Haunted Historical Brisbane: Brisbane City Hall

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Historical Facts

This heritage-listed building of a Classical Revival design was opened officially in 1930 by Sir John Goodwin, the Queensland Governor at the time. It contains a 1500 plus seat auditorium with copper dome, a clock tower with a lift, the offices of the Lord Mayor of Brisbane and the recent addition in 2003 of the Museum of Brisbane. The Telegraph (1926; 1927) newspaper provided regular update pictorials during the construction phase of the Brisbane City Hall, which is now thought of as one of Brisbane's most beloved buildings.

The State Library of Queensland holds within its archive collections a variety of materials concerning the Brisbane City Hall from its inception to current times. Maxine Fisher, a Digital Content Coordinator based at the State Library of Queensland has written a well researched set of historical facts within an online blog concerning the Brisbane City Hall Clock Tower, check it out for yourself (Fisher 2013).

Haunting Folklore

Clock Tower Lift Attendant

The Brisbane City Hall is without a doubt one of the most haunted historical buildings in Brisbane. Only a year after its opening, its first Clock Tower Lift Attendant fell to his death from its peak, it is still unknown today if it happened by accident or by his own hand (Sim 2017). Since his death however there have been multiple sightings of a shadow man inside the lift, a cold and claustrophobic feeling reportedly attaching itself to particularly sensitive visitors.

The Possession of Room 302

The kids play area inside The Brisbane Museum on level 3 was once a group of four rooms said to have been possessed by a poltergeist since the 1940's. In fact, since the Caretaker of the building hung himself inside his office. Both staff and visitors have recounted a number of strange occurrences including flickering lights, doors opening and closing of their own accord, creepy footsteps without a physical body present as well as a cold and clammy feeling surrounding anyone in the vicinity of room 302. In the early 1980's the area was abandoned completely by the staff under the direction of the current Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Roy Harvey.

Haunted Pipe Organ

Even the beautiful pipe organ in the main auditorium has been known to start playing a hymn in the middle of the night, scaring the security guards on the night shift (Sim 2017).

Disappearance of Miss Marjorie Rose Norval

One of Brisbane's unsolved mysteries has also touched this beautiful building, the disappearance of Miss Marjorie Rose Norval. On the 11th November in 1938 Miss Norval, social secretary to the wife of Premier William Forgan-Smith disappeared, her last sighting being close to the Brisbane City Hall Clock Tower.

Lady of the Lobby

Another ghost that has been sighted on multiple occasions is the Lady of the Lobby. An elegant creature dressed in a fine evening dress circa 1930 who has been seen entering through the main doors of the hall and then making her way up the left staircase, and on reaching the top, turns and looks back down into the main lobby area. She has yet to be identified, but the security guards at the main entrance are happy to share their experiences with this well mannered apparition with all who ask!

WWII Red Cross Cafe Stabbing

And lastly, during WWII a basement refreshment room, called the Troops Welfare Club opened serving anyone service personnel or civilian,man or woman. Today the basement holds the Red Cross Cafe; in 1942 a fight allegedly broke out between an American soldier and a local man. The soldier was stabbed to death and his ghost is often heard moaning and moving around the cafe and basement area.