3 spooky places to visit this Halloween

17 Oct 2024

Halloween is creeping up, and Perth’s history is filled with haunted locations that make for the perfect spooky outing. Whether you’re a fan of ghost stories or just looking for an eerie adventure, these three locations each have a rich, mysterious history and chilling paranormal tales.

1. Swan View Tunnel, Perth Hills

The Swan View Tunnel in John Forrest National Park is not your average tunnel—it’s a historic feat of engineering with a haunted reputation. Designed in 1894 by WA’s famed Engineer-in-Chief, CY O’Connor, this 340m tunnel was constructed with dynamite blasting through thick rock and reinforced by over 300,000 bricks. However, the project came at a grim cost, as many workers lost their lives under treacherous conditions.

Today, the tunnel is part of the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail, a popular walking route in the Perth Hills. According to local lore, the spirits of those lost workers still linger, making the dark passageway eerily atmospheric. Planning a walk-through? Bring a torch—even in daylight. Who knows, you may catch a glimpse of something otherworldly in the shadows.
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2. Fremantle Prison

One of Perth’s most famous haunted landmarks, Fremantle Prison, was built by convicts between 1852 and 1859, using limestone quarried on site. During its time as a prison, it housed some of the state’s most notorious criminals, and it was even used as a POW holding site during both World Wars. With its dark history, it’s no surprise that rumors of paranormal activity abound.

The prison has seen 44 executions, including that of Martha Rendell (Google her story, we won't share it here) but legend says her face sometimes appears in the chapel window, watching the living from the beyond.
Fremantle Prison runs the famous Torchlight Tour, which invites visitors to explore its darker side, hear ghostly tales, and encounter a few hair-raising surprises.

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3. The Alkimos Wreck, North of Mindarie Keys

The wreck of the Alkimos, which ran aground north of Mindarie in 1963, carries a haunted legacy. Built in 1943, the ship saw war duty, transporting US soldiers and German POWs. But even before it was stranded, crew members reported seeing mysterious apparitions onboard. Following an unfortunate series of events, including a storm that left it stranded, the ship was ultimately abandoned and left to deteriorate in the shallow waters off WA’s coast.

Over the years, unexplained fires have broken out on the wreck, and there’s an eerie story of a ghostly figure named “Harry,” who has been sighted onboard dressed in oil skins. Although the wreck is now mostly submerged, it remains a popular site for experienced scuba divers who claim they can still sense the ship’s haunted past.
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This Halloween, venture out and experience a piece of Perth’s spooky history firsthand. Whether it’s ghostly sightings, mysterious sounds, or chilling stories, these haunted spots are sure to give you a spine-tingling experience you won’t soon forget!

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