Australia

Australia

Ararat Lunatic Asylum

• The Buratimos is the wreck of a former U.S. Navy ship from World War II, that occurred off the coast of Western Australia during 1964.^[3]
• Ararat Lunatic Asylum, or Aradale, is the largest abandoned lunatic asylum in Australia. Opened during 1867, Aradale was reserved for many of the incurable mental patients in Victoria during the 1800s. An estimated 13,000 people died here during 140 years of operation.
• Thirteen people were executed at the Ballarat Gaol in Ballarat. The remains of seven criminals are still on the grounds. The Ballarat Ghost Tours operate nightly.^[4]
• Beechworth Lunatic Asylum in Beechworth, Victoria is reportedly haunted by several ghosts of departed patients. Open from 1867 to 1995, it has appeared in several books, television shows, and documentaries, including A.C.T. Paranormal. Ghost tours run nightly.^[5]
• Brisbane City Hall in Brisbane, Australia has several stories of deaths spanning the eras before and after its construction. During construction, workmen were said to have died while laying the foundations, which were on top of a former swamp. It is also said that the area was once a significant Aboriginal site – either a meeting place or campground. One story relates the death of a maintenance man, or lift attendant, who either fell to his death down the lift well or was crushed by the lift – this story likely results from a suicide from the clock tower that occurred during 1935.^[6] Another story claims an American soldier was stabbed to death during World War II during a fight. Staff have reported the sounds of an argument from the Red Cross Tea Room, and there are many reports of sounds and unusual activity in the areas surrounding these deaths. A third story claims the apparition of a woman is regularly seen traversing the main stairs in the lobby, and to look out over the foyer – a story which likely results from another suicide from City Hall's Clock Tower during 1937, although recent photos of the stairwell exhibit a possible apparition.^[7]

BuzzSaw roller coaster in Dreamworld.

• Dreamworld is a theme park in Coomera, Queensland. One building inside the grounds of the theme park, where the reality television series Big Brother Australia is produced, has been reported to be haunted since the show's first season during 2001. Numerous production staff claim to have witnessed the presence of a young girl, as well as a child's voice and fog appearing late at night and early in the morning.^[8]Additionally, theme park employees have spoken about sightings of a ghost nicknamed Jack Darke, named after a gold prospector who was claimed to have been killed by a buzzsaw during 1897.^[9]
• Monte Cristo Homestead in Junee, New South Wales was the site of seven deaths during the 1800s, and is reported^{[by whom?]} to be the most haunted house in Australia. Various ghost groups have reported sightings there.^[10]
• North Head Quarantine Station in Manly, New South Wales housed victims of a number of diseases including smallpox and the Spanish flubetween 1833 and 1984. It was the site of over 500 deaths. A number of ghost tours are run on the grounds, which includes a large cemetery.^[11]
• Port Arthur in Tasmania operate nightly ghost tours. After the Port Arthur massacre, some people believe that the spirit of victims still haunted the area
• The Princess Theatre Melbourne has reported several ghosts since the building opened during 1886. The theatre's best known "inhabitant" is Frederick Baker, whose stage name was Frederick Federici, a talented bass-baritone singer who died during March 1888 whilst singing the role of Mephistopheles in Faust – and who was seen by the rest of the cast taking his bows with them soon thereafter. For years the theater kept a seat vacant in the dress circle for Federici (only ceasing the practice on economic grounds), and his appearance in the dress circle during rehearsals for a new show is considered a good omen.^[12]