Fox Darcy will take you for the tour of your life on Halloween. Photo: Supplied.
Griffith’s Pioneer Park Museum is hosting its first ever night event this Halloween – the adults-only Gory Griffith walking tour on 31 October.
The open-air museum, which contains century-old historic buildings that were transported to it by truck, has long been rumoured to be haunted.
Most of the legends centre around Fairview Cottage, a drop-log cabin built to be a family farming home in Tabbita in 1888.
“We reputedly have at least one ghost or up to three ghosts at Fairview Cottage,” curator Fox Darcy said.
“It’s thought to be the original owner Alfred Hill or one of the caretakers.
“People report that they feel short of breath when they go in the building. One of the family members died of pneumonia there. A lot of school kids have reported a weird feeling inside.”
The Halloween Tour will take participants armed with torches inside the Fairview Cottage, where they may meet Ghost Alfred.
“It’s a case of proceed at your own risk,” Ms Darcy said.
Another building rumoured to be haunted is the original Griffith hospital, built in 1921 and used until they moved to the Base Hospital in 1936.
“It was called the worst hospital in Australia and it was joked that patients had to bring their own beds,” Ms Darcy said.
“It was chronically understaffed. The nurses had to sleep on the veranda next to the patients.”
Inside Griffith’s first hospital. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Ms Darcy will also tell gory historic stories about the town, including the activities of the Mafia Black Hand (Mano Nera) and the mysterious 1936 murder of Rocco Trimarchi.
If that all sounds too scary for you, there are less gory train tours during the daylight hours of 6 and 7 pm which are targeted at children but open to everyone.
“For the adults tour, we are going to be walking around in the dark inside closed spaces. Obviously, it’s going to be safe, but if you have those fears you can come for the train tours instead,” Ms Darcy said.
“I won’t be going into the grisly details, but I’ll be talking about more kid-friendly stories, like raids by the bushrangers.”
Bookings are essential for family train tours and the adults-only Gory Griffith tour. The Spooky Train tours offer two sessions only: one at 6 pm and one at 7 pm.
Spots are limited and subject to train seat availability, so book early to secure your preferred time. Book through the website.
If you’re not intending to hop aboard the train, you can still enjoy trick-or-treating and spooky strolls through the museum’s grounds. Costumes are encouraged, so go along and be part of the Halloween fun.
Book your ticket here for the Gory Griffith tour. Participants are encouraged to bring a torch, wear comfortable shoes and prepare to see Griffith’s history in a new and haunting light.
