Hi all!

Last month, I outlined how my new project – A Haunted Guide to Maryborough – will work, so please check that out before continuing further. My first post for 2024 was an interview I conducted with the owner of The Haunted Doll Museum in Maryborough, Queensland. The building was erected in 1889 and formerly known as the Engineers’ Arms Hotel. It is now a heritage-listed building, home to some of the creepiest dolls known to man.

Update: Unfortunately in 2025, Silvia had to close the museum due to personal and financial struggles. It is a great loss to the community. 

I want to sincerely express my gratitude to Silvia for generously sharing her time. She is a lovely human being who answered all my questions with much heart and integrity. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was one of the best moments of my life. I left this experience with a new friend. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

1.) How did you get into doll collecting? 

“On my 40th birthday, my daughters gifted me my first ever Reborn doll, wrapped in blankets. I named her Isabella and that’s where my passion for dolls began. A doll named Sally was my very first Reborn doll creation. Before moving to Queensland, I worked in an aged-care facility in NSW, where I saw the impact the Reborn dolls (also known as Living dolls) had on those with degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia. For some, it helped regain lost memories. For others, they would smile and talk for the first time in a long time. What started as a hobby of collecting and making Reborn dolls, turned into a career.”

Fun fact: You can buy Living/Reborn doll kits. They cost upwards of $350 and can take a week or more to make. The end result is an incredibly life-like doll, which can be used for therapy, a collector’s item or as a creative outlet. 

2.) Approximately, how many dolls do you currently possess? 

“At this stage, I have over 27,000 dolls, but there could be more. We are still in the process of unpacking.” 

3.) How do you acquire new dolls?

“The main way we acquire new dolls is via donations. We also love to visit antique stores to see what we can find and of course, I make a lot of them myself.”

4.) Which dolls are your favourite?

“My favourite doll is Isabella (mentioned above) and a lot of the earlier Reborn dolls I made, such as Sally. I also love this hybrid Reborn doll (pictured below) that is half baby, half creature. It has pointy ears, nubs on the head and darkened flesh underneath the onesie. The mouth is shaped open to accept a dummy”. 

5.) Which dolls are haunted?

“The doll by the piano (pictured below) sometimes turns its head. Some visitors have also witnessed it. In my time here, I have seen shadows on the stairs and heard the giggles of children around the corner. Sometimes, the blankets are removed from the dolls. The spirits just want to see and play with them. They are fascinated by the dolls. The two main haunted areas of the building are by the outdoor chapel and the room with the fireplace. There is a lot of paranormal energy there. However, it does not feel malevolent. I do not sense any sort of danger or threat from the spirits. When we first moved in, a member of the clergy came and blessed the space.” 

6.) Can you please share some paranormal stories from within the museum? 

“The former owners have spoken about a teddy bear in the fireplace room that would sometimes appear on the opposite end, without being moved by a physical human. The owner’s wife had also mentioned hearing a malevolent voice telling her to “get out”, which caused her much distress. We have had dogs growl in our spooky room and one child even reported seeing a ghost.”

It was here Silvia told me about a tragic story from the past. In 1870, The Dillane family moved into the now Haunted Doll Museum. Seven years later, the patriarch – Thomas, passed away, along with his 11-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son. His wife, Anne, rebuilt the pub in 1889 but died soon after in the 1893 flood. Her remaining son, Michael, died the following year. One can surmise that the building is haunted by the spirits of the Dillane family. More than anything, Silvia believes it is important for their stories to be told and their former lives, remembered. She likes to leave flowers at their graves and honour their memories.

7.) Can you please tell the readers about your Ghost Tours?

“Our ghost tours are typically held monthly. I recommend booking as soon as possible via our Facebook page, as we sell out quite quickly and only host 12-13 ppl per session. We use paranormal investigator equipment and take our participants upstairs, as the building was a former hotel. There are plenty of activities to do. It’s exciting to witness the individual experiences from everybody. That is the best part! Our ghost tours are an interactive experience that start at 7:30pm and end at 10:00pm. You can also book a private ghost tour. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing, bringing a torch and most importantly, an open mind!” 

8.) Do you possess any clairvoyant abilities? 

“Yes. I believe I do. 25 years ago, I remember seeing my first full body apparition back home in Slovakia. In my former unit in the city, I saw an old man in vintage clothing with a moustache, walking into a garage next door. I didn’t tell anybody about him but after a series of strange occurrences, my neighbour confirmed the house was haunted and a man that fit that description had hung himself in that particular garage. When I’m in the company of spirits, I tend to get a sore throat or feel unwell. I would love to practice as a clairvoyant, but I do not believe in exploiting those who have passed and would never make up stories for money. It must be genuine, or I will not do it.”  

9.) Do you have any plans for new exhibits/upcoming events?

“As we unpack, new exhibits and attractions will become available to the public. It would be wonderful to host children’s tea-parties with their dolls and teddies in the garden. I am also offering a Reborn doll Making Course for beginners and intermediates. It will be a three-week course and we will supply all the materials to the participants. Unrelated to the Doll Museum, I am a professional certified massage therapist and reiki healer.”

10.) Do you agree that the town of Maryborough is haunted?

“Yes, the town of Maryborough is haunted. It is a very old town that holds a lot of energy.” 

Thank you so much for reading! Once again, I want to say a massive thank you to Silvia for allowing me to share her story and spend a wonderful afternoon at The Haunted Doll Museum. If you are in the area, PLEASE go and visit! It is well worth your time.

Stay tuned for my next post, where I will once again return to The Haunted Doll Museum, but this time…I’m going ghost hunting!

Peace & Love xoxo