A former prime minister and a ‘Minister for Murder’ are among Canberra’s ghosts, according to rumour, anyway. Photo: Museum of Australian Democracy.
Canberra’s dark nights are shining a light on spooky stories of the famous – and infamous – kind.
Self-described skeptic Sam Ward is one of the tour guides at the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD), and he’s taken many groups around the building that was the seat of Australia’s parliament between 1927 and 1988.
But upcoming sessions won’t be an ordinary tour. Rather, they’re in search of something paranormal.
“It [Old Parliament House] was a place where strong personalities were encouraged to work (and did work) for many, many years,” he said.
“We talk about some of these strong personalities on the tour … it really puts the visitor in the driver’s seat in determining for themselves whether they believe that this building truly is haunted.”
Each ghost hunter is armed with tools – think dousing rods and EMF readers – to help them in their search.
Among their targets is the so-called ‘Minister for Murder’ Thomas Ley, who started his career in NSW politics before making the move to Canberra in the 1920s.
“There were people in his orbit who very mysteriously disappeared, much to Thomas Ley’s convenience … He didn’t personally adopt it, but people gave him the moniker,” he said.
This is MoAD in the daylight. Come back at night (if you dare …). Photo: Michelle Kroll.
While Mr Ward hasn’t had an encounter, he’s heard plenty of reports of sounds, smells and other hints of the beyond.
He says a security guard once felt someone (or something) grab his arm during a night-time sweep of Old Parliament House, while some MoAD staff remember seeing strange shadows moving across the walls.
A mention of Ben Chifley also brought multiple ghost hunting tools to life during a previous tour.
“You forget, sometimes, the significant events and the very strong personalities that used to work here,” he said.
“There are times when you can feel their presence – not necessarily in a spiritual way, but you can feel the significant impact that they made upon the building.”
At the end of each tour, participants take home a certificate as proof they “were brave enough to hunt for ghosts”.
Mr Ward said the tours were a chance to see Canberra’s halls of power in a different light.
“It plays on a fundamental instinct [to] explore the unknown.
“One of the things the tours have taught me is that you should expect the unexpected. They have made me more open-minded to the possibility that there might be things here in the building.”
The Old Haunted House Experience tours have dates scheduled until the end of August. While previously announced dates have sold out, tickets for newly released dates can be purchased online.
