Old Parliament House, Canberra, Australia

Old Parliament House, now the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD). This historic building, which served as the seat of federal government from 1927 to 1988, has witnessed many dramatic events and personalities in Australian politics. But it also has a darker side, with stories of death, near-death, and paranormal activity that will send shivers down your spine.

The ghost tours at MoAD are led by knowledgeable guides who will take you on a torchlit journey through the corridors and chambers of the old building. You will hear about the prime ministers who died in office, such as Joe Lyons, John Curtin and Harold Holt, and their possible lingering presence. You will also learn about Alfred Deakin, one of the founding fathers of federation, who was a keen spiritualist and participated in seances.

But the most chilling stories come from the staff who work at MoAD, especially the cleaners and security guards who have encountered strange phenomena after hours. Some have reported hearing voices, footsteps, knocks, and even screams in the empty rooms. Others have seen apparitions, shadows, and orbs of light. And some have smelled unusual odours, such as tobacco smoke, perfume, or flowers.

One of the most haunted places in the building is the House of Representatives chamber, where a cleaner claimed that a ghost at one of the backbenches would regularly call her name. The identity of this ghost is still unknown, but some speculate that it could be one of the politicians who died in the chamber, such as Billy Hughes or Arthur Fadden.