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Great Australian Ghost Stories
From gore-spattered convicts and elegant women out of our colonial past to the mysterious ghost lights of the outback and angry poltergeists that wreak havoc on modern homes, Australia seems to be teeming with the restless spirits of our ancestors. You'll meet a wide cross section of them in this far-reaching collection of stories drawn from all the Australian states and covering two centuries of our nation's history. Some ghosts are vengeful, some aloof, others mysterious, sad, kind, wistful or amusing, but all share one quality - they're scary - and their stories are hair-raising.
282 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
17 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Richard Davis
40 books4 followersRichard Davis is an Australian author who writes in two genres:
* biographies of opera singers and classical musicians, and also
* popular ghost stories.
His full name is Richard Michael Davis.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
* biographies of opera singers and classical musicians, and also
* popular ghost stories.
His full name is Richard Michael Davis.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 1, 2019
Excellent book. 5 stars
June 30, 2015
Excellent book of Australian ghost stories. Some rather sweet, and others downright bloody terrifying!
Where possible the writer has researched the background and several well known ghost stories are pretty much proved to be that, just stories. On the other hand, others are not so easily explained.
The story of a Sydney medical student's possessed laptop was particularly horrifying. I actually had real difficulty settling down to sleep after reading it.
It was also scary to discover there is a genuine haunted house only a couple of blocks from where I live. The writer gave the street but not the number, but he didn't need too. I knew EXACTLY which house it is. I've loathed going near the place since I shifted into the area. It always makes me uneasy and uncomfortable.
Well written, and well leavened with humour, I cannot recommend this book to highly to those with an interest in this subject.
Where possible the writer has researched the background and several well known ghost stories are pretty much proved to be that, just stories. On the other hand, others are not so easily explained.
The story of a Sydney medical student's possessed laptop was particularly horrifying. I actually had real difficulty settling down to sleep after reading it.
It was also scary to discover there is a genuine haunted house only a couple of blocks from where I live. The writer gave the street but not the number, but he didn't need too. I knew EXACTLY which house it is. I've loathed going near the place since I shifted into the area. It always makes me uneasy and uncomfortable.
Well written, and well leavened with humour, I cannot recommend this book to highly to those with an interest in this subject.
July 28, 2015
I seem to be reading quite a few of this short story type books on mysteries, ghosts and murders lately. This one was entirely about ghosts and overlapped a bit with other books I've read, even down to similar wording, but there were also a few unique stories (including one from my hometown, Orange!) that I hadn't read before. I still read the stories I have before to see if there is a new insight or information that I haven't seen before.
I always love this style of books, and you learn a lot about the history of places you might never visit but will stay in your memory. Plus, everyone has a ghost story of their own, and having a knowledge of the history of your country in regards to ghost sightings, legends and myths is never a bad thing. Five stars!
I always love this style of books, and you learn a lot about the history of places you might never visit but will stay in your memory. Plus, everyone has a ghost story of their own, and having a knowledge of the history of your country in regards to ghost sightings, legends and myths is never a bad thing. Five stars!
February 15, 2014
Didn't finish, but I think I've read enough.
The book is a series of chapters on topics such as "Phantom Steeds", "Ships of Doom", and "Saucy Spirits", with usually three to four stories for each chapter. This gives a pretty nice variety, but Davis recounts the stories in what I found to be an unfortunately flat manner. There was zero atmosphere or sense of spookiness. And granted, not all of the stories were meant to be spooky. Some of the stories were actually pretty funny or at least interesting in their own way, but eventually I got bored of the tedious delivery.
Not helping matters was the fact that Davis kept making these off-putting comments, some of which I don't know whether to attribute to the actual stories he collected or to his own weird self. For instance, one of the stories involves the murder of a prostitute by two men. The men had bought her drinks at a bar, which they thought also meant free sexy-time, but according to Davis the lady then 'got on her high horse' and insisted that they pay her. The men get "revenge" by dangling her off a bridge by rope, and accidentally strangle her, at which point Davis laments, 'the lady never again gave pleasure, with or without payment'. Which sort of made me double-take. Unfortunately, directly after that story we start off with this: 'And then there's Sabrina - no, not that blonde bombshell whose mammaries used to fill our screen in the early days of television - but a lithesome young spectre of more recent times.' Lol, mammaries. (If I hadn't already pegged the author as old fart brand of weird and inappropriate then I guess that sentence would've been the clincher.)
Honestly, I am a bit sad that I couldn't get into the book. I had high hopes for it, and the author did seem to have put a lot of effort into gathering a wide variety of stories for the reader. If only he'd worried less about putting hiseggs mammaries into so many baskets and focussed more on telling fewer stories with higher quality.
The book is a series of chapters on topics such as "Phantom Steeds", "Ships of Doom", and "Saucy Spirits", with usually three to four stories for each chapter. This gives a pretty nice variety, but Davis recounts the stories in what I found to be an unfortunately flat manner. There was zero atmosphere or sense of spookiness. And granted, not all of the stories were meant to be spooky. Some of the stories were actually pretty funny or at least interesting in their own way, but eventually I got bored of the tedious delivery.
Not helping matters was the fact that Davis kept making these off-putting comments, some of which I don't know whether to attribute to the actual stories he collected or to his own weird self. For instance, one of the stories involves the murder of a prostitute by two men. The men had bought her drinks at a bar, which they thought also meant free sexy-time, but according to Davis the lady then 'got on her high horse' and insisted that they pay her. The men get "revenge" by dangling her off a bridge by rope, and accidentally strangle her, at which point Davis laments, 'the lady never again gave pleasure, with or without payment'. Which sort of made me double-take. Unfortunately, directly after that story we start off with this: 'And then there's Sabrina - no, not that blonde bombshell whose mammaries used to fill our screen in the early days of television - but a lithesome young spectre of more recent times.' Lol, mammaries. (If I hadn't already pegged the author as old fart brand of weird and inappropriate then I guess that sentence would've been the clincher.)
Honestly, I am a bit sad that I couldn't get into the book. I had high hopes for it, and the author did seem to have put a lot of effort into gathering a wide variety of stories for the reader. If only he'd worried less about putting his
November 25, 2019
If you enjoy reading “true” ghost story collections, then I strongly recommend you get your hands on a copy of Richard Davis’ Great Australian Ghost Stories.
It is brilliant.
So many of the stories in this collection I was learning about for the first time, such as that of a South Australia witch, and the ghost of a racehorse. And then, of course, there were the more well-known phenomenon, such as Queensland’s Min-Min lights (which, by the way, don’t only appear in Queensland), which have been a favourite of mine since childhood when my Poppa would regale us with tales of the mysterious lights.
I am very much looking forward to reading more of Davis’ work.
It is brilliant.
So many of the stories in this collection I was learning about for the first time, such as that of a South Australia witch, and the ghost of a racehorse. And then, of course, there were the more well-known phenomenon, such as Queensland’s Min-Min lights (which, by the way, don’t only appear in Queensland), which have been a favourite of mine since childhood when my Poppa would regale us with tales of the mysterious lights.
I am very much looking forward to reading more of Davis’ work.
November 1, 2024
I'm reading up on Australian ghost stories and mysteries as I'm working on a new urban fantasy series, and this looked like an amazing resources.
What to Expect
A collection of ghosts, spooks, poltergeists, and other hauntings from around Australia, arranged by themes. The ghosts themselves date from the 19th century to almost present day, and involve people from all walks of life (though to do justice to Aborigine stories would require a much more involved work, and the author had chosen to leave those out of this volume rather than do a bad job).
The ghosts range from terrifying to sad and, occasionally, hilarious. The themes are convicts (eg Port Arthur stories), animals, buildings (pubs and hotels feature prominently), and others.
What I liked
The author has carried out decades long research (and has published previous works on the subject), and has an engaging storytelling style that brings the people of bygone eras to life. It's an easy, entertaining read that nonetheless still packs a lot of information and colourful anecdotes.
I also loved the balancing of themes, the authors combining the stories with verifiable historical details, and the general unique Australian vibe of the tales.
What to be aware of
This isn't an Halloween-style horror anthology, nor academic research. It is a collection of real stories, retold in an easy tone and compared to historical data about the people mentioned.
Felix's Review
I let both Felix and Jack read the stories (the detective protagonists of my urban fantasy stories, who normally deal with various hauntings).
Felix found some of the concepts of 19th century ghosts interesting, quite different from the shades of the dead he normally deals with in his Ancient Roman world. He is well aware of the authorities lack of action around them, and asked me to pass his business card to anyone who needs pesky dead relatives laid to rest.
Jack was nodding along knowledgeably, having personally met a few of the ghosts mentioned. In some case he had some insights to share from his encounters and chats, but was overall impressed with the work's balanced tone. So many ghosts, he told me, aren't the evil spectres people expect but the sad and melancholy spirits of the departed trying to address unfinished business.
Summary
Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in ghosts and / or Australian folklore. For those interested in both, this is a treasure trove. I will be seeking out the author's previous work on the subject, as well as other volumes in this series (by different authors).
Enjoying the reviews, but wondering who the heck is that Felix fellow? Glad you asked! He's the protagonist of the Togas, Daggers, and Magic series, an historical-fantasy blend of a paranormal detective on the background of ancient Rome.
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
What to Expect
A collection of ghosts, spooks, poltergeists, and other hauntings from around Australia, arranged by themes. The ghosts themselves date from the 19th century to almost present day, and involve people from all walks of life (though to do justice to Aborigine stories would require a much more involved work, and the author had chosen to leave those out of this volume rather than do a bad job).
The ghosts range from terrifying to sad and, occasionally, hilarious. The themes are convicts (eg Port Arthur stories), animals, buildings (pubs and hotels feature prominently), and others.
What I liked
The author has carried out decades long research (and has published previous works on the subject), and has an engaging storytelling style that brings the people of bygone eras to life. It's an easy, entertaining read that nonetheless still packs a lot of information and colourful anecdotes.
I also loved the balancing of themes, the authors combining the stories with verifiable historical details, and the general unique Australian vibe of the tales.
What to be aware of
This isn't an Halloween-style horror anthology, nor academic research. It is a collection of real stories, retold in an easy tone and compared to historical data about the people mentioned.
Felix's Review
I let both Felix and Jack read the stories (the detective protagonists of my urban fantasy stories, who normally deal with various hauntings).
Felix found some of the concepts of 19th century ghosts interesting, quite different from the shades of the dead he normally deals with in his Ancient Roman world. He is well aware of the authorities lack of action around them, and asked me to pass his business card to anyone who needs pesky dead relatives laid to rest.
Jack was nodding along knowledgeably, having personally met a few of the ghosts mentioned. In some case he had some insights to share from his encounters and chats, but was overall impressed with the work's balanced tone. So many ghosts, he told me, aren't the evil spectres people expect but the sad and melancholy spirits of the departed trying to address unfinished business.
Summary
Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in ghosts and / or Australian folklore. For those interested in both, this is a treasure trove. I will be seeking out the author's previous work on the subject, as well as other volumes in this series (by different authors).
--
Enjoying the reviews, but wondering who the heck is that Felix fellow? Glad you asked! He's the protagonist of the Togas, Daggers, and Magic series, an historical-fantasy blend of a paranormal detective on the background of ancient Rome.
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
March 11, 2023
Some spooky tales from Australia's ghosts.
July 30, 2018
This was a fun, choc-full of ghost stories, read.
While the lack of research behind the stories is noticeably absent from the book - my main reason for not giving this five stars - there was plenty to love about this one.
I really enjoyed that it's Australian. Most collections of ghost stories centre around England, Europe and America, with one (if we're lucky) Australian mention. I get it, we have a shorter recorded history of ghosts in the eyes of the Western world. So, this was a rather refreshing read.
I also loved that there were so many recent stories included. There were a number of sightings or stories that were well into the 21st century, which I've yet to find mentioned in most of the books on the subject I've read. So, that was delightful.
Overall, a solid series of ghost stories.
While the lack of research behind the stories is noticeably absent from the book - my main reason for not giving this five stars - there was plenty to love about this one.
I really enjoyed that it's Australian. Most collections of ghost stories centre around England, Europe and America, with one (if we're lucky) Australian mention. I get it, we have a shorter recorded history of ghosts in the eyes of the Western world. So, this was a rather refreshing read.
I also loved that there were so many recent stories included. There were a number of sightings or stories that were well into the 21st century, which I've yet to find mentioned in most of the books on the subject I've read. So, that was delightful.
Overall, a solid series of ghost stories.
July 23, 2017
A great book that is not only about the ghosts that are in buildings around Australia but you also learn the history of the places as you read the stories.
December 24, 2017
interesting to read about the famous ghost stories in Australia!
July 17, 2019
Interesting history but the writing of the stories could have been better.
April 12, 2021
Good stories. Would have been nice to see a list of sources of references in the book. For further reading and for some sort of confirmation that these stories have any truth.
March 3, 2024
Read for the letter G - The Alphabet Challenge 2024
A collection of short ghost stories in Australia.
There is everything from Ghost Ships to Headless Ghosts!
Some funny stories, and some scary stories.
I have never heard of most of the stories featured in this book, I have heard and seen (in the distance) Monte Christo, in Junee NSW. my friend lived opposite it at the time.
Brilliant blue light is seen from the upstairs windows, but there is no power connected to the house. Leaves you scratching your head.
A must read if you are into the supernatural.
A collection of short ghost stories in Australia.
There is everything from Ghost Ships to Headless Ghosts!
Some funny stories, and some scary stories.
I have never heard of most of the stories featured in this book, I have heard and seen (in the distance) Monte Christo, in Junee NSW. my friend lived opposite it at the time.
Brilliant blue light is seen from the upstairs windows, but there is no power connected to the house. Leaves you scratching your head.
A must read if you are into the supernatural.
March 28, 2024
It seems Australia is a country where, unless a person likes taking risks, it would be wise to stay away from. I had always wanted to go, but with all the most dangerous creatures residing in Australia, maybe not.
That being so, I expected the ghost stories would be really scary. I have to confess, I have read scarier American ghost stories. The Australian ghost stories weren't really that terrifying in contrast. Maybe because they're younger. There are more scarier breathing flesh and blood creatures in Australia that will cause cold chills.
That being so, I expected the ghost stories would be really scary. I have to confess, I have read scarier American ghost stories. The Australian ghost stories weren't really that terrifying in contrast. Maybe because they're younger. There are more scarier breathing flesh and blood creatures in Australia that will cause cold chills.
October 31, 2023
3.5 to 4 stars. Some were genuinely creepy but they are very short snippets so quite hard to get into. Tasmania seems to have the most ghosts - the port Arthur chapter was interesting but the scariest is probably the body part chapter and the Monte cristo house one. Surprised there weren’t any based at lunatic asylums of which there are quite a few scattered around the country.
August 31, 2019
Really enjoyed these stories. Spooky, quirky, some I knew, some I didn't. But Monte Cristo - now that's a famous haunted place!
April 12, 2020
Good light read. Easy to pick up and put down.
September 5, 2024
Fantastic collection of Australian ghost stories. Some sweet and with happy endings, some downright terrifying. This is an amazing book
December 15, 2024
Most enjoyable read about ghosts of Australia. Not to be read late at night!
August 9, 2024
Interesting tales but rather dry in the presentation.
October 10, 2014
I have a soft spot a mile wide both for ghost stories and Australiana, and this is a solid example of both. The stories basically begin at settlement, and the author acknowledges in an afterword that stories before then are not his to tell. I feel this note would have perhaps been better placed at the beginning, because the Anglo-centrism of the stories became very noticeable after a while.
The stories are well-told, with a decent balance of scepticism and belief; while in one it seemed that the ghost haunted happily ever after, in another it was revealed that due to a flaw in a building's design, possums had become trapped in the walls and caused the "screaming and scratching" sounds over a long period of time. There was a good range of material, too, and of places. One stylistic quirk that I found unappealing was a tendency to try to render accents through spelling/punctuation -- I've never liked that. Just tell me they have an accent. The overall conversational style worked well for the stories, however, by maintaining the informality of an oral narrative (which most ghost stories are).
The limitations of getting the material from the public are a little evident, if you know some of the regions mentioned -- I was surprised that although Orange rated a mention, Eleanor, its most famous ghost, did not. Nor was there much from Ballarat (one or two stories) or anything at all from Hill End, both places which apparently have a fairly active supernatural set. Some stories missed their later sightings -- as far as I know, the Campbelltown theatre leaves a seat free on every opening night for Fred Fisher, who somehow moved there from pointing at a bloodied handrail. Maybe he got bored just hanging around?
Nonetheless, a solid book of ghost stories, and it's lovely to read something coming from here, rather than the USA. If anyone is looking to make the next great Aussie horror film, they should pick it up immediately. I got it from the library, but I think I'll track down a copy for myself.
The stories are well-told, with a decent balance of scepticism and belief; while in one it seemed that the ghost haunted happily ever after, in another it was revealed that due to a flaw in a building's design, possums had become trapped in the walls and caused the "screaming and scratching" sounds over a long period of time. There was a good range of material, too, and of places. One stylistic quirk that I found unappealing was a tendency to try to render accents through spelling/punctuation -- I've never liked that. Just tell me they have an accent. The overall conversational style worked well for the stories, however, by maintaining the informality of an oral narrative (which most ghost stories are).
The limitations of getting the material from the public are a little evident, if you know some of the regions mentioned -- I was surprised that although Orange rated a mention, Eleanor, its most famous ghost, did not. Nor was there much from Ballarat (one or two stories) or anything at all from Hill End, both places which apparently have a fairly active supernatural set. Some stories missed their later sightings -- as far as I know, the Campbelltown theatre leaves a seat free on every opening night for Fred Fisher, who somehow moved there from pointing at a bloodied handrail. Maybe he got bored just hanging around?
Nonetheless, a solid book of ghost stories, and it's lovely to read something coming from here, rather than the USA. If anyone is looking to make the next great Aussie horror film, they should pick it up immediately. I got it from the library, but I think I'll track down a copy for myself.
April 4, 2013
Most ghost books on the market are British and American, so it was nice to finally find one about Australia. As somebody interested in the paranormal, I'm not as familiar as I should be with Australian examples of the genre. This book is a marvellous collection of spooky tales from around the country, with a helpful map in the front to find each case. I'd heard some of them before, such as the famed Min Min lights, and the fearsome jester of Melbourne's Luna Park, and I'd even actually visited one of these haunted locations many years ago: the Courthouse Restaurant in Cleveland, near Brisbane; although I had a good meal, I didn't experience anything supernatural there. And there were, of course, many stories I'd never heard before. A lot of them were based around colonial tales of accident and murder, with many of the spirits dressed in period clothing. I was a bit surprised that some of the more famous ghosts, such as those reported in Brisbane's oldest surviving residence Newstead House, were not mentioned; considering that these are used as a tourist attraction, there would hardly have been any issues about privacy. The text is well-written and entertaining, managing just the right balance between factual reporting and creepy paranormal anecdote, although I was a little disappointed to see that no scientific investigations were mentioned at all. One thing I was very pleased about was that this collection is bang up-to-date, with phenomena in many cases reported well into the twenty-first century. Overall, the book is a good read, helping to fill a wide gap in the supernatural literature.
June 27, 2015
I purchased this book for both the historical context and the literary context. I wanted to learn about Australian 'ghosts' but also get a feeling for writing a good ghost yarn. The history bit was okay but Davis didn't seem to know whether he was telling ghost story or debunking a ghost story. So there was no clear objective. Regarding the literary aspect the stories were told in a flat and uninspiring way. No hairs were raised during my reading. Rather disappointing all around, although congratulations to Davis on his research in collecting so many tales.
August 1, 2015
This was good for an educational history of Australia's best haunted spots. A few startlers in there but probably not something you'd pick up if you want to frighten yourself.
You have to keep in mind that this is factual and recounts the stories of others. The writer does not embellish to create a story.
All in all, if you're interested in Australia's most haunted locations, this is the book for you.
You have to keep in mind that this is factual and recounts the stories of others. The writer does not embellish to create a story.
All in all, if you're interested in Australia's most haunted locations, this is the book for you.
November 16, 2012
This book has a collection of good stories with a map providing pointers of where the ghost citings took place in Australia.
Recommended to anyone who believes in ghosts or anyone who likes to have a short and interesting read.
Recommended to anyone who believes in ghosts or anyone who likes to have a short and interesting read.
January 12, 2013
Most of the stories in this book are old legends from around the turn of the century. I would have liked to have seen some more contemporary ghost stories included. Perhaps an idea for a follow up book?
April 3, 2013
After reading this collection of stories, I have looked at my country's history completely different. Quite horrific some of these stories and really have made me look twice about certain places. Also never, read this in the dark, you don't go to sleep easily.
September 25, 2013
This book provides a detailed explanation into some truly scary and sometimes peaceful ghost stories . It is clear the author has spent time researching to recreate this tales for the benefit of readers who enjoy getting a shiver up their spine and appreciate the supernatural .
February 3, 2014
Brilliant. So wonderful to read about Australian ghosts and the stories that are abound. I was delighted to read of some the stories that the Shoalhaven and Kiama region hold and have already began to look for some camping trips away. Highly recommend.
January 28, 2013
An easy enough read. If you liked this book, you'll love anything by John Pinkney.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews