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CultureQuiet 12d · day 12

Gladstone Gaol reopens after 4 years with ghost tours under new operator

South Australian prison landmark returns to public with Lantern Ghost Tours as licensee, planning café and accommodation.

newest coverage 12d agosummary written 11d ago3 pieces NewswiresMastodonGoogle News

What to know

  • Gladstone Gaol reopened this weekend after a four-year closure, with Lantern Ghost Tours operating sold-out ghost tours timed for Halloween.
  • The 145-year-old South Australian prison had been closed since 2022 when previous volunteer-dependent operators retired due to post-pandemic staffing shortages.
  • The community views the reopening as vital to regional tourism and heritage preservation, with a 2025 open day drawing 1,300 visitors proving sustained interest.
  • New operator plans to expand beyond tours with a café and accommodation; tours are already booked solid for Saturday nights going forward.

“It's been a long battle ever since then to keep it open and at least have it accessible to the public basically.”

Steve Schultz, Gladstone local and tour guide · ABC News ↗

Lantern Ghost Tours New operator and licenseeNaomi Bailey Project coordinator for Gladstone GaolDavid Catford President, Gladstone Community Development and Tourism AssociationSteve Schultz Gladstone local and tour guide

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in 3h at Oct 31, 10 PM; 3 pieces over 12 days (2 articles · 1 post) Oct 31, 10 PM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Google News 1, Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Nov 1, 1 AM — quietNov 1, 3 AM — quietNov 1, 6 AM — quietNov 1, 9 AM — quietNov 1, 12 PM — quietNov 1, 3 PM — quietNov 1, 6 PM — quietNov 1, 9 PM — quietNov 2, 12 AM — quietNov 2, 3 AM — quietNov 2, 6 AM — quietNov 2, 9 AM — quietNov 2, 12 PM — quietNov 2, 3 PM — quietNov 2, 6 PM — quietNov 2, 9 PM — quietNov 3, 12 AM — quietNov 3, 3 AM — quietNov 3, 6 AM — quietNov 3, 9 AM — quietNov 3, 12 PM — quietNov 3, 3 PM — quietNov 3, 6 PM — quietNov 3, 9 PM — quietNov 4, 12 AM — quietNov 4, 3 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 9 AM — quietNov 4, 12 PM — quietNov 4, 3 PM — quietNov 4, 6 PM — quietNov 4, 9 PM — quietNov 5, 12 AM — quietNov 5, 3 AM — quietNov 5, 6 AM — quietNov 5, 9 AM — quietNov 5, 12 PM — quietNov 5, 3 PM — quietNov 5, 6 PM — quietNov 5, 9 PM — quietNov 6, 12 AM — quietNov 6, 3 AM — quietNov 6, 6 AM — quietNov 6, 9 AM — quietNov 6, 12 PM — quietNov 6, 3 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 9 PM — quietNov 7, 12 AM — quietNov 7, 3 AM — quietNov 7, 6 AM — quietNov 7, 9 AM — quietNov 7, 12 PM — quietNov 7, 3 PM — quietNov 7, 6 PM — quietNov 7, 9 PM — quietNov 8, 12 AM — quietNov 8, 3 AM — quietNov 8, 6 AM — quietNov 8, 9 AM — quietNov 8, 12 PM — quietNov 8, 3 PM — quietNov 8, 6 PM — quietNov 8, 9 PM — quietNov 9, 12 AM — quietNov 9, 3 AM — quietNov 9, 6 AM — quietNov 9, 9 AM — quietNov 9, 12 PM — quietNov 9, 3 PM — quietNov 9, 6 PM — quietNov 9, 9 PM — quietNov 10, 12 AM — quietNov 10, 3 AM — quietNov 10, 6 AM — quietNov 10, 9 AM — quietNov 10, 12 PM — quietNov 10, 3 PM — quietNov 10, 6 PM — quietNov 10, 9 PM — quietNov 11, 12 AM — quietNov 11, 3 AM — quietNov 11, 6 AM — quietNov 11, 9 AM — quietNov 11, 12 PM — quietNov 11, 3 PM — quietNov 11, 6 PM — quietNov 11, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quiet 1
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  1. background

    Community welcomes reopening as boost to regional tourism — Local leaders and residents express strong approval. David Catford, president of the Gladstone Community Development and Tourism Association, noted the community realized what the closure meant. Visitors who had previous memories of the site as an events venue called its return 'awesome.'

  2. 1
    “The community really wanted to be here as well, they were showing it through booking of the tours, and the takeaway was the interest. We sold out.”
    — Naomi Bailey

    1. 2 outlets first by ABC Australia, 12d ago · also Australian Broadcasting Corporation · read ↗

  3. background

    One-off open day draws 1,300 visitors — A single public day proved strong remaining interest in the prison as a tourist destination, demonstrating community appetite for reopening.

  4. background

    Previous operators retire, closure begins — The caretakers who had been running the gaol hung up the keys, citing a downturn in volunteers after the COVID-19 pandemic. This left the historic site inaccessible to the public.

  5. background

    Gladstone Gaol permanently closes — The government closed the 94-year-old facility, which notably still lacked plumbing. The community immediately moved to preserve the site and its history.

  6. background

    Gladstone Gaol opens as new regional prison — Authorities established the prison on the cusp of the Southern Flinders Ranges and Mid-North regions to take pressure off jails at Port Augusta and Adelaide. The facility evolved over its operating years, serving as an all-gender prison, male-only facility, military prison during World War II, and later focused on inmate reintegration.