Hi all!

In February, I outlined how my new project – A Haunted Guide to Maryborough – will work, so please check that out before continuing further. My first two posts were related to The Haunted Doll Museum in Maryborough, Queensland. You can read more about that here.

For my third post, I’m going to share my experience spending the night at The Criterion. This old, heritage-listed building, was erected in 1883 by the Cooper Brothers. Whilst it no longer functions as a working hotel, it still retains its rooms on the second and third floor. The first being a cafe and nightclub. Since its opening, it has been declared one of the most haunted hotels in Australia, with 27 reported deaths occurring within its walls. Needless to say, the establishment is rife with spiritual activity. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

On arrival, we put our sleeping gear inside the first floor of the hotel, then proceeded to go on a brief walking tour of Wharf Street. Our tour guides from Queensland’s Most Haunted shared ghost stories from around the area. We were also accompanied by two trained mediums. Back inside, we used recording devices to ask the spirits questions, plus spirit boxes to unearth any words they might have been using to communicate with us. It was very evident from the jump that The Criterion was charged with spiritual activity. I felt shaky, nauseous and faint the majority of the evening, especially once we began walking through the hotel rooms on the second floor. I must also confess, I witnessed things that couldn’t be explained via rational thinking.

We were given EMF Meter’s to hold as we traversed the dilapidated establishment. Provided our phones were set to flight mode, our devices wouldn’t interfere with our ghost-hunting gadgets. On the second floor, our group were standing in a hallway, when all of a sudden, a ball rolled out of a room with force. Upon inspection, nobody was in there. The mediums confirmed spirits of children roamed the hotel. We even heard childlike giggles and a few attendees saw small heads poking out from around the corners. There was such a playful element to the evening. The paranormal were there to amuse and be amused. At one point, we heard a voice, clear as day, rasp ‘yesssss’ in response to a question asked by the group. It was wild!

The most unsettling moment however, was when one of the mediums took me through the kitchens of the hotel in the pitch dark. We rounded the corner to a room with a looming figure/shadow sitting against the wall. She asked me if I could see it too. I nodded, unable to move. I felt genuinely afraid.

By 2am, the spiritual activity had begun to abate, so we set up our bedding around the nightclub area and turned the lights out. I was freezing and uncomfortable but thrilled to be spending the evening in such a haunted location. I felt comforted by the group surrounding me. My experience at The Criterion alone confirmed that Maryborough is a haunted town. I left by 6am, sleepy, but full of excitement and unforgettable memories.

Thank you so much for reading! Stay tuned, because next time, I will be going on a cemetery tour.

Peace & Love xoxo