Here’s our pick of the most haunted spots in and near Brisbane.
1. Toowong Cemetery
If you’re looking for a haunting, the first place that comes to mind is a cemetery, right? Turns out Toowong Cemetery is believed to be one of the most haunted spots in Brisbane, stretching across 44 hectares in a heritage-listed space.
There’s even a two-hour Toowong Cemetery Ghost Tour you can join, which will take you through the haunted history of the cemetery, including stories of The Statue That Moves, Grave on the Hill, Ghosts of Paddington Cemetery, Mayne Murder, and The Black Prince.
2. The Australian Hotel, Boonah
The Scenic Rim, near Brisbane, may be known best for its hiking trails, cabin getaways and quaint country towns, though it’s also believed to be home to one of the most haunted spots in Australia.
The Australian Hotel may seem like your average country pub from the outside, and from the bar. But up the creaky stairs, where the rooms are, is a different story.
This Boonah hotel is famous in the ghost hunting community, who’ve reported a number of paranormal happenings from its rooms. Lights swinging, taps turning on and off, contact with spirits, you name it. Room 7 is said to be the most haunted, where it’s speculated that in 1914, a man was found dead with a gunshot wound in his head, and continues to still haunt the room.
3. Schonell Theatre, UQ, St Lucia
Since it was built in 1970, UQ’s Schonell Theatre has seen plenty of shows, but the St Lucia venue also been reportedly home to haunted happenings.
It’s believed that a ghost named Sophia lives at Schonell Theatre, with apparent sightings from theatre staff, builders and maintenance workers.
Have you seen her?
4. Mount Gravatt-Capalaba Road
Near the junction of Broadwater Road, people have reported sightings of a motorcycle on its side, with a woman laying beside it, and a man leaning over her. But then when they’ve gone to see if they need help, the scene disappears.
Spooky stuff.
5. Breakfast Creek Hotel
One of the most famous pubs in Brisbane, this French Renaissance-style establishment isn’t just frequented by locals wanting to sink a cold one, apparently.
Breakfast Creek Hotel was built in 1889 by former Lord Mayor of Brisbane, William MacNaughton Galloway, whose initials still appear on the front facade.
Galloway met his demise in 1895, after a drunken fall from the hotel’s second floor window. Though, his death wasn’t the end of it. Legend has it that Galloway’s ghost is still present at the hotel, with multiple reports of paranormal activity from the staff.
6. Babinda Boulders
If you prefer your hauntings to be outdoorsy, head all the way out to north Queensland, where the confluence of three streams over a cluster of boulders creates what could seem like a peaceful spot, known as the Babinda Boulders officially, and The Devil’s Pool colloquially.
The reason for this comes from a Dreamtime legend, in which a beautiful young woman called Oolana from the Yindinji Tribe married a respected elder but then fell in love with another man. The young lovers were caught trying to flee, and Oolana threw herself into the Babinda Boulders calling for Dyga, her lover, to follow her.
It’s said that her anguished cries turned the still waters into a rushing torrent, and they have claimed the lives of at least 19 people since 1959.
Editorial contribution from: MJ Gayón