We’ve put together a bunch of haunted places in Canberra so you can either freak your friends out, or you simply never go there, ever!
There are seven seas, seven wonders of the world, seven colours in the rainbow, seven dwarves and the world’s favourite number – apparently, seven.
Canberrans, however, might not consider the number seven so lucky given their city is home to seven haunted sites. Yep – we have spooks from all walks of death, some ‘born’ from suspicious circumstances, terrible endings and others that have simply refused to move on. They dwell in gardens, darkened hallways and have been known to throw rooms into disarray.
Curious to see for yourself? Check out some of these well-known Canberra haunts.
Blundell’s Cottage
Visitors to the heritage-listed cottage on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin swear they often smell burnt flesh on the breeze. On top of that, there are regular sightings of a young girl flitting through the gardens or standing on the veranda of the rubble stone cottage. Most are convinced it’s the ghost of 16-year-old Florrie Blundell who died in 1892 from terrible burns. It’s said she means no harm so the only thing that’s likely to scare you off is the nighttime security guard.
Duntroon House
Just down from Florrie’s haunt is Duntroon House. Build in 1833, it’s Canberra’s oldest building and home to the city’s most famous ghost – Sophia Susanna Campbell. She died in 1885 and speculation remains today as to whether she fell from her bedroom window…or was pushed. During the 1970s some residents complained regularly that freshly made beds would be found rumpled and the room strewn with pillows.
Australian War Memorial
According to Canberra local, Tim the Yowie Man, the War Memorial is regularly subjected to a good nighttime wrecking thanks to a resident poltergeist. If you want more detail, you’ll just have to sign on to one of Tim’s ghost tours.
National Film and Sound Archives
Once a morgue, the National Film and Sound Archives is heaving with paranormal activity. Its age-old hallways were once lined with hundreds of skulls and today it has at least three known spooks playing havoc in many of the darkened rooms and old cinema.
Kurrajong Hotel
A night at the Kurrajong may result in a terrific sleep or, if the late Ben Chifley is up to his usual antics, you may not sleep at all. Australia’s 16th Prime Minister governed the country from Room 214 during the 1940’s and unexpectedly died from a heart attack in this top floor room. Staff and visitor claim, to this day, that Chifley’s ghost appears as the ‘grey suited man’ pointing towards Old Parliament House.
The Mint
Hang around long enough and you may just hear very faint whistling (and not from any live lips)! Two friendly ghosts remain, and staff at the Mint believe they were once staff members themselves. Loving their jobs, they’ve refused to move on and linger around to lend a helping hand.
Air Disaster Memorial
It’s been 75 years since a Lockheed Hudson bomber crashed into a hill between Canberra airport and Queanbeyan, killing 10 people. For many years now, the crash site has sparked tales of distressing apparitions. There’s the teenager who left the surrounding forest screaming that she was being followed by an airman on fire and many folk have heard dull explosions and the noise of a crashing plane. Explosions? That’s questionable, but planes…yes. It’s worth remembering the site isn’t that far from the runways of Canberra’s airport.
