Haunting Aradale: Pop Culture, Folklore, and Dark Tourism.

Dr. David Waldron

Associate Professor, Federation University, Melbourne, VIC.

First opened in 1867, the imposing Gothic structure of the former Ararat Lunatic Asylum, known as Aradale since the reforms of 1955, has loomed over the Victorian town of Ararat for more than 150 years. Over that time, it has borne witness to major shifts in psychiatric practice and broader societal attitudes toward mental illness, while also being the site of harrowing abuses and institutional scandals. Today, Aradale is popularly hailed as ‘Australia’s most haunted building,’ drawing thousands of visitors each year through a booming dark tourism trade. But beyond the ghost tours lies a contested heritage landscape, where folklore, pop culture, trauma, and memory intersect. In this talk, David Waldron draws on his book Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum to explore how this iconic institution became a site where history, folklore, and Popular culture entwine with Dark Tourism.

Two Short Lectures: Finding Meaning in the Strange: What Moderates the Relationship between Déjà Vu and Psychological Wellbeing?

& Ghost Sightings: A Comparison of Real and Imagined Reports of Apparitions.

Dr. Tony Jinks

Senior Lecturer, Discipline of Psychological Science, ACAP University College, Sydney, NSW

Déjà vu is common, but its negative effects are poorly understood. A study of Australian adults explored links between negative déjà vu, wellbeing, personality, and spirituality. Findings showed lower psychological wellbeing was tied to negative déjà vu. Openness had no impact, while strong theistic beliefs worsened outcomes, possibly due to existential tension. The study recommends therapy account for spiritual differences when addressing such experiences.

Apparitions are often seen as hallucinations, but this study compared real and imagined ghost reports. With no major differences found, results suggest cultural influences shape these experiences. Apparitions were typically human-like, semi-transparent, in white, and appeared in bedrooms during winter weekdays.

Exploring the Many Faces of Coincidence.

Dr. Laurence Browne

Historian, Philosopher, Author, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD.

Coincidences may seem on the surface to be all of one kind. This, unfortunately, has led to a tendency towards either/or explanations to account for them. For example, there are some who favour a statistical approach to coincidences and tend to analyse them using probability theory. In contrast, there are others who are particularly interested in the potential meaning to be found in coincidences and what this might imply for the nature of existence. The aim of this talk is to present a comprehensive and inclusive approach to coincidences that explores the different ways they can be understood.

Psychic Circuit Workshop: Next Generation Zener Cards.

Peter Kanellopoulus

Psychic Phenomena Enthusiast, Sydney, NSW.

Peter created Psychic Circuit as both a training ground and a global portal for intuitive development. In this presentation, Peter will give a live demonstration of Psychic Circuit, inviting audience participation to select targets and engage with the psychic process firsthand. Peter will also describe his synchronicities and a crop-circle experience in England.