Toowong Cemetery Ghost Tour – The Other Side

Night changes the cemetery. The Other Side tour explores Toowong Cemetery after dark through stories of Jack the Ripper, hungry Chinese ghosts, Governor Blackall, Spook Hill, and a creepy crypt. It is part guided history lesson, part theatrical storytelling, and part walking challenge on Brisbane’s western side.

I like the strong story selection, especially the chance to consider whether Jack the Ripper could be buried here. I also like the value: your $39.45 ticket includes a copy of Ghosts of Toowong Cemetery by Jack Sim, priced at $25, plus a donation to the Haunted Heritage Fund.

The main caution is practical rather than supernatural. The meeting point can be hard to find, the cemetery includes steep hills, and one account found the guide’s dramatic voice too forced. You must also bring a torch and wear enclosed, flat-soled shoes.

Key points before you book

• Jack the Ripper connection: Visit the possible grave and decide how convincing the local theory is for yourself.
• A two-hour cemetery walk: The tour runs about two hours, or roughly two hours and 15 minutes depending on the published estimate.
• A book is included: You receive Jack Sim’s Ghosts of Toowong Cemetery, with a listed value of $25.
• Steep walking after dark: A moderate level of fitness is needed, and proper shoes are compulsory.
• Small group setting: Numbers are capped at 26 people, giving the guide room to tell stories and involve the group.
• Bring your own torch: A regular torch is fine, and a torch app on your phone is accepted.

What makes The Other Side different

Toowong Cemetery is not being used as a simple backdrop for spooky tales. The tour focuses on the other side of the cemetery and connects individual graves, burial customs, local legends, and Brisbane’s past.

That mix matters. You can enjoy a ghost story for its mood, but the better moments come when a legend is tied to a real person, a grave, or a strange feature of the grounds. The tour’s subject matter includes Jack the Ripper, Chinese hungry ghosts, Governor Blackall’s remains, Spook Hill, and a crypt. Each topic gives the walk a different flavor.

The tour is run by Historic Australia, whose ghost tours were established in 1998. Jack Sim, described as a haunted historian and the author of Ghosts of Toowong Cemetery, is closely associated with the tour and its book. The result is intended to feel like a guided investigation of local stories, not just a string of generic haunted-house effects.

You should also set your expectations correctly. This is a walking tour with storytelling, not a haunted attraction packed with props or guaranteed paranormal events. The value rests on the guide’s timing, delivery, and ability to make the cemetery’s people and legends memorable.

Beginning at 7:30 pm on Richer Street

The tour starts at 7:30 pm at 26 Richer Street, Toowong, and finishes back at the same meeting point. That return to the starting place is useful if you are arranging a ride, taking public transport, or meeting friends nearby.

The meeting point deserves extra care. One poor experience came from difficulty finding the start, with the guide apparently waiting in dark clothing under a tree on a side road and without a clear light or sign. I would arrive early, check the address before leaving, and allow time to get your bearings. Do not assume the starting point will be obvious once it is dark.

The tour is near public transport, but the supplied information does not specify a particular route or final service time. Check your return trip before booking, especially because the walk ends at night.

A maximum of 26 people keeps the group from becoming huge. That is large enough to create a lively atmosphere, but small enough for the guide to address the group and include people in parts of the storytelling.

The possible Jack the Ripper grave

The Jack the Ripper story is likely to be the main draw for many people. The tour visits a possible grave connected with the famous unsolved murders and leaves you to consider the claim.

That framing is important. You are not being promised proof that Jack the Ripper lies in Toowong Cemetery. Instead, the appeal is the mystery and the chance to hear the local theory in the place connected with it. If you enjoy separating historical fact from rumor, this part should give you something to think about after the tour.

The setting adds weight to the story. A graveyard at night naturally changes how you pay attention, particularly when the guide is directing you toward a specific resting place. Still, keep a sensible attitude. A compelling story is not the same as verified evidence, and the tour encourages you to make your own judgment.

The best version of this stop will depend heavily on the guide. The strongest feedback praises the host’s storytelling, information, and ability to involve the group. Another account found the delivery too theatrical, so your enjoyment may depend on how much dramatic performance you like.

Hungry ghosts and Chinese burial traditions

The hungry ghost section adds cultural variety to the walk. Rather than keeping every tale within the familiar European ghost-story tradition, the tour includes Chinese spirits and the idea of ghosts who remain unsatisfied.

This is one of the more interesting reasons to choose The Other Side. It broadens the subject beyond famous murder cases and haunted graves. The focus on hungry Chinese ghosts suggests a chance to connect supernatural beliefs with burial customs and cultural ideas about the dead.

You should listen for the difference between a local legend and a cultural belief. A good guide can explain the story in a way that avoids reducing it to a cheap scare. Feedback about the tour repeatedly praises the guide’s ability to make the material informative as well as entertaining, which is particularly useful here.

The experience does not promise a formal lecture on Chinese history or religion. It is still a ghost tour, so the material is presented for an evening audience. But this stop gives the walk more substance than a basic collection of spooky anecdotes.

Spook Hill and the cemetery’s stranger features

Spook Hill is another unusual stop. Even the name tells you that the tour is interested in odd local features, not only famous graves.

The exact nature of the hill is not described in the supplied details, so I would avoid booking this section expecting a specific paranormal demonstration. You will hear why the place has its reputation and can decide how much weight to give the tale.

The steep terrain is not a minor detail. The tour involves a moderate amount of walking up hills, and the cemetery can be difficult for anyone who struggles with slopes or uneven ground. Wear enclosed shoes with good grip and choose practical clothing. Thongs, sandals, and high heels are not accepted, and you can be refused entry without a refund if your footwear does not meet the rule.

A phone torch is suitable, but a small handheld torch may be easier when walking uphill. You need one because a torch is not supplied. It also helps you watch your footing without holding your phone at an awkward angle.

The crypt and Governor Blackall’s remains

The creepy crypt provides a more enclosed and atmospheric moment within the wider cemetery walk. It is a useful change of pace from standing beside open graves and listening to stories in the dark.

The tour also visits the place associated with the bones of Governor Blackall. This gives the evening a direct link to Queensland’s political past, not just folklore. The appeal here is the contrast between an official public figure and the unsettling details surrounding his remains.

I like this combination because it gives you several ways into the subject. You can follow the supernatural angle, the historical angle, or the architecture and burial angle. You do not have to believe in ghosts to find the stories about people, monuments, and the treatment of the dead worthwhile.

The crypt and governor’s remains are also a reminder that the tour is not built around one big reveal. It is a sequence of stops, each with its own mood. Some will appeal more to you than others.

Storytelling quality: the tour’s biggest strength

The most praised part of this experience is the guide. Strong feedback describes the host as entertaining, well informed, and an excellent storyteller. One account specifically names Andrew as an impressive guide and says the experience left the participant wanting to learn more.

Another positive feature is interaction. You are not simply standing in a group while someone recites a script. The tour includes opportunities to be involved, which can make the walk feel more immediate.

That strength comes with a small risk. One person found the speaker’s voice too exaggerated, while another criticized the behavior of a staff member at the cemetery gate. This tells me the experience has a theatrical style, and that style will not suit everyone.

If you enjoy a guide who uses mood, suspense, and a strong performance voice, you may have a great time. If you prefer a quiet, restrained historical walk, the presentation could feel overdone. The content sounds stronger than the occasional complaints about delivery, but it is worth knowing before you pay.

Is $39.45 good value?

At $39.45 per person, this is not the cheapest evening activity in Brisbane, but the price is easier to justify because it includes a copy of Ghosts of Toowong Cemetery. The listed retail price of that book is $25, leaving roughly $14.45 of the ticket price for the guided experience, GST, and the donation to the Haunted Heritage Fund.

That calculation is not a promise that you will value the book at its full retail price. If you have no interest in reading more about Toowong Cemetery, the included book may feel less useful. If you like local history, unusual biographies, or ghost lore, it gives you something to take home and continue with after the walk.

The tour lasts around two hours, with the overall estimate listed at approximately two hours and 15 minutes. For a night activity that combines a guide, a small group, a published book, and a charitable contribution, I consider the price reasonable for the right audience.

The value falls if you dislike theatrical storytelling, find steep walking difficult, or expect clear paranormal proof. You are paying for interpretation and atmosphere, not a guaranteed supernatural encounter.

Who should book this cemetery walk?

I would recommend it to adults and older teenagers who enjoy local legends, historic cemeteries, unusual burial stories, and a little nighttime drama. It also suits people who want a Brisbane activity that feels different from a standard city sightseeing walk.

The tour is not suitable for children under 10. Anyone aged 15 or younger must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. Children may also find the late start, dark setting, steep hills, and macabre stories tiring or unsettling.

You should have a moderate level of fitness. Service animals are allowed, but the walk still includes hills and nighttime conditions. Everyone needs enclosed, flat-soled shoes, and everyone needs a torch, including anyone relying on a phone torch.

The maximum group size of 26 is a reasonable compromise. You get some group energy without the scale of a large coach excursion. If you want a private, quiet visit to the cemetery, this is not that kind of experience.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

Confirmation is provided when you book, and the ticket is mobile, so you can keep it on your phone. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time.

Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the tour are not refunded, and changes inside that period are not accepted. The cut-off follows local time.

Weather can affect the evening. If poor conditions cancel the tour, you will be offered another date or a full refund. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation for that reason brings the same choice of another date or experience, or a full refund.

At the time of the tour, the supplied conditions also require all participants to be fully vaccinated unless they have a valid exemption or are under 16. Proof must be shown at check-in, and refusal of entry under that rule does not bring a refund.

Should you book The Other Side?

Book it if you want a guided night walk built around Brisbane stories, cemetery history, and legends that range from Jack the Ripper to Chinese hungry ghosts. The included book improves the value, and the best guides appear to make the experience both informative and fun.

Think twice if steep hills are a problem, if you dislike dramatic narration, or if you need an easy-to-find meeting point with clear signs. Arrive early, wear proper shoes, bring a torch, and treat the ghost claims as stories to assess rather than facts to accept.

For the right mood, The Other Side offers a memorable way to meet a darker side of Toowong Cemetery without turning the evening into a pure scare show.

FAQ

Where does the Toowong Cemetery Ghost Tour start?

The tour starts at 26 Richer Street, Toowong, Queensland 4066, Australia.

What time does the tour begin?

The tour starts at 7:30 pm.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity finishes back at the meeting point on Richer Street.

How long does the tour last?

The tour is described as lasting about two hours, with an overall approximate duration of two hours and 15 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $39.45 per person.

Is a book included?

Yes. Each participant receives a copy of Ghosts of Toowong Cemetery by Jack Sim, with a listed retail price of $25.

Do I need to bring a torch?

Yes. You must bring your own torch. A torch app on a smartphone is suitable.

What shoes should I wear?

You must wear flat-soled, enclosed shoes. Thongs, sandals, and high heels are not accepted.

Are children allowed?

Children under 10 are not permitted. Anyone aged 15 or younger must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes, you can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.