Haunted Sydney

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Thu 31 Oct 2024

Step into the spine-chilling underbelly of Sydney this Halloween at the Library, where history meets horror in a night filled with ghostly tales and eerie legends. Tunnels, gaols, hospitals, cemeteries—and yes, even parkways—are more than just familiar city landmarks. They’re the settings of some of Sydney’s most terrifying hauntings, whispered down through generations, blurring the line between myth and reality.

Ever wonder who-or what-lurks behind the city’s most notorious ghost stories? Now’s your chance to find out. Goosebumps included!

Join them for a journey into the heart of Sydney’s haunted history. They’re bringing together some of the city’s best experts on all things spooky, from folklore to historical records.

You’ll learn the creepy truth behind these legends, with a curated display of historical artefacts selected by our Library’s very own curators to bring these stories to life (or maybe back to death). You can explore the collection before or after the event—but be warned, some of these pieces might just make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

Our ghost-busting guides for the evening include:

Dr. Kirstin Mills

Senior Lecturer and Director of the Master of Research at Macquarie University, Dr. Mills is an expert in Gothic and supernatural literature. She’s fascinated by why we continue to tell ghost stories and how 19th-century supernatural tales have found a second life in the digital age. Her upcoming book, Victorian Gothic and the Occult, promises to unravel the tangled web between history and the paranormal. If there’s anyone who can explain why we’re still so obsessed with the ‘unseen’ world, it’s her.

Ben Pobjie

Author of 100 Tales From Australia’s Most Haunted Places (which sounds like required reading for this event), Ben is no stranger to Australia’s spookiest sites. Known for his wit and charm, he has written about everything from history to sport, but it’s his haunted investigations that truly send shivers down the spine. When he’s not surrounded by Funko Pops or contemplating the meaning of life, he’s probably deep in research about Australia’s most spectral figures.

Dr. Peter Hobbins

Head of Knowledge at the National Maritime Museum (and if that doesn’t sound impressive, we don’t know what does), Dr. Hobbins has delved deep into the ghostly past of Sydney’s North Head Quarantine Station. His award-winning book Stories from the Sandstone gives a hauntingly vivid account of this historic site, and his knowledge of history’s darker side will no doubt leave you with a sense of unease—especially if you’ve ever visited the Quarantine Station after dark.

So, grab your ghost-hunting gear and come along on October 31 for a hauntingly good time. Just don’t be surprised if you leave feeling like something—or someone—is following you home. Grab your tickets here.

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