Australian Heritage Festival Events that Go Bump in the Night
The Australian Heritage Festival is back from the dead with a rich array of creepy corners and spooky stories to keep the hair up on the back of your neck this year. Come experience a few of these captivating events that’ll have you second guessing what lies beneath your stomping ground.
Here are the events you’ll die to miss.
History Unearthed: Geelong’s Past Re-awakened
The past comes to life where storytelling and interaction with costumed interpreters will transport you back in time to meet the who’s who of Geelong.
Let notable figures from Geelong’s past guide you through the historical sections of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery, visiting the graves of our city’s influential people!
When: 3rd & 10th of May
Where: Geelong Eastern Cemetery, Geelong
Presented by Geelong Cemeteries Trust
Bones and Burial Boxes: Digging up the Past at Prison Burial Sites
Far from being simple resting places, these burial sites offer a complex narrative of crime, punishment, and societal attitudes. The exhibition focuses on two of Melbourne’s most significant historic prisons: Pentridge Prison and the Old Melbourne Gaol. Central to the display are objects unearthed during Heritage Victoria’s landmark 2009 excavation of a mass grave at Pentridge, bringing to light the lives and deaths of those connected to these sites in unprecedented detail.
When: Thursdays & Fridays 10:00am-3:00pm, Saturdays & Sundays 10:00am-4:00pm
Where: 1 Champ St, Coburg
Presented by Pentridge Prison Tours
Altona Homestead Ghost Tour
Visit one of Australia’s original homesteads, only a 20 m-inute drive from Melbourne CBD. This particular homestead has had a long reputation for hauntings and has been the centre of paranormal investigations. The Langhorne family are long deceased but, given their colourful history, and the births, deaths and heartaches linked with the building, it is no surprise that the Homestead is alive with activity.
When: 3rd of May
Where: Altona Homestead, Altona
Presented by Lantern Ghost Tours
Point Cook Homestead Ghost Tour
Discover the home of the Chirnside family. Located at the end of an isolated country track, you will be transported to another world. Discover the 1850s homestead, outbuildings and family secrets on this secluded, haunted 25-acre property.
When: 3rd of May
Where: Point Cook Homestead
Presented by Lantern Ghost Tours
History Comes Alive at Kew Cemetery
The first burial at the Kew Cemetery was in 1859. This was, of course, in the midst of the gold rush and many of the movers and shakers who made Melbourne marvelous are buried here.
While we won’t literally ‘unearth’ people on our walk, you’ll be pleased to hear we will be unearthing their stories as we pass along the graves, some names of which you may recognize as both famous and infamous alike.
When: 6th of May
Where: Kew Cemetery, Kew
Presented by Friends of Boroondara (Kew) Cemetery
Williamstown Cemetery – Convict Graves and Tales
Join local historian Brian Haynes on a guided walking tour around Williamstown Cemetery, one of Victoria’s oldest graveyards.
Hear the stories of many of Williamstown’s permanent residents, including various naval and convict graves as well as the largest mass grave in Australia.
When: 24th of April
Where: Williamstown Cemetery, Williamstown
Presented by Hobsons Bay City Council
Minerva’s Secrets, Night Tour of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute
Explore tales of the weird and supernatural – the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute at night. Looking for a unique way to explore Ballarat’s rich history and culture? Look no further than the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute’s Night Tours!
When: 25th of April
Where: Ballaarat Mechanics Institute, Ballarat
Presented by Ballaarat Mechanics Institute
