararat Lunatic Asylum - VIC



Just the words Lunatic Asylum give you the shivers. Aradale is Australia’s largest abandoned lunatic asylum. It was built as a “small town” consisting of a market, orchard, vineyard, dairy and a piggery. Along with 18 wards, chapel, hospital, various workshops, fire station and morgue. It sits high on the hill 205km west of Melbourne. Opened in 1865 it housed thousands of the worst “Lunatics” and “Imbeciles” in the world. Around 13,000 people died there mostly due to the horrific, torturous psychiatric treatments which took place here over its 130 years resulting in Aradale being considered one of the most haunted locations in Australia. Stories of Nurse Kelly, who haunts the women’s wing and watches the ghost tour groups are very common, unexplained pain and feelings of being touched are just a couple of the events that happen within the men’s surgery wing and banging can be heard on the walls in the men’s isolation cells when no-one else is in the building. J Ward is a part of the complex with a grisly past housing some of the worlds most dangerous criminally insane. Three men were hanged here and buried in unmarked graves upright facing the asylum to ensure their spirits would forever be confined within the walls. At its peak, Aradale consisted of 63 buildings, 1000 patients and over 500 staff. Spirits reportedly wandering the halls are nurses in white uniforms and dark figures. Crying, moaning and footsteps can also be heard coming from the wards.
In 2014, Aradale now houses a vineyard, olive grove and lavender farm. The extensive asylum buildings are in disrepair apart from a select few which still caters to the ghost tours.


4.
Monte Cristo Homestead - NSW



Monte Cristo Homestead (meaning Mount of Christ) sits at the top of the hill overlooking the township of Junee, NSW and is claimed to be Australia’s most haunted house. Built in 1826 by well respected Catholics Christopher William and Elizabeth Lydia Crawley, the house has definitely seen its share of hauntings. This late Victorian house succeeded to be the ultimate status symbol, a bit like a castle in Europe and in its prime was used as a social centre where balls and meetings were held amongst the township. The Crowleys together raised 7 children, all of whom went on to live healthy prosperous lives and were incredibly talented with music. Mrs Crawley ruled the house almost like a queen, and almost always wore a black lace dress with black lace cap. Mr Crawley passed away of heart failure in 1910 at the age of 69 due to blood poisoning and it is believed Mrs Crawley only left the house on two occasions in the last 23 years of her life. She turned a storage room into a chapel and became immersed in the bible until her own death in 1933 at the age of 93 also from heart failure due to a ruptured appendix. Monte Cristo however, stayed in the family until the last member vacated the house in 1948 and remained vacant until it was acquired by Reg and Olive Ryan in 1963 who restored it to its original glory. The Ryans first discovered something was not quite right with the house after returning one night after fetching supplies to find lights blaring out of every single window and door, only to disappear a few seconds later. There was no electricity and the only source of light inside was a kerosene lamp which was not lit. The stairs are also ripe with unexplained activity, with visitors complaining of an unforseen force stopping them from proceeding to the second floor. After a 1993 ball at Monte Cristo, a guest decided to use the toilet before retiring for the night, only to be greeted by a woman dressed in white at the top of the stairs who said twice “Don’t worry, it will be alright” before vanishing into thin air. Monte Cristo has also appeared on several television series. On one occasion, a television crew was served dinner in the dining room. One guest kept leaving the room with no explanation and then returning to his seat a few minutes later. When asked about it, the gentleman said Mrs Crawley kept ordering him out of the room so to keep the peace, he obeyed. Stories of Mrs Crawley’s presence, mysterious lights, children becoming sick on arrival to the house only to return to normal upon leaving the grounds, phantom footsteps in the upstairs bedrooms, faces appearing in windows, apparitions appearing at the top of the stairs, and mutilated animals turning up in bedrooms are very common at this Victorian house. In 2014, the Ryans still reside there and have opened their doors to tour groups and psychics brave enough to enter.


3.
North Head Quarantine Station - NSW



North Head Quarantine Station consists of several heritage listed buildings on the north side of Sydney Harbour. It operated as a quarantine station from 1832 to 1984 for travellers and migrants suspected of carrying contagious diseases such as smallpox, cholera, Spanish influenza, bubonic plague and more. The station was later further developed to include accommodation blocks, hospital, morgue and admin centre. For many migrants, their first experience of a new country was to be placed into quarantine for a minimum of three weeks to ensure they didn’t bring contagious diseases into Australia. In its 150 years operation, it detained 580 ships and over 13,000 migrants within its walls. In 1837 a Typhus ridden lady arrived on a ship at Sydney Harbour, 54 passengers had already died on board and a further 13 passed away in quarantine. Those who didn’t make it were buried in one of three cemeteries which have now been demolished. Functioning as a small village, North Head Quarantine Station was a place where over 600 men, women and children suffered and died of horrible diseases until thanks to modern medicine, was closed down in 1984. Visitors have reported seeing spirits of immigrants and hospital staff, cold and feeling uneasy in certain spots, being tapped on the shoulder, mysterious lights in unoccupied wards, ghostly Chinese immigrants wandering the wards. A male tourist on the guided tour said some nasty words about the matron who supposedly haunts the area, only to be attacked in the toilets followed by him running out screaming he had been held down by the lady. There are also large reports of a ghostly blonde girl who takes visitors hands and leads them around the pathways, at times she even speaks to them. With over 150 years of death, disease and suffering, North Head Quarantine Station is widely known as Sydney’s most haunted location. In 2014, it now functions as a visitor centre with café and runs daily ghost tours and education programs for history buffs.


2.
National Film & Sound Archive - ACT



Located in Canberra, the National Film & Sound Archive is Australia’s filing cabinet for developing, preserving and maintaining films, sound recordings and equipment from the past and present. However, it was not always the pretty looking décor building you see today. From 1931 to 1984, it was the Australian Institute of Anatomy, storing body parts instead! The downstairs hallway was used to house human skulls and is now ripe with unexplained activity, with reports of objects being thrown across the hallway and ghastly moans being heard around every corner and visitors report being held up against the wall unable to move, with the feeling they were being choked. Over 100 ghosts have been spotted here including a young girl who watches people from a grill in the old cinema, a poltergeist that hurls the circular metal containers of old film strips at unsuspecting guests, and a petri-dish throwing spirit in an upstairs dark room. Security firms have also been called out on numerous occasions to inspect “movement” in the hallway where alarms are constantly being set off, only to discover nothing and no reasonable explanation. In 2014, The National Film & Sound Archive functions as just that.


1.
Boggo Road Jail – QLD



Visited this place myself on a ghost tour about a year ago and its definitely creepy alright! Boggo Road Jail is one of Australia’s most notorious prisons in history, being associated with dramatic riots, hunger strikes, daring escapes and roof-top protests over the horrible conditions they were kept. It held some of the worst prisoners in Australian history including the Whiskey Au Go Go bombers James Finch and John Stuart, child killer Ernest Austin who was the last man to be executed in Queensland, the Longreach Cinderella murderer Florence MacDonald (please don’t research about Florence as what she did was absolutely horrific and one of the worst stories I have ever read, I’d hate for people to become aware of it), Murderous Brisbane brothers Patrick and James Kenniff who were the Australia’s last bushrangers, robber Nathan Jones who is now a professional WWE wrestler, Arthur “Slim” Halliday aka “The Houdini of Boggo Road” who managed six escape attempts (two of which were successful) and more…It opened in 1883 as Brisbane Gaol and was home to many “lifers” which earned its reputation as one of the most notorious prisons in Australia. It was unofficially named “Boggo Road Jail” after the road which led to it that became a boggy quagmire after rain. It has had its fair share of hauntings, the most well known being Ernest Austin, who was the last person executed in Queensland. Stories tell of him laughing hysterically while being hanged and managed to slip one last giggle out before he died. This laughter can still be heard around the prison and he is often seen shrieking and laughing like a banshee at you from the upper floors. It is said that he made a pact with the devil to gather more souls which is why he still hangs around. The hauntings at Boggo Road Jail are that extreme that the past guards would refuse to work the night shift and even officers today will not go near the jail after midnight. Over 100 people were executed here in its 106 years of operation so you can understand the weird activity that goes on here. In 2014, Boggo Road Jail is a functioning Museum with daily ghost tours and on the last Sunday of every month the Prison Players bring the jail back to life with re-enactments.



SLEEP TIGHT KIDS! 🙂