South Australia’s Ghost Stories – The Gaols, Pubs and Ghost Towns Worth a Spooky Detour
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South Australia has more than its share of old gaols, asylums, country pubs and pioneer towns, and a surprising number run night tours.
Some of the state’s spookiest sites are in the middle of Adelaide. Others are a few hours out on the road.
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so the last week of October is the busiest time for after-dark programs. I couldn’t confirm 2026 Halloween dates for every operator at the time of writing, so check each site before booking.
Which Eerie Places in SA Can You Actually Visit?
Adelaide Gaol, Adelaide Arcade, Z Ward at Glenside, Gladstone Gaol, Old Tailem Town, the North Kapunda Hotel, the Cornwall Hotel in Moonta and Melrose are all open to visitors in some form.
Some have official ghost tours, and others are simply places where the stories live on.
Quick guide to what’s open
- Official ghost tours – Adelaide Gaol, Gladstone Gaol, Old Tailem Town and Kapunda
- Special tours only – Z Ward at Glenside and Adelaide Arcade after hours
- Working pubs – the North Kapunda Hotel, the Cornwall Hotel and the Mount Remarkable Hotel
- Open by day, stories only – Melrose and its heritage museum
I will start with the city sites and then work outwards into the regions. Every one of these tales is folklore rather than proven fact, and tour guides usually say so themselves.
Is Adelaide Gaol the Most Haunted Spot in the State?
Adelaide Gaol in Thebarton is the site most often named, and it’s also the easiest to visit. The sandstone prison opened in 1841 and operated for 147 years. It held 45 executions, the last in 1964.
The names that come up most are Frederick Carr, a convicted wife murderer, and hangman Ben Ellis. Elizabeth Woolcock, the only woman hanged in South Australia, is buried on the grounds.
Reported activity includes footsteps on the stairs, slamming doors and disembodied voices.
- By day – it runs as a museum, and the cells and gallows are easy to see without a tour
- By night – ghost tours usually run for around two hours with small groups of up to 20
- Family option – a gentler twilight tour runs on selected dates
- Getting there – a short drive from the CBD, though roadworks nearby have meant entering via Bonython Park, so allow extra time
The Adelaide Gaol site lists current tour dates. Haunted Horizons runs longer paranormal hunts, including an all-night option.
Last year’s family Halloween event, Wail at the Gaol, ran in late October, but I haven’t seen a 2026 edition announced.
Is Adelaide Arcade Really Haunted?
Adelaide Arcade is said to be haunted by Francis Cluney, a nightkeeper who died in 1887 in an accident at the arcade’s electric lighting plant.
The Victorian arcade opened in 1885 and is often described as Australia’s first covered shopping mall.
Staff have told stories of knocking sounds, objects that move and lights that flicker. Plenty of shoppers walk through without noticing a thing, which is part of the charm.
- Free to wander – it’s a working arcade off Rundle Mall
- After hours – private paranormal tours run on selected dates, so check the Adelaide Arcade site
What Is Z Ward at Glenside?
Z Ward at Glenside was built in 1885 to hold the criminally insane, and it closed in 1973. It sits on the old Glenside Hospital grounds, just a few minutes from the CBD, and it’s not normally open to the public.
Special day tours and night paranormal tours run on selected dates through the National Trust of Australia and local operators.
Reports include shadowy figures and unexplained noises in the cells. The history is a sad one, and it’s worth treating with respect.
Gladesville Hall, nearby on the same site, has its own rumours, though they’re less well documented.
What Is the Legend of the North Kapunda Hotel?
The North Kapunda Hotel in Kapunda is often called one of the most haunted pubs in the country. The 19th-century pub sits on the edge of the Barossa region, about an hour’s drive north of Adelaide.
Stories centre on a child named Sarah who is said to haunt an upstairs nursery, and a miner who lost a leg. Kapunda was a copper mining town in the 1840s, so there’s no shortage of old history to draw on.
Ghost Crime Tours runs Kapunda tours and, on selected dates, overnight lock-ins. The pub has reopened under new owners, so check its social pages for current opening days.
Kapunda pairs well with a day in the nearby Barossa Valley.
Is Gladstone Gaol Open for Ghost Tours?
Yes, Gladstone Gaol in the Mid North reopened after years of closure and now runs after-dark tours. The red brick penitentiary closed in 1975 and sat empty for a long time.
Visitors report whispers, apparitions and door bolts that seem to move on their own. The cells are bare and cold, even in warm weather.
Lantern Ghost Tours runs the tours, and the Gladstone Gaol site lists day entry and any accommodation in the old cells. Gladstone is around two and a half hours from Adelaide, so it works best as part of a Mid North or Flinders Ranges road trip.
Can You Explore a Ghost Town at Night at Old Tailem Town?
Old Tailem Town near Tailem Bend is a large pioneer village, and it’s best known for its ghost hunts. Dozens of historic buildings and replicas make up the town, and the derelict church draws most of the attention.
Reports include footsteps, whistling and shadowy figures inside empty buildings. It’s a rare chance to explore a whole ghost town at night.
- Two formats – a shorter ghost tour and a longer tour with investigation equipment
- Timing – tours usually run on Saturday nights
- Age limits – the night hunts are adult-only
Book through Haunted Horizons, and check the Old Tailem Town site for daytime opening. It’s about an hour and a half from Adelaide, so it’s an easy night out if someone else drives.
Which Country Pubs Are Said to Be Haunted?
The Cornwall Hotel in Moonta and the Mount Remarkable Hotel in Melrose are the two country pubs most often named. Both are still operating.
Cornwall Hotel, Moonta
The Cornwall Hotel on the Yorke Peninsula started as the Globe Hotel around 1862. Its cellar was reportedly used as a makeshift morgue during epidemics in the 1880s.
Guests tell of children’s voices, and toys are said to be left in the basement for the little spirits. Moonta was a major copper mining town, so pair a visit with the old mine sites nearby.
Mount Remarkable Hotel, Melrose
The Mount Remarkable Hotel was licensed in 1857, and it’s linked to three reported spirits. Melrose is the oldest town in the Flinders Ranges, and the hotel sits right in the main street.
I’d call these local legends rather than confirmed events. The pubs are good value for a meal and a bed either way, so check each hotel’s own listing for current hours.
What Tales Are Told in Melrose?
Melrose, at the foot of Mount Remarkable, has a handful of tales that make it a fun overnight stop. Bluey Blundstone’s Blacksmith Shop, now a B&B, is said to host the old smith, his wife Martha and a girl named Mary.
The Melrose Heritage Museum, in the former courthouse and police station, has its own stories. Staff mention a dog barking at empty hallways and faint voices near the old holding cells.
The Melrose and Mount Remarkable site covers walking trails, the Heysen Trail and accommodation. It’s roughly three and a half hours from Adelaide, so allow a night or two. The Flinders Ranges and Mount Remarkable National Park are right on the doorstep.
Which Sites Suit Different Travellers?
Families, couples, solo travellers and budget visitors all have a good option.
✔️ Families with teens – Adelaide Gaol by day or the twilight tour
✔️ Couples – a night at the North Kapunda Hotel, then a Barossa wine stop
✔️ Groups of friends – a Saturday night ghost hunt at Old Tailem Town
✔️ Solo travellers – a small-group Adelaide Gaol tour, as groups are capped at around 20
✔️ Budget travellers – Adelaide Arcade and Melrose are free to wander
✔️ Paranormal fans – Z Ward and the longer Haunted Horizons hunts
✔️ History lovers – Adelaide Gaol by day, then Gladstone Gaol on a road trip
When Is the Best Time to Go?
Late October is the busiest time, but ghost tours run through autumn, winter and spring as well. Halloween on Saturday 31 October brings extra events at some venues, so book as early as possible.
- Winter evenings get dark early, which suits a night tour
- Spring is mild by day but cool after dark in the Mid North and Flinders Ranges
- Summer can be very hot in regional SA, so choose evening sessions
How to Fit These Into a South Australia Trip
Adelaide Gaol, Z Ward and the Arcade can all be done in one day from the city. Kapunda and Tailem Town each work as a night trip, while Gladstone, Moonta and Melrose suit a longer drive.
My Adelaide itinerary shows how to fit the city sites around the main attractions. For the whole state, the South Australia travel hub has the rest of the planning.
Other cities have their own stories too. My guides to haunted places in Australia, Melbourne’s haunted sites and Sydney’s most haunted places are good next reads.
Know Before You Go
✅ Check the age limits. Adelaide Gaol’s night tour is for ages 12 and over, but many others are 16 or 18 and over.
✅ Wear closed shoes. Old gaols have uneven floors and steep stairs.
✅ Bring a jacket. Sandstone and brick buildings stay cold after dark.
✅ Check accessibility. Historic sites often have stairs, so contact the operator first.
✅ Plan the drive. Gladstone, Moonta and Melrose are long drives, so build in a night’s stay rather than driving home late.
✅ Watch for wildlife. Country roads at dusk have kangaroos.
✅ Respect the sites. Real people suffered and died in these gaols and wards.
✅ Treat the stories as folklore. Some are disputed, and tour guides often say so.
✅ Confirm dates and times. Seasonal programs change every year, so check each operator’s site before booking.
