Dark history and cursed walls: Six of the most haunted houses in Australia

Paranormal activity might not be widely accepted as proven, but for some of these homes, its supposed existence has been big business.

With Halloween upon us and talk of ghost hunting and haunted houses aplenty, here are some of the most “haunted” buildings in the country whose names are synonymous with the ghosts that lurk inside.

Gooloowan House

Located in Ipswich, Gooloowan House is a 148-year-old building with a murky history. In 1889, a 21-year-old maid and cook by the name of Rose Dold became pregnant by another worker and did her best to conceal her pregnancy from her employer. When the baby was born in July of that year, she threw it down the well on the property – the body of the newborn was found a week later.

To this day, residents and visitors claim to hear the cries of the baby from the well.

Monte Cristo Homestead

The historic Monte Cristo Homestead was built by a man named Christopher William Crawley in 1884 after he acquired notable wealth from building the local Railway Hotel. The building is regarded as Australia’s “most haunted house” – particularly by its owners today.

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It’s believed, in its relatively short history, that a baby was thrown down the stairs, a caretaker was murdered, a maid fell to her death from a balcony, a mentally impaired man was tied up in his bedroom for over 30 years and the home’s owner was killed by an infection caused by a starched collar.

Today’s owners run ghost tours through the property, even allowing willing guests to stay overnight.

Studley Park House, NSW

Built in 1889, Studley Park House in NSW has witnessed two children die on its grounds in its 130-year history.

In 1909, a boy by the name Ray Blackstone drowned in a dam near the residence aged 14. Two decades later, the son of the then well-known businessman Arthur Adolphus Gregory died at the house from appendicitis.

According to a group of paranormal investigators who went through the property in 2011, ghosts still reside within the building’s walls.

Franklin House, Tasmania

In 1838, a former convict, Britton Jones, built the historic Franklin House in Tasmania. From 1842 until 1866, the house served as one of the region’s leading private schools.

Since then, the house has been regarded as one of the most haunted buildings in the state. In 2015, the Tasmania Ghost Hunting Society investigated the property and found there is a “reasonable amount of movement” and declared there are ghosts inside.

The property is open to the public to explore on a self-guided tour or – if you are so inclined – can be hired for weddings and corporate events.

Patrick Taylor Cottage, WA

Built in  1832, Patrick Taylor Cottage is the oldest surviving dwelling in Western Australia and is rumoured to be haunted by its former tenant, Major Fredrick Ingoldby, but only on the anniversary of his death each September.

According to those who have worked in and around the cottage, the ghost of Major Ingoldby is known to be violent with display cases and items in the cottage every September, knocking them over with reckless abandon.

Beechworth Asylum, Victoria

The Beechworth Asylum was founded in 1867 and was one of the largest mental health institutions in the country at the time, with a 1200-patient capacity. When the hospital was open, patients were given electric shock treatments and kept in straitjackets.

The building is thought to be haunted once the hospital’s doors closed for good in 1995, trapping inside the ghosts of the more than 3000 patients who died there.

Today, the building is owned by La Trobe University and nightly ghost tours are held at the hospital.