Join us for Gruesome Graveyards — a torchlit evening tour that explores the strange, unsettling, and sometimes downright bizarre customs and stories surrounding death, burial, and what lies beneath.
Set against the atmospheric backdrop of South Brisbane Cemetery, this night-time walk offers a mix of fascinating graveyard lore drawn from historical records and broader burial traditions. While some tales are local, many stretch beyond Queensland, giving you a deeper look at how different times and places have dealt with life’s one certainty.
You’ll encounter:
⚰️ The unsettling truth behind reused coffins
🦴 Body decomposition: nature’s final and fascinating process
🐀 Brisbane’s brief but deadly brush with the bubonic plague
💀 The grim reality of grave-robbing in the 19th century
🪢 When justice once came with a drop and a rope
Guided by passionate storytellers — including award-winning cemetery historian Tracey Olivieri — this tour is a safe and engaging way to experience the cemetery after dark while learning about death through a historical and cultural lens.
Bring a torch. Open your mind. And walk through the weird and wonderful world of Gruesome Graveyards.
All of our tours are not-for-profit, with all money raised going to our cemetery history and maintenance projects.
Prices
Single bookings: $20 per person/$15 per concession.
FOSBC & Coffin Club members: $10 per member.
Group bookings (four or more people): $15 per person.
Walking difficulty
Moderate (Grade 3) – Please be aware, given the aging nature of the cemetery, this tour involves walking [slowly] up hills predominantly over generally modified terrain [hardened earth, less than 1200mm wide], mostly clear of intrusions & obstacles. Please advise us of any relevant medical concerns prior to attending the tour.
Duration
2 – 2½ hours [tour times can vary, depending on levels of customer interaction during the tour].
Age level
This tour is suitable for ages 12 years and up – it contains supernatural, murder & suicide themes.
These tours are presented by the Friends of South Brisbane Cemetery, under license from the Brisbane City Council.
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