Spook yourself at the most haunted places in Brisbane and beyond

When it comes to the most haunted places in Australia, Queensland can claim quite a few. Immersing yourself in the eerie is surprisingly easy in the Sunshine State, a place that can prove it’s more than just surf and sandy stretches thanks to an impressive array of historical sites with a story (or two) to tell. The following gathering of most haunted places in Brisbane and beyond will make sure your next visit to Queensland is a suitably spooky one.

Boggo Road Gaol

You may well be familiar with Boggo Road Gaol, Queensland’s main jail from the 1880s to the 1980s, known for its poor conditions, and resident ghouls as one of the most haunted places in Brisbane. Among those in residence is said to be Ernest Austin, the last man hanged at Boggo Road and in the state in 1913, who torments new prisoners, though a female figure and a three-legged cat are regularly spotted among the cellblocks.

Toowong Cemetery

When it comes to prime real estate, you can’t go past Toowong Cemetery which sprawls across 44 hectares in inner-city Brisbane, nudging Mt Coot-tha. Established in 1866 and formally opened in 1875, this heritage-listed icon was once the main grave site in town. Meet the locals as a part of the two-hour Toowong Cemetery Tour, which will wind you through the tombs and introduce you to ‘Spook Hill’ or Avenue 12, where most of the spooky apparitions seem to take place.

Breakfast Creek Hotel

Not only is the Breakfast Creek Hotel one of the most iconic places to grab a beer, but it’s also said to be one of the most haunted places in Brisbane. This grand old Dame was built in 1889 by a former Lord Mayor of Brisbane, William MacNaughton Galloway, who remained at the hotel until his death in 1895, an unhappy accident that saw him drunkenly fall from a second floor window. These days he’s said to make a regular appearance roaming the halls of the original parts of the building.

Whepstead House

Another of the most haunted places in Brisbane is this stunning historic establishment in Wellington Point, a heritage-listed villa whipped up by 1889. While initially a private home in 1936 onwards, it was transformed into a hospital and saw more than a few deaths within its walls. Locals believe the building today remains haunted, with reports of lights going on and off, and objects moving around.

Babinda Boulders

While there are plenty of haunted places in Brisbane, you’ll find a few a little further afield. Like the picturesque Babinda Boulders and the neighbouring ‘Devil’s Pool’ near Cairns. According to Dreamtime legend, a beautiful young (and married) woman called Oolana from the Yindinji Tribe fell in love with another man, and while the young lovers tried to flee they were caught by elders. After her lover Dyga was dragged away, Oolana threw herself into the Babinda Boulders with her cries turning the still waters into a rushing torrent. Oolana’s body became a part of the boulders and she is said today to lure people close to the waters, which remain deceptively treacherous, claiming at least 19 lives since 1959.

Goodna Cemetery

It’s in rural Goodna that you’ll find another of the most haunted places in Brisbane. The cemetery here is best known for being the location of an unmarked mass grave filled with former patients of the old Brisbane Mental Hospital. In 1945 the first body was placed at an unconfirmed location within the site, with another 200 to follow. While a memorial on the site has since been erected, it's said that the ghosts of these patients now roam the cemetery.

Vacy Hall

You can even choose to spend the night with the paranormal with a stay at Vacy Hall in Toowoomba, one of the most historic establishments in town. This heritage-listed venue has been in operation since 1873, and today remains dressed in period-appropriate furnishings. But while the interiors may delight history buffs, it’s stories are better suited to paranormal fanatics - ghost sightings here are common, as are sounds coming from the neighbouring cemetery.

Mary Kathleen

You’ll find no shortage of ghost towns across the state of Queensland - like Mary Kathleen, the township on private property along the Barkly Highway between Mount Isa and Cloncurry. The only sign of the Outback destination’s former life is a collection of concrete slabs which used to house shops and residences - today you can select a slab of your choice to become the base of your camp for the night.

Black Mountain

In Tropical North Queensland sits Kalkajaka or Black Mountain. While this gathering of granite boulders looks beautiful, it’s been dubbed the ‘Bermuda Triangle’ of the state thanks to stories dating back to the 1800s of people, horses, and even mobs of cattle disappearing nearby. The local Indigenous people believe that dark forces surround the sacred space and encourage tourists not to wander without permission, and a local guide.

Pine Islet Lighthouse

One of the most haunted places inQueensland is also one of its most historic landmarks - the Pine Islet Lighthouse. Also known as Percy Isles Light, this active lighthouse is the last fully functional kerosene lighthouse in the world, and while it once belonged to the Northumberland Islands it’s since been relocated to Mackay. Even in its new home it remains host to the ghost of a former lighthouse keeper's wife who knocks on the doors at night.