Toowong Cemetery Ghost Tour – The Other Side

The most intriguing question here is not simply whether Toowong Cemetery is haunted. It is whether Jack the Ripper might be buried there. This two-hour evening walk takes you to his possible grave, along with hungry Chinese ghosts, Spook Hill, a creepy crypt, and the resting place linked to Governor Blackall.

I like two things right away: the guide mixes local history with ghost lore, and your $39.45 ticket includes Jack Sim’s book, Ghosts of Toowong Cemetery, valued at $25. The walk is also interactive rather than just a speech in the dark. The main caution is practical: you must handle steep hills, bring your own torch, and find a poorly marked meeting point at 26 Richer Street.

Key points to know before booking

• Jack the Ripper connection: Visit a possible grave and decide for yourself how convincing the story is.
• A real walking tour: Expect about two hours of walking, including steep hills and uneven cemetery paths.
• Book included: The ticket includes Ghosts of Toowong Cemetery by Jack Sim, with an RRP of $25.
• Small-group format: The maximum group size is 26 people, which helps keep the guide’s storytelling personal.
• Bring the right gear: You need a torch, flat-soled enclosed shoes, and a moderate level of fitness.
• Age limits matter: Children under 10 cannot attend, and anyone 15 or younger must stay with an adult.

Why the Other Side feels different from a standard ghost walk

Many ghost tours use a city street as their stage. This one takes you into Toowong Cemetery after dark, where the setting does much of the work. Gravestones, slopes, trees, crypts, and the absence of normal city traffic create a more focused atmosphere than a quick stop outside a supposedly haunted building.

The theme is The Other Side, meaning this tour explores another section and another set of stories connected with Toowong Cemetery. It is not presented as a single scare attraction. Instead, you get a guided historic walk built around unusual deaths, local legends, possible identities, burial customs, and places said to have an uneasy presence.

That distinction matters. If you want actors jumping from behind trees, this may feel too restrained. If you enjoy stories that sit somewhere between documented history and folklore, the format should suit you better. The guide’s job is to tell the tale, point out the location, and let you decide how much you believe.

The tour has been operated by Historic Australia since 1998 under haunted historian Jack Sim, author of Ghosts of Toowong Cemetery. Guides such as Andrew bring the stories to life with a mix of explanation, performance, and audience involvement. One piece of feedback praised Andrew’s storytelling and the chance to take part, while another found the delivery too theatrical. That tells you something useful: the presentation is lively, but it may not suit anyone who prefers a quiet, academic lecture.

Meeting at 7:30 pm on Richer Street

The meeting point is 26 Richer Street, Toowong, with the tour starting at 7:30 pm and ending back at the same place. You should arrive early enough to get your bearings. Finding the starting point in the dark can be harder than expected, and the meeting area may not have a large, obvious illuminated sign.

This is the one part of the experience where a little planning saves frustration. Check the address before leaving, allow extra time, and keep your phone light available for finding the entrance. Do not assume that a cemetery gate or a nearby road will make the meeting point obvious.

The tour is close to public transport, but your ticket does not include transport to or from the cemetery. You are responsible for getting to Richer Street and returning from there after the walk. Since the activity ends where it begins, you do not need to arrange a second pickup point.

At check-in, the company requires proof of full vaccination or a valid exemption, except for people under 16. The stated terms say that anyone unable to show the required proof may be refused entry without a refund. Check these conditions carefully when booking, since rules can change.

The Jack the Ripper grave question

The opening hook is strong: could Jack the Ripper be buried in Toowong Cemetery? The tour takes you to a possible grave and lays out the connection for you to assess.

This is best approached as a mystery within local folklore, not as a confirmed historical fact. The value is in hearing how the theory developed, what details support it, and where the story may stretch. A good guide can give you enough background to separate known information from speculation, while still allowing the tale to keep its eerie edge.

For you, that means the experience works on two levels. You can enjoy the famous name and the dark possibility, but you can also listen for the evidence. The guide may encourage questions and participation, so this is a better fit if you enjoy forming your own view rather than being handed a firm answer.

The possible grave also gives the tour a clear early focus. Instead of wandering through unrelated tales, you move from a famous international mystery into more local stories tied to Brisbane and Toowong Cemetery.

Hungry Chinese ghosts and the stories behind the stones

The tour also explores the idea of hungry Chinese ghosts. This adds a cultural layer that goes beyond the usual European ghost-story formula.

The phrase refers to traditional Chinese beliefs about spirits whose needs have not been properly met. In a cemetery setting, the story can connect burial practices, family duty, remembrance, and the fear of a restless dead. The specific tale is part of the tour’s wider collection of myths and legends, and the guide’s explanation is important because the subject deserves more than a cheap scare.

I like this part of the route because it gives the cemetery a broader human context. You are not only hearing who died and where they were buried. You are also being introduced to the beliefs that shaped how different communities understood death and the afterlife.

Still, keep your expectations measured. The tour lasts about two hours and fifteen minutes in total, but the supplied itinerary lists a single cemetery stop rather than a long series of separately timed sites. The experience is a continuous walk, with the guide moving the group between locations and stories.

Spook Hill, the crypt, and Governor Blackall’s bones

Spook Hill is one of the tour’s more unusual stops. Even the name suggests a place where the physical setting is part of the legend. You may hear claims about strange movement, odd sensations, or unusual behavior connected with the slope, but the tour invites you to consider the story rather than treating every claim as proven fact.

The hill also has a practical consequence: this is not a flat stroll. The route includes steep sections, and the company asks you to have a moderate fitness level. Wear shoes that give you secure footing, since thongs, sandals, and high heels are not accepted. Flat-soled enclosed shoes are required.

The creepy crypt offers a more traditional cemetery image, with enclosed stonework and the sense of a place not meant for casual nighttime visits. Its appeal comes from the combination of architecture, darkness, and the stories attached to it. If you like atmosphere built from real places rather than props, this should be one of the stronger sections.

The tour also visits where the bones of Governor Blackall lie. That stop adds a direct link to Queensland’s political past and shows how the walk moves between public figures, ordinary burial grounds, and supernatural claims. The result is more than a series of ghost noises. You are being asked to connect Brisbane’s past with the way later generations have remembered it.

A guide-led experience, not a haunted-house show

The guide is central to the quality of the evening. Andrew received especially strong praise for clear storytelling, energy, and the ability to make the walk interactive. Other feedback found the delivery too exaggerated, and one person described the experience as boring. Those reactions are not necessarily contradictory. A theatrical voice can hold a group’s attention, but it can also feel forced if you prefer a plain delivery.

I would book this for the stories first and the scares second. The guides are working with real cemetery locations, historical characters, and local legends. That gives them plenty to explain, but it also means the mood depends on pacing and presentation.

The group maximum is 26 people. That is large enough to create a shared night walk, yet small enough for the guide to address the group and involve people along the way. A bigger group could make quiet moments harder to manage, so the cap is useful.

The tour’s overall rating is 4 from 26 reviews, which suggests a generally positive experience with some clear differences in personal taste. The strongest praise centers on the guide’s storytelling, the informative history, and the interactive format. The weakest points are the meeting location, one rude interaction at the cemetery entrance, and presentation that felt overdone to some people.

What the $39.45 price really includes

At $39.45 per person, this is not merely a ticket for a walk. GST is included, as is a donation to the Ghost Tours’ Haunted Heritage Fund. You also receive Ghosts of Toowong Cemetery by Jack Sim, with a stated retail price of $25.

That book changes the value calculation. If you were already interested in Toowong Cemetery’s stories, the included copy gives you something to read after the tour and makes it easier to remember names and legends. The effective cost of the guided experience is much lower than the ticket price alone might suggest, although the value depends on whether you want the book.

The book also fits the subject well. You can use it to revisit the Jack the Ripper theory, cemetery figures, and other stories after the evening. For a visitor who likes local history, this is more useful than a souvenir with no connection to the place.

There are added costs to keep in mind. Transport is not included, and you need to provide your own torch. A phone torch is acceptable, so you may not need to buy equipment, but a charged phone is important. The ticket does not cover food, drinks, or any other part of your evening.

Comfort, safety, and the dark-hour details

Bring a torch. The company specifically requires each person to have one, and a smartphone torch app is suitable. You will want both hands free when possible, so a small handheld torch or phone light that you can manage easily is better than relying on a dim screen.

Wear enclosed, flat-soled shoes. This is not a dress-up night, and anyone arriving in thongs, sandals, or high heels may be refused entry without a refund. The steep hills make that rule practical rather than fussy.

The cemetery setting also means you should dress for an evening outdoors. The supplied information does not specify a dress code beyond footwear, so choose comfortable clothing that lets you walk for more than two hours. Service animals are allowed.

Children under 10 are not permitted. Anyone aged 15 or younger must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. The stories and dark setting may suit older children and teenagers who enjoy ghost lore, but the walking demands and subject matter are worth considering before you book.

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but later cancellations and changes are not accepted under the stated terms.

Who will enjoy this Toowong Cemetery walk?

I would recommend it to you if you like local stories with a supernatural edge, cemetery architecture, historical figures, and questions that do not have neat answers. It is especially suitable for adults and older children who enjoy a guide-led experience rather than a self-guided walk.

It also works well for people who have already seen Brisbane’s main sights and want an evening activity with a distinctly local setting. The included book is a bonus if you like taking a subject home and reading more about it.

I would be cautious about booking if you dislike steep walking, theatrical storytelling, or uncertain ghost claims. You should also reconsider if you need a simple, highly visible meeting location or cannot meet the footwear and vaccination requirements.

Should you book The Other Side?

Book this tour if the combination of cemetery history, local legends, and a possible Jack the Ripper connection sounds more appealing than a polished scare show. The strongest reason to go is the content: several distinct stories, real burial sites, an included book, and a guide who can make the walk interactive.

Go prepared. Arrive early at 26 Richer Street, bring a torch, wear enclosed shoes, and expect hills. If you do that, the $39.45 price offers fair value, especially with the $25 book included. If you want a factual walking lecture with no theatrical touches, or a flat route with easy signage, this may not be your ideal Brisbane night out.

FAQ

How long does the Toowong Cemetery Ghost Tour last?

The experience lasts about two hours and fifteen minutes, although the listed cemetery itinerary is described as a two-hour guided tour. It begins and ends at the same meeting point.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is 26 Richer Street, Toowong, Queensland 4066. The tour starts at 7:30 pm and returns to that location at the end.

Do I need to bring a torch?

Yes. Each person must bring a torch, and a torch app on a smartphone is acceptable.

What should I wear?

You must wear flat-soled enclosed shoes. Thongs, sandals, and high heels are not accepted. The walk includes steep hills, so comfortable footwear is important.

Can children attend?

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

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the tour are not refunded or accepted. If bad weather or low enrollment cancels the tour, you are offered another date or a full refund.