Hotel Kurrajong — Prime Minister Ben Chifley's ghost haunts Canberra

The Hotel Kurrajong in the Australian capital of Canberra is said to be haunted by the ghost of former Prime Minister Ben Chifley, who died of a heart attack in Room 214 on June 13, 1951. Chifley, who served as Prime Minister from 1945 to 1949, was staying at the hotel — his regular accommodation when in Canberra — and was found dead in his bed by hotel staff. Since his death, guests and staff have reported unexplained phenomena in and around Room 214. The most commonly described experience is the smell of pipe tobacco — Chifley was a known pipe smoker — drifting through the corridor outside the room when no guests are smoking. Some guests have reported hearing the rustle of newspapers being turned in the room, lights flickering, and the sensation of someone sitting on the edge of the bed. Staff members have described feeling a strong but benevolent presence on the second floor, particularly near Room 214. The hotel, which was built in 1926, has undergone several renovations but retains its Art Deco character, and Room 214 has been preserved as a heritage room. Chifley's ghost is consistently described as a warm, unthreatening presence — befitting a man known for his modesty and dedication to public service.