The Ghosts of Melbourne: Australia's Haunted City

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Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city, was built on gold, blood, and convict labor. When the gold rush of the 1850s transformed a small settlement into a boomtown, it brought fortune-seekers from around the world—and with them came violence, crime, and death on a massive scale. Old Melbourne Gaol executed 133 prisoners between its walls, including the legendary bushranger Ned Kelly, whose last words—“Such is life”—still echo through the bluestone corridors. Pentridge Prison held the worst of the worst for nearly 150 years, and residents of the apartments built on its grounds report that the inmates never left. Frederick Bailey Deeming, Australia’s own Jack the Ripper, was hanged here after murdering his wife and children, and visitors describe an almost overwhelming malevolence near his death mask. Yet Melbourne’s ghosts aren’t all violent—at the Princess Theatre, the phantom of an opera singer who died on stage brings good luck to every production, and performers leave a seat empty for him to this day. In Melbourne, the past is never past.

Old Melbourne Gaol

The Prison

History:

• Built 1839-1864
• Operated as a prison until 1929
• Held men, women, and children
• Conditions were brutal
• Based on British “separate system” of isolation

The Structure:

• Three stories of bluestone cells
• Each cell was 6 feet by 3.5 feet
• Prisoners kept in near-total isolation
• Exercise in silence, masks worn
• Designed to break the spirit

The Executions:

• 133 people were hanged here
• Including 4 women
• Public hangings drew huge crowds
• Later moved inside the walls
• The gallows still stand

Ned Kelly

The Bushranger:

• Born 1854 or 1855
• Leader of the Kelly Gang
• Robbed banks, killed police
• Became a folk hero to many
• Symbol of resistance against authority

His Capture:

• Final shootout at Glenrowan, 1880
• Wore homemade armor
• Shot in the legs, captured
• Tried and sentenced to hang
• Despite petition with 30,000 signatures

The Execution:

• November 11, 1880
• Age approximately 25
• Last words: “Such is life”
• Or possibly “Ah well, I suppose it has come to this”
• His death mask and armor are displayed

The Haunting:

• Kelly’s ghost is the most reported
• Seen in Cell 17 where he was held
• Footsteps on the execution walkway
• A young man in period clothing
• His presence feels defiant, not malevolent

The Hauntings of the Gaol

What Visitors Experience:

• Cold spots throughout the building
• Sounds of cell doors slamming
• Footsteps in empty corridors
• Whispers and moans
• The feeling of being watched

Specific Phenomena:

• Cell 17 (Ned Kelly): Temperature drops, moving shadows
• Women’s cells: Weeping sounds, especially at night
• The gallows: Overwhelming dread, difficulty breathing
• The exercise yard: Shuffling footsteps
• The watchtower: Figures seen after hours

Night Tours:

• Regular ghost tours operate
• Participants report physical sensations
• Equipment malfunctions common
• Some tours include spirit box sessions
• “Lock-in” experiences available

Death Masks

The Collection:

• The gaol displays death masks of executed prisoners
• Plaster casts taken immediately after hanging
• Include Ned Kelly and Frederick Deeming
• Disturbing and historically significant
• Some believe the masks retain spiritual energy

Frederick Bailey Deeming

Australia’s Serial Killer

Who He Was:

• Born 1853 in England
• A con artist, bigamist, and murderer
• Killed his first wife and four children in Liverpool
• Cemented their bodies under the floor
• Fled to Australia

The Melbourne Murder:

• Married Emily Mather in 1891
• Under the name “Albert Williams”
• Murdered her within weeks
• Buried her under the fireplace
• The body was discovered when new tenants noticed the smell

His Capture and Trial:

• Arrested in Western Australia
• Tried in Melbourne
• Convicted of Emily Mather’s murder
• The Liverpool murders came to light during trial
• Executed May 23, 1892

Jack the Ripper Connection:

• Some suggested Deeming was Jack the Ripper
• He was in London during the murders
• But likely in prison at the relevant times
• The connection is probably false
• But added to his notoriety

Deeming’s Ghost

The Death Mask:

• His death mask is displayed at Old Melbourne Gaol
• Visitors report intense reactions
• Nausea, headaches, overwhelming dread
• Some refuse to look at it
• Staff report it’s the most active object

What People Experience:

• A sense of pure malevolence
• Unlike other ghosts, he feels evil
• Some visitors have fled the room
• Photographs sometimes show anomalies
• His presence is distinctly hostile

Pentridge Prison

The Bluestone Prison

History:

• Opened 1851
• Housed Victoria’s most dangerous criminals
• Operated for 146 years
• Closed in 1997
• Now partially converted to apartments and entertainment

The Conditions:

• Brutal from the beginning
• Solitary confinement for years at a time
• Chain gangs built the bluestone walls
• Violence between inmates and guards
• Hangings until 1967

Notable Inmates:

• Ronald Ryan (last man hanged in Australia, 1967)
• Mark “Chopper” Read
• Julian Knight (Hoddle Street shooter)
• Carl Williams (gangland figure, murdered here 2010)
• Generations of criminals

The Haunting

D Division:

• The maximum security section
• Housed the worst offenders
• Now apartments (Pentridge Village)
• Residents report constant activity
• Shadows, footsteps, voices

What Residents Experience:

• Cell doors opening on their own
• Footsteps in empty hallways
• Cold spots that move
• The feeling of being watched
• Nightmares about the prison’s history

Ronald Ryan:

• Last person executed in Australia
• Hanged February 3, 1967
• Maintained his innocence
• His ghost is reportedly seen near H Division
• Some describe him as searching for something

The Chapel:

• Converted to event space
• Extremely active paranormally
• Strange sounds during events
• Equipment malfunctions
• A sense of many presences

Princess Theatre

The Theatre

History:

• Built 1854, rebuilt 1886
• One of Melbourne’s premier venues
• Beautiful Victorian architecture
• Still operational today
• Known as one of the most haunted theaters in the world

Frederick Federici:

• Operatic bass singer
• Born Federico Federici
• A star of Melbourne opera
• Popular and well-liked
• His death changed the theatre forever

The Death of Federici

March 3, 1888:

• Performing in Gounod’s Faust
• Playing Mephistopheles
• Final scene: descending into Hell via trapdoor
• Federici had a fatal heart attack
• Died beneath the stage

The Strange Event:

• The audience saw him take his bows
• He appeared with the cast for curtain calls
• Cast members greeted him backstage
• Then discovered his body below
• He had died during the descent

The Mystery:

• Multiple witnesses saw him after death
• Some believe he was taking his final bow
• Others say it’s impossible
• But the accounts are consistent
• Federici’s ghost had already begun

The Ghost of Federici

The Sightings:

• His ghost appears during performances
• Usually in the dress circle
• Sometimes on stage or backstage
• Wearing his Mephistopheles costume
• A transparent, peaceful figure

The Lucky Charm:

• Seeing Federici’s ghost is considered good luck
• It means the production will be successful
• Actors and crew actively hope to see him
• A seat is traditionally left empty for him
• This continues to the present day

What He Does:

• Simply watches performances
• Never interferes or causes fear
• Seems to enjoy the show
• Occasionally appears backstage
• Always during opera or musical productions

Staff Accounts:

“Every theatre has stories, but with Federici, we have multiple witnesses every few years. People who don’t know the history describe a man in Victorian costume, translucent, watching from the dress circle. He’s part of the Princess.”

Other Haunted Melbourne Locations

The Windsor Hotel

History:

• Built 1883
• Melbourne’s grand dame hotel
• Hosted royalty and celebrities
• Lavish Victorian architecture
• Still operating

The Ghosts:

• Multiple spirits reported
• A woman in Victorian dress
• A man in military uniform
• Activity concentrated on upper floors
• Staff are matter-of-fact about the ghosts

Young and Jackson Pub

The Painting:

• Home to “Chloe,” a famous nude painting
• Painted by Jules Lefebvre, 1875
• The model may have committed suicide
• Or may not—stories vary
• Her ghost allegedly haunts the pub

The Activity:

• Cold spots near the painting
• Glasses moving on their own
• A female presence felt
• Some believe it’s the model
• Others say it’s general pub ghostliness

Melbourne General Cemetery

The History:

• Opened 1853
• Over 300,000 burials
• Many from gold rush era
• Includes prominent Melburnians
• And the unmarked graves of the poor

The Hauntings:

• Figures seen among the headstones
• Strange lights at night
• The “running woman” ghost
• Cold spots and strange sounds
• Tours operate regularly

Altona Homestead

The Building:

• Built 1842
• One of Melbourne’s oldest buildings
• Now a museum
• Multiple documented hauntings
• Popular ghost tour destination

The Ghosts:

• A woman in white
• Children’s laughter
• Footsteps on stairs
• Objects moving
• Extensive EVP recordings claimed

Visiting Haunted Melbourne

Old Melbourne Gaol

Location: 377 Russell Street, Melbourne

• Open daily
• Regular tours available
• Night tours and ghost tours offered
• “Crime and Justice Experience” includes the gaol
• Book ahead for special programs

Pentridge Prison

Location: Coburg

• Pentridge Village is open
• Some areas have public access
• Ghost tours available
• Residential areas are private
• Check current tour offerings

Princess Theatre

Location: 163 Spring Street, Melbourne

• Attend a performance for the best experience
• The dress circle offers Federici’s preferred view
• Building tours sometimes available
• Theatre is operational, not a museum
• Check show schedules

Ghost Tours

Options in Melbourne:

• Melbourne Ghost Tours (various locations)
• Lantern Ghost Tours
• Old Melbourne Gaol official night tours
• Pentridge Prison tours
• Walking tours of haunted CBD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Old Melbourne Gaol really haunted?

It’s one of the most reliably active paranormal locations in Australia. With 133 executions and countless suffering prisoners, the history supports the haunting claims. Visitors consistently report cold spots, footsteps, and sightings. Night tour participants frequently have experiences. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the atmosphere is genuinely unsettling.

Has anyone actually seen Ned Kelly’s ghost?

Multiple reports describe a young man in period clothing in Cell 17 and on the execution walkway. Staff and visitors have independently reported similar experiences. Whether it’s actually Kelly’s spirit or residual energy from his final days, something is perceived there regularly.

Can you stay overnight in Pentridge Prison?

Yes, in a sense. In some converted areas, residents now live, and ghost tours sometimes offer extended experiences. Living in the converted cells is possible—several residents have shared their experiences with paranormal activity.

Is the Princess Theatre ghost friendly?

Federici’s ghost is considered benevolent and lucky. Unlike many theatre ghosts, he never frightens anyone or causes problems. He simply appears to enjoy the show. Seeing him is considered a good omen for the production. He’s Melbourne’s most beloved ghost.

What’s the scariest haunted location in Melbourne?

Many would say Old Melbourne Gaol, particularly near the gallows or Deeming’s death mask. The sheer weight of suffering there creates an oppressive atmosphere. Pentridge D Division also has a reputation for intense, sometimes hostile activity. Individual experiences vary, but these locations consistently produce strong reactions.

Melbourne’s Legacy

A City Built on Death

Melbourne reminds us:

Gold Brought Blood: The rush that built the city also brought crime and violence

Justice Was Brutal: The prison system created suffering that echoes today

Entertainment Has Its Ghosts: Even places of joy can harbor spirits

History Lives On: The past walks Melbourne’s streets alongside the living

The Weight of History

Melbourne is a modern, vibrant city—one of the world’s most livable. But beneath the coffee culture and street art lies a history soaked in blood. The bushrangers, the convicts, the executed, and the murdered all left their mark. In the bluestone cells of Old Melbourne Gaol, in the converted prison apartments of Pentridge, in the dress circle of the Princess Theatre, that mark remains visible.

The ghosts of Melbourne are as real as its trams and laneways. They’re part of the city’s character, its story, its soul. From Ned Kelly’s defiant spirit to Frederick Federici’s eternal performance, they remind us that some stories don’t end with death.

Sources

• Wikipedia search: “The Ghosts of Melbourne: Australia”