Australia’s most haunted regions have been revealed, but it is the price growth in some of these spooky centres that is truly the stuff of nightmares.
Ray White Group senior data analysts Atom Go Tian has mapped Australia’s most haunted regions and suburbs, and then looked at the five year price growth for each one.
“Our research uncovered 296 reportedly haunted locations across the country,” he said.
“Regional Queensland emerged as the most haunted area with 66 reported locations, followed by regional NSW with 53.
“Among the major cities, Sydney reported the most haunted sites.
“Of these spectral spots, nearly two thirds (175) are in public spaces such as parks, museums, asylums, hospitals, and cemeteries.
“Hotels, pubs, and restaurants account for the second largest category with 83 locations. “Private homes and residences contribute 24 haunted sites, while the remaining 14 are entire towns, camps, and islands.”
Rosewood Hotel was rumoured to be haunted by at least one ghost. It WAS purchased by Lynnette and Luke Chalmers, with children Charlotte and Lawson, in 2022 Picture: Richard Walker
The research found 39 haunted locations in Sydney, 35 in Brisbane, 15 each in Perth and Melbourne, 12 in Adelaide, four in Hobart and three in Darwin.
There were seven in the ACT.
St Marks Church in Picton, southwest of Sydney, is reputedly Australia’s most haunted town
Regional Queensland had the most haunted locations with 66, followed by Regional NSW (53), Regional Western Australia (18), Regional Victoria (15), Regionals South Australia (10), Regional Tasmania (3) and Regional NT (1).
Most haunted suburbs. Source: Ray White
“Interestingly, Queensland’s hauntings are mostly reported in hotels, pubs, and restaurants, while NSW’s most common haunted locations are parks, roads, and bridges,” Mr Go Tian said.
At a suburb level, Newcastle-Cooks Hill in NSW had the most haunted locations with six spine-chilling places, and a median house price of $1,724,812 after 46.7 per cent growth in five years.
It is home to places such as Tocal Homestead, which is reportedly haunted by two murder victims, and Miss Porter’s House, where Newcastle Ghost Tours claims to have seen half body apparitions and recorded voices.
Most haunted suburbs. Source: Ray White
Next up was Brisbane City with five spooky locations, a median house price of $1,366,990 and a mind-blowing 55.2 per cent price growth in five years.
The city is home to places like Boggo Road Gaol, which is believed to be haunted by Ernest Austin, the last man hanged in 1913, a female figure and a three-legged cat.
There is also Toowong Cemetery, established in 1866, and its infamous ‘Spook Hill’ or Avenue 12, and the Breakfast Creek Hotel, which is said to be haunted by former Lord Mayor of Brisbane, William MacNaughton Galloway, who died after falling from a second floor window while inebriated.
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Ghost Tours Australia director Jack Sim at Toowong Cemetery in Brisbane. Picture Lachie Millard
But it was in the regions where the most freakish price growth was recorded, the Ray White research found.
Maryborough, home to Mary Poppins, recorded four possessed places and five year price growth of 110.6 per cent.
The sold out Queensland’s Most Haunted Sleepover event was held at the Criterion Hotel in Maryborough last night.
The heritage-listed hotel, and the street it sits on, Wharf St, are said to be among the most haunted locations in the Sunshine State.
Criterion Hotel. Wharf Street. Pics Tim Marsden
It was followed by Rockhampton with 94.3 per cent price growth and four haunted habitations, Raymond Terrace in NSW (four haunted locations and 61.9% growth), Townsville (4 haunted locales and 60% growth) and Brisbane.
“Curiously, house price growth in these haunted suburbs has been remarkably strong,” Mr Go Tian said.
“Growth rates range from 46.4 per cent over five years in Wollongong East to a whopping 110.6 per cent in Maryborough.
“This suggests that property values in these areas are more likely influenced by broader economic trends than by any paranormal activity.”
Mr Go Tian said the price data only drilled down to the SA2 level, which covers a much wider area than a ghost might haunt.
“Additionally, in areas of high economic and social activity, it’s possible that paranormal stories are overshadowed or forgotten,” he said.
“Densely populated regions like Newcastle, Brisbane, and Adelaide might fall into this category.
“Conversely, more isolated areas like Raymond Terrace and Rockhampton City might have stronger paranormal narratives due to less economic distraction.
“The influence of reported hauntings on property values likely varies greatly depending on local context, history, and economic factors.
“Still, in the spirit of Halloween, it’s entertaining to speculate about the influence of ghosts, spirits, and unusual activity on the fascinating arc that is Australian house prices.”
Glenside’s Z Ward Asylum in South Australia.
Recently, real estate agent Alex Fleri said there were hundreds of haunted homes across Australia with a “weird energy” that’s driven former residents out – with a telling sign being a home that comes on the market often, rapidly or is left abandoned for no good market reason.
“If you believe in ghosts, it’s up to you whether you go through with the purchase or not,” he said. “There are plenty of properties that change hands every 12 months, there’s weird energy people can’t explain and so they move out.”
“I’ve had customers move out of properties that have been haunted and they feel a bit daft speaking about it. It makes you quirky. It’s a bit off, a bit awkward.”
He recalled a visit to a house in Hamilton in Brisbane where the owner warned him “don’t open that door”.
“This energy hit me like you wouldn’t believe, and I could not move, I’m 110kg,” he said.
“It was pitch black. It’s weird. This electricity and energy all around you.”
He said the property owner told him to stay calm because “(the ghost) he just wants to show you where he was murdered”.
Ghost tours are also run at Port Arthur in Tasmania. Picture supplied
True crime writer James Phelps spent months researching for his latest book Australian Ghost Stories.
“I could live with ghosts, but guys like Ivan Milat when he was alive, no thanks,” he said.
Mr Phelps said there were many homes across the country where the hauntings were not publicised.
“All those residents didn’t know the ghost history but they all ended up leaving after their own ghost experience,” he said.
“They had things thrown across the room, thoughts of harming their partners.”
Among those mysterious houses was one at Prince Edward Street, Gladesville, that Laing+Simmons Hunters Hill real estate agent John Priddy told Mr Phelps was “an enigma why no one has lived there. You can’t go inside; it’s not safe. Not even a possum would live there”.
“People would say she was a witch because of how she lived,’ was how a neighbour described it in the book, saying “all the creepy stuff people were doing there added to the legend”.
“We would hear them scream, and they would run out of the house, across the yard and jump our fence.”
Who ya going to call? Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis in a scene from Ghostbusters.
Mr Fleri said the supernatural side should be disclosed to buyers beforehand, even if you don’t believe it.
“Certainly if you have suspicions it is haunted you do have to declare it,” he said.
“If someone was murdered in the property, you have to declare that.”
“Four beds, two baths, two ghosts,” he said.
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