Brisbane is home to some of the most unique urban exploration (urbex) sites in Australia, with abandoned hospitals, underground tunnels, forgotten factories, and decaying railway stations scattered throughout the city. These locations provide a mix of history, mystery, and eerie beauty, making them perfect for urban explorers. Here are the top 5 urbex locations in Brisbane worth discovering.
1. Wacol Mental Asylum (Wolston Park Hospital)
🏥 Wacol Mental Asylum, also known as Wolston Park Hospital, was one of Queensland’s largest psychiatric institutions. Abandoned sections of the site contain decaying hospital wards, long corridors with peeling paint, and empty treatment rooms, giving it a haunted and eerie atmosphere.
2. The Red Hill Skate Arena
⛸️ Originally a skating rink and entertainment venue, this abandoned building was damaged by fire in the early 2000s and has since been left in decay. The remains of the structure, covered in graffiti and surrounded by nature reclaiming the area, make it a fascinating urbex location with a mix of industrial and artistic decay.
3. The Abandoned Tennyson Power Station
🏭 The Tennyson Power Station was once an important industrial hub, but after its closure, it became a massive empty shell of rusting machinery, broken glass, and decaying infrastructure. The site has been partially demolished, but remnants of the old station still attract urban explorers.
4. The Brisbane Underground Tunnels
🚇 Beneath Brisbane, forgotten underground tunnels and drains create a hidden network that urban explorers find fascinating. These dark, damp passageways, originally built for drainage and transport, are now covered in graffiti, partially flooded, and filled with echoes of the past.
5. The Old Boggo Road Gaol
⛓️ One of the most infamous prisons in Queensland, Boggo Road Gaol housed some of Australia’s most dangerous criminals before closing down. While parts of it are open for tours, some areas remain untouched and abandoned, with empty cells, isolation chambers, and eerie walkways that tell stories of its dark past.
Conclusion
Brisbane’s urban exploration scene is full of abandoned asylums, ghostly prisons, forgotten tunnels, and industrial ruins waiting to be explored. Whether you're interested in haunted hospitals, burnt-out entertainment venues, or underground passageways, these locations offer an exciting glimpse into Brisbane’s hidden history. However, always prioritize safety and legality when visiting these sites.
