Where is Adelaide's Scariest Place?

by Dave Walsh (subscribe)

Where is Adelaide's Scariest Place?



I think this question will bring quite a variety of responses.

For many people a haunted location is the ultimate in scary, while others will find great heights to be a real stomach churner. Adelaide abounds with spooky stories of freaky happenings, long hidden tunnels, and ghosts in hospitals and nursing homes.

Me? I find Hindley Street late at night somewhat worrying, although others would point to particular spots in the northern suburbs after midnight as their main fear.

Haunted Places



There were some 45 people executed at the old Adelaide Gaol during its 140 year history, so if anywhere is going to be haunted then this place is certainly in the running. The gaol is open to the public regularly, and there is even free entry occasionally.

Adelaide Arcade has for many years had a reputation for being haunted by the ghost of its former caretaker, but it doesn't seem to concern the many shoppers that throng there.

Schneider's Alley was thought by teenagers to be scary, but potential explorers are more likely to be frightened by angry residents in the area who are sick of people disturbing their sleep.



Another place that could easily be haunted is the morgue at the old Torrens Island Quarantine Station. It did feel very strange in the hundred year old room, wondering how many bodies had been laid on the table there before being buried in the graveyard nearby.

There are also many other scary morgues in South Australia. The eerie former www.weekendnotes.com/z-ward-glenside-hospital/" id="ccblink" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">asylum for the criminally insane at Z Ward had no morgue, but there are some very scary places at the Glenside mental hospital.

But perhaps the most likely place for a haunting would be at West Terrace cemetery, with its sometimes overgrown headstones and open graves.

Would you go there after dark? Or take a tour there?

High Places



Heights are normally enough to get my legs shaking, which usually only compounds the problem.

I look at crane drivers towering over construction sites and wonder how they don't lose their breakfast looking down after a hard night out.



However looking through a tele lens, it doesn't seem to bother him. In fact the guy looks almost comatose.



Nor does his mate look too concerned, despite being six floors up and not wearing a harness.

One person who is most certainly not scared by heights is the Adelaide Rooftopper, whose Facebook group Adelaide Rooftopping displays some of the most astounding photographs of Adelaide that you will ever see.

Tunnels

There have long been rumours of secret tunnels around Adelaide, with the best known being beneath the old Treasury Building - now the Medina Grand. There is an annual open day where you can take a look.

There was also a tunnel under King William Rd which is described comprehensively here. Since it is no longer accessible, it can't be described as scary though.



A friend used to work for the Law Courts in Adelaide, and was vehement in claiming that the various court buildings in Victoria Square are all linked by underground tunnels. Although it could possibly be true for the Supreme Court and the Magistrate's Court, it seems most unlikely for the District Court which is housed in the former Charles Moore department store.



Urban explorers also like to check out drains and tunnels which can be rather scary, although I prefer to do it in summer when there is no chance of a flash flood!

Other Weird Places



When I wrote my article on Urban Exploration a number of people asked me if I got scared when I was checking out a new place.

Apart from being concerned about trespassing, there was one place where dodgy happenings seemed to be going on, and I exited rather quickly.



You can find many avid fans of infiltration and urban exploration in the Urban Exploration Adelaide Facebook group. It was a very helpful little community with people always willing to answer questions, but has been quiet for a while now.

So far I have yet to encounter a ghost, poltergeist or any other demons. But I would be very scared if I did see one.

How about you?

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