A conservationist wants to make ‘haunted’ historic site the Coast’s next big tourism attraction

It is considered one of the Glitter Strip’s most haunted locations – but a conservationist wants to change that and he has growing support. HERE’S HOW >>

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A CONSERVATIONIST with a huge social media following is on a mission to make a “haunted” historic site the Gold Coast’s next big tourism attraction.

And now Gold Coast City Council could be on board.

Marc Jacewicz, known to his thousands of followers as the Travelling Bushman, said Molendinar’s heritage-listed Ernest Junction Tunnel had enormous potential.

The 114 metre-long tunnel was built during 1885 to 1889 and is one of the last remnants of the former Brisbane-South Coast railway line.

When quizzed about the potential attraction, a GCCC spokesperson confirmed the matter will be looked into.

“A report on the ongoing conservation and showcasing of one of the City’s oldest built assets, the heritage-listed Ernest Junction Tunnel, will be brought to Council in 2021-22 for its consideration,” they said.

“The City is currently investigating methodologies to monitor the condition of the tunnel’s unique concrete lining and replace existing signage with new wayfinding and interpretative signage to describe the tunnel’s history to park visitors.”

In recent years, the major engineering feat of its day has hosted monthly paranormal groups, the occasional musical performance and has even served as a backdrop for feature-length films.

Ernest Junction railway tunnel is a heritage-listed former railway rumoured to be haunted. Marc Jacewicz the Travelling Bushman reckons it should become the Gold Coast's newest tourist attraction. Picture Glenn Hampson

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It is also considered one of the Glitter Strip’s most haunted locations.

Since the train stopped running in 1964, the site has been plagued with reported sightings of a woman with grey hair emerging from the tunnel’s depths.

Mr Jacewicz said the site’s spooky past had not steered him away from his tourism vision.

“We need to preserve sites like this, we need to be reminded about the sites of the past,” he said.

“Apparently there’s been talk of spirits – I’m open to it, but I would like to go there at night and have a bit of a look.”

Mr Jacewicz said the tunnel could lend itself to bus trips carrying dozens of tourists and even historic guided walking tours.

“I think now more than ever, it’s really important to promote our tourism in Australia while the gates are shut,” he said.

“It definitely could be an eye-opener to people if they were to do some sort of educational history walks along there.”

Judith deBoer, a group member of the 8000-strong Ernest Junction Tunnel Friends Facebook group, said Gold Coast City Council took over trusteeship of the site in September 2019.

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Ms deBoer said the council had already completed some upgrades at the site, with future plans for signage and more parking spaces.

She said any ideas to make the tunnel a major tourism attraction were “premature”.

“The council has a vision for the future of the tunnel and from where I am, it looks very good,” Ms deBoer said.

“The thing that’s amazing about (the tunnel) is it has the best acoustics – better than any cathedral I have sat in, and we have had some amazing musical events in there.

“I think it’s the curve in the middle of the tunnel, it makes your hair stand up on the back of your neck.

“What happens out there is marvellous.”

She said anyone with a formal plan for the site would need to contact the council first.