Wide Bay Burnett’s most haunted places ranked

Read on, if you dare: From hair-pulling to phantom handprints and even full apparitions, these are some of the scariest stories to come out of Wide Bay. Vote in our poll.

From creepy footsteps to women in white, the Wide Bay and Burnett regions are no stranger to a good ghost story.

With so many heritage-listed buildings, there seems to be something going bump in the night around every corner.

Many people from across our region have encountered the supernatural, whether an unexplained sound or a full-bodied apparition.

To celebrate Halloween, we have listed some of the spookiest spots across our region.

We spoke with staff, customers and visitors who frequent some of the places most rumoured to be haunted by otherworldly beings.

No disrespect is intended with this list, which is by no means exhaustive.

#22: Ghost Hill (Hervey Bay)

An eerie morning atop Ghost Hill in Hervey Bay. Picture: Tracey Stephensen.

Before getting its spooky reputation, Ghost Hill in Hervey Bay was known as The Hill.

That was until two forestry workers were returning home from a night of drunken shenanigans.

One of the worker’s wives, fearing for her husband’s safety, decided to walk into the night wearing only her white nightgown.

The men, in their drunken state, thought she was a ghost and the name Ghost Hill has stuck ever since.

Though not technically haunted (as far as we know), Ghost Hill is a dangerous road and is feared by locals and visitors alike.

#21: Smith’s Crossing (Bundaberg)

Can a tree be haunted? According to Bundaberg locals – it can.

A local urban legend tells of a particular tree at Smith’s Crossing.

Apparently if you park under the tree, you will drive away with a dent in the roof of your car.

While not confirmed, some locals believe this is because somebody was hung from the tree.

#20: The Railway Hotel (Gympie)

The Railway Hotel seems to have a more intense paranormal bark than its bite.

Despite rumblings of hauntings, the Railway Hotel in Gympie does not actually report much paranormal activity.

The rumours of ghostly voices and eerie shadows were put to the test when a group of paranormal investigators explored the hotel in 2011 with little result.

Despite this, some current staff report hearing ghostly footsteps upstairs.

#19: Baddow House (Maryborough)

Heritage listed Baddow House is a renowned spot for noisy ghostly happenings.

The first private residence to make the list, Baddow House in Maryborough is allegedly home to a cacophony of spooky sounds at night.

Previous owners of the heritage-listed homestead claim to have heard all sorts of things going bump in the night.

The noises were reportedly at their most intense while the previous owners were renovating the house.

#18: The Empire Hotel (Gympie)

Julie Kypiatis and Craig Mylrea tell of the Empire Hotel's resident ghost Alice – who may or may not also be in this photo.

Gympie’s Empire Hotel on Mary St has a rich history, including a death in the building.

As the story goes, the young daughter of a publican in the late 1800s accidentally ingested rat poison instead of an aspirin.

According to staff, Alice continues to haunt the building to this day.

Owner Craig Mylrea said despite having some experiences of his own, he does not think there is anything to be afraid of.

“The hotel was not opened, no one else was in the building, and we could hear people walking upstairs,” Mr Mylrea said.

“There was very clearly somebody – but there was nobody there.”

A team of paranormal investigators also came to the hotel in 2012. When asking whether it was okay for them to be there, they recorded a disembodied voice saying just one word – “Yes.”

#17: Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery

Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery is reportedly home to a female ghost.

Said to be haunted by a female ghost, the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery has played host to a number of scared guests.

Some who venture upstairs have reported a sudden chill, followed by the sound of footsteps and a swishing skirt, according to a staff member.

Gallery Two seems to be the hub of activity. Despite this, staff report no personal paranormal experiences.

#16: Old Gympie Times Office

The Gympie Times has a rich history, dating back more than 150 years.

The old Gympie Times office on Nash St used to be the home of the Gympie Ambulance Station and is reportedly haunted by the spirit of a former paramedic, as well as a young girl.

Staff report hearing a variety of noises in the office, especially at night.

Hoarse whispers and loud thumps are among the intense ghostly sounds.

In 2019, former staff members Josh Preston and Troy Jegers conducted a paranormal investigation but had minimal results.

#15: Custom House Hotel (Maryborough)

Maryborough’s Custom House Hotel is allegedly home to a number of happy haunts.

According to former Maryborough ghost tour operator Carmel Murdoch, this spot is known for ghostly handprints, among other unexplained phenomena.

Ms Murdoch tells of a waitress attending an empty bar who wiped a dirty handprint from her recently-cleaned bar.

When she turned back around, the handprint was back, dirty as ever.

Another ghost alleged to haunt the hotel is that of an old boarder who died suddenly after being stabbed.

Hotel staff tell of the night after his funeral, where a door held itself open on its own. They say the spirit felt helpful, but was never heard from again.

#14: Majestic Theatre (Pomona)

Pomona Majestic Theatre is said to house three resident spooks. Picture: Warren Lynam.

As the old saying goes, every theatre has its ghost.

With the Majestic Theatre in Pomona, good things come in three – theatre president Alison Hadfield tells of two female ghosts and one male ghost said to haunt the stage.

“I have often sat in the theatre late at night on my own and heard many bumps and bangs but I put that down to the tin roof expanding and retracting and gusts of wind under the floorboards,” she said.

“Our treasurer says he once saw a human shadow in the hallway leading up to the green room and many reports from others stating that they hear footsteps.”

She also tells of many theatregoers seeing stage curtains moving on their own.

#13: Moncrieff Entertainment Centre (Bundaberg)

‘Gladys’, the ghost alleged to haunt the Moncrieff Entertainment Centre loves a spot of theatre.

Another theatre with a ghostly resident, Moncrieff Entertainment Centre is said to be haunted by a spirit the staff have lovingly nicknamed ‘Gladys’.

Workers have reported hearing footsteps and having stage props disappear or move on their own.

Some even say they have spotted a spirit standing side-stage, watching shows.

#12: Criterion Hotel (Maryborough)

Music isn’t the only thing that can be heard late and night in the Criterion Hotel, according to staff.

According to a Criterion Hotel staff member, nearly every worker there has had some sort of paranormal experience.

The heritage-listed building apparently houses at least three ghosts.

Two are believed to be children who died of illness, and another more recent addition is a former caretaker of the building.

Staff report hearing a variety of noises, including the sound of doors unlocking.

#11: Kingston House (Gympie)

Kingston House is home to one particular ghost, according to staff.

Shadowy figures and phantom footsteps are just some of the spooky phenomena reported by staff of Gympie’s Kingston House.

It is believed to be haunted by the spirit of Dr John Stanley, who was found dead in the property when it was a private maternity ward in the 1930s.

Owner Kim Jones said the scariest moment for her was when a CD player turned on by itself.

“He is a friendly ghost and we don’t feel threatened,” she said.

“My staff and I feel his presence every once in a while.”

#10: Rosehill Homestead (Maryborough)

Rosehill Homestead is the earliest remaining residence in Maryborough. Picture contributed.

Carmel Murdoch tells of some spooky occurrences while conducting ghost tours at the now privately-owned Rosehill Homestead in Maryborough.

According to Ms Murdoch, many tour-goers report an extra person turning up in their photographs.

She also tells of one particular experience, where a ghostly impression appeared and promptly disappeared on the bedspread.

She said that it seemed as though a spirit had taken a seat on the bed before taking off when Carmel and her tour entered the room.

#9: Mary Valley Rattler & Old Gympie Station

The Rattler plays host to annual Halloween Events, including a ‘ghost train’. Picture: Karen Davis

The Mary Valley Rattler and Old Gympie Station have been the subject of many paranormal investigations, including one in 2011 which garnered hair-raising results.

Paratek Paranormal founder Darren Davies recalls hearing loud bangs coming from one end of the carriage, immediately followed by ones from the other end.

Investigators in 2014 recorded a chilling human male voice saying “clear the way”.

“In almost seven years of investigating allegedly haunted places, we have never captured a ‘spoken’ voice before,” one investigator said.

#8: Engineers’ Arms Hotel (Maryborough)

The Engineers’ Arms Hotel building in Maryborough.

The site of the now-closed Engineers’ Arms Hotel has played host to some scary paranormal activity, according to Carmel Murdoch.

Ms Murdoch recounts a particular tour where one man was separated from the group.

On his return, he said there was a sudden temperature drop upstairs, followed by a suffocating feeling as if somebody was giving him a bear-hug.

#7: Maryborough Cemetery

Horse-drawn hearses once stopped to unload coffins in the historic mortuary chapel at the Maryborough cemetery.

Former Maryborough ghost tour operators Carmel Murdoch and Grieg Bolderrow tell of regular ghostly occurrences at the Maryborough Cemetery.

Specifically, the grave of Dr David O’Connell seems to be a paranormal hotspot.

Several tourists have asked Ms Murdoch, “How did you do the special effects with the lady walking behind the tombstone?”.

Ms Murdoch said the tours did not have any special effects involved.

Mr Bolderrow recounts one incident where tour bus driver Kevin saw a ball of mist near the grave.

“Kev never walked back to the bus by himself after that,” he said.

#6: Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum

Looking for ghosts at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum – (L) Hayden Lowry, Kade Jones, Lara Jefcoat, Alexander Leopold and Emma Critchell. Picture: Alistair Brightman.

One ghost hunter was so affected by his night at this museum that he said Maryborough was “by far Australia’s most haunted town”.

Paranormal investigator Kade Jones told of floating orbs, deep grunts, strange smells and loud bangs coming from inside the building.

Mr Jones said the Gallipoli Room was a hub of activity.

“When we were doing a final sweep at 6am, we suddenly saw (on CCTV) a ball of light on the mid-level landing to the Gallipoli room on the balcony, and another just on the top floor,” he said.

“They joined together to make this mass and flew off in another direction, but they came from two different directions.”

#5: Grand Hotel Childers

An apparition in the attic of the Grand Hotel at Childers – could it be ‘Luke the spook?’

The Grand Hotel in Childers has reportedly played host to several tragic events, including multiple deaths in the building.

Staff are fond of the hotel’s resident ghosts – so much so that one has been nicknamed ‘Luke the spook’.

Some visitors have reported scratch marks appearing on their legs while walking up the stairs. Allegedly, a man was thrown from the stair landing after he informed police about an illegal betting ring.

Some guests also claim to have felt a phantom arm wrapped around their body when they wake up.

#4: Heremaia House (Point Vernon)

The Heremaia family claims to have caught 'Santa' on camera in their home.

A classic haunted house story comes to life in this Point Vernon home.

What started as a child’s imaginary friend quickly spiralled out of control, according to Lavinia Heremaia.

The family reported strong breezes, feeling touched by something that wasn’t there and unexplained flashes of bright light.

They even claim to have caught the entity, nicknamed “Santa” on camera.

Scariest of all, one on occasion Lavinia reports being totally paralysed by the spirit.

A psychic medium called to the house claims there is a spiritual portal in one of the home’s bedrooms.

#3: Maryborough City Hall

Mary Heritage (Carmel Murdoch) in front of Maryborough City Hall.

If you ask Carmel Murdoch, this is the most haunted spot in Maryborough.

The building was originally the site of the old police barracks, where urban legends tell of a very intimidating matron of the women’s section.

When working on ghost tours, Ms Murdoch would frequent the building, especially late at night.

She said she would feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand up every time she reached the top of the stairs – an alleged hotspot of paranormal activity.

Ms Murdoch believes the building is haunted by “multiple spirits”, but the hub of activity seems to be on the front steps.

“I’ve had people tell me it feels like a female presence,” she said.

#2: Joe’s Grand Hotel (Goomeri)

Joe's Grand Hotel at Goomeri could be the most haunted place in the South Burnett.

Nine years after it was first built, the Boonara Hotel (as it was then known) burnt down in an intense inferno, killing nine people.

The Hotel was rebuilt in 1942, and now has countless reports of alleged hauntings.

Staff have reported intense happenings, including cleaners being pushed down stairs and sightings of full-bodied apparitions.

Room 11 in particular is believed to be a hotspot of activity.

#1: St Stephens Hospital (Maryborough)

The site of St Stephens Hospital is rich with history. This photo was taken in 1963, when the hospital was nearing its 50th anniversary.

From reports of hair-pulling ghosts, to sudden temperature drops, this one is enough to make sceptic Grieg Bolderrow bat an eye.

He recounts running a particular tour, when a group of nurses were not impressed.

He said they had much scarier tales than the tour offered, all from their own night shifts.

One told of hearing a room buzzing for assistance late at night. When she walked down the hallway to the room, she was surprised to hear the patient had already been helped.

When asked who helped her, the patient said the “old nurse” had come to her aid.

None of the nurses on shift that night recalled helping the woman.

Originally published as Wide Bay Burnett’s most haunted places ranked