Duration:
1h30m
Small towns hold the biggest secrets, and Maitland, with its fair share of haunted streets nestled amongst its glorious old buildings, is no exception.
Operated By:
Take a Walk on the Dark Side.
Don’t be afraid to scratch beneath the surface of the sleepy town of Maitland and unveil its dark and twisted past…
- Enjoy a leisurely guided walking tour retracing the steps of the city’s most infamous crimes of yesteryear.
- Travel back to a tough world of brawlers, smoking guns and ladies of the night that has long since been forgotten.
- Relive a time that proves truth is far stranger than fiction as you explore Maitland’s murkiest moments.
- Great photo opportunities along the High St and the old forgotten laneways.
- Book your ticket now for a unique investigation into a dark and crime-ridden history.
Small towns hold the biggest secrets, and Maitland, with its fair share of haunted streets nestled amongst its glorious old buildings, is no exception.
Maitland is an old town with an incredible history full of True Crime stories that time insisted were lost to the dustbin of history…until now.
Meets at the seated area in front of the Maitland Train Station (Station Street side)
…stories the city tried to forget…
Find Us Online
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Find us for your Tour
Meets at the seated area in front of the Maitland Train Station (Station Street side). Please arrive 10-15 minutes before the scheduled start time of your tour, if at all possible.
Click here for directions.
Also Worth a Visit
I also recommend paying a visit to the National Trust Heritage Listed Grossman House whilst you are in the area. See attached flyer. Please check the website for opening times but generally they are open on the second Sunday of the month – from 10 am to 3 pm.
Brainteaser Questions
Let’s get you into the Maitlander spirit with a couple of local trivia questions :-)
Q1. In the great Maitland Bank Robbery of 1869, 1300 pounds went missing one cold, bleak October morning without anyone noticing. How much is that worth in today’s currency approximately?
a. $13,000
b. $100,000
c. $200,000
d. $425,000
Q2. In the year 1860, a world-renowned phrenologist came to Maitland with the sole intent to rob the graves of two recently executed prisoners for scientific study purposes. What is phrenology the study of?
a. The Skull
b. The Finger Bones
c. The Leg Bones
d. KFC Bones
See the base of this email for answers.
What’s Nearby
We also appreciate you may be wondering what to eat and drink both before and after your tour. You’ll likely be looking for a Bar? A Cafe? Or a Restaurant?
We’ve taken the liberty of listing a few places that we highly recommend. These are not only great options in their own right, but they are also very conveniently located close to the tour start and finishing points.
Bar Restaurants
At The Whistler, it’s all about quality. As the saying goes – “We’re here for a good time, not a long time.” Enjoy a showcase of the best food & booze this fine town has to offer, with over 16 quality craft beers on tap and a cocktail menu to rival any underground Melbourne hipster bar, you’ll be sure to find something here that tickles you right where it feels good. Find them here.
The Belmore Hotel – Great for visitors. For the Love of Beer! Over 40 Taps focusing on Craft Beer and a brand new restaurant menu with plenty of exciting new additions to go with their world-famous Belmore Schnitzels. Find them here.
The Grand Junction Hotel – or “The Junkyard” as it’s fondly referred to, is a haven for all members of the community both within Maitland & its surrounds. Located in the heart of Maitland, The Grand Junction Hotel is an iconic live music venue with cold beer, good food & friendly staff. Find them here.
Restaurants
Ometto Pizza Bar – Nestled amongst the heritage buildings of Central Maitland, Ometto Pizza Bar offers authentic handmade Italian wood-fired pizza and pasta. Find them here.
Coquun is a refined café, small bar, deli and bistro flavoured distinctly by the native food bowl. They’ve established a meeting ground for people to enjoy the Hunter Valley’s offerings by carefully selecting produce from local farms, wineries, breweries and distilleries. Find them here.
Getting Here by Public Transport
If arriving by Train; The Maitland Train Station will let you out right at the tour starting point.
If arriving by Bus; The Maitland Train Station Bus Stop will place you within 50 metres of the tour starting point.
Getting Here by Car
If arriving by car we recommend using the Maitland Train Station Carpark which provides free parking at night, in addition to placing you right at the tour starting point. It will be a 5-minute return walk from the tour finishing point back to the carpark. Find the carpark here.
Fitness Level
- The tour is approximately 2-3 km in length, taken at a very leisurely gentle walking pace with plenty of stops along the way.
- It usually takes 90-100 minutes on completely flat terrain (no hills).
Running Late?
- If for reasons beyond control you are running late, please contact us and provide an estimated time of arrival, and the tour host will be notified.
- If you are running more than 10 minutes late, as the tour will have already started, we will attempt to coordinate with you and the tour host for an alternative meeting point.
A1. The answer was c- $200,000.
It wasn’t until the afternoon that a teller discovered that the cash was missing from his drawer. In those days every banking officer was held personally responsible for the safety and completeness of the money. How would you feel if you went to work one morning and came home suddenly $200,000 in debt?
A2. The answer was a- The Skull.
More precisely it is a process that involves observing and/or feeling the skull to determine an individual’s psychological attributes. It was believed the conformation of the skull was indicative of mental faculties and traits of character. From a law enforcement perspective, it was hoped phrenology could be used to detect criminality in a human being. The phrenologist, Mr Hamilton, did not get the skulls he wanted, but he was able to obtain a cast of their heads. He would later go on to be present at the castings made of Ned Kelly, Australia’s most infamous bushranger.
See you soon :-)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Gift Card Purchases are subject to the following terms and conditions:-
– Gift cards can be redeemed for any product in any location.
– Gift cards are valid for 3 years from the date of purchase.
– Gift cards are non-refundable, but remain fully transferable.
Rain and Weather:-
– Dark Stories will contact you via SMS or Email on the day your tour runs if there are weather issues that are likely to impact the tour.
– Please be patient; inclement weather during the day often(but not always) leads to clear skies in the evenings.
– Tours will usually operate under most conditions including sporadic light rain.
– Dark Stories will be in touch as early as possible(at the latest 90 minutes prior to tour start times) if the tour is impacted in any way.
– Dark Stories reserves the right to make the final decision to proceed or cancel an event for rain impacted days/nights.
Minimum Attendance Clause
– Dark Stories requires a minimum number of participants to proceed. If this number is not met, the tour may be cancelled, and attendees will be offered the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.
General
– Please respect all other participants, and tour hosts. No rudeness or aggressive behaviour will be tolerated. Dark Stories reserves the right to remove any person/s from the tour who pose a danger to others or are disruptive to the tour.
– Dark Stories reserves the right to refuse entry and evict persons under the influence of drugs or alcohol who are disorderly or engage in inappropriate behaviour or vandalism.
– Rules are strictly enforced for the safety and enjoyment of all participants.
