The cursed Mushroom Tunnel of Picton

Redbank Range Railway Tunnel is located in the small town of Picton, in the Macarthur Region of New South Wales, in Australia. It has seen its share of suicide, murder and accidental death. Over the years residents and tourists all report seeing a white flowing figure of a woman.

When was Mushroom Tunnel built?

Commonly known as Picton Tunnel and Mushroom Tunnel, it was opened in February 1867. It was eventually closed to rail in 1919 when a new deviation line opened. It’s 180-metre (590 ft) long. Arms and ammunition were stored throughout its length, and at times, mustard gas tanks were also stored during World War II. Later it was used to commercially grow mushrooms.

Is Mushroom Tunnel open?

This disused railway tunnel, formally known as the Redbank Range Railway tunnel, is closed on weekends and public holiday and is now only open to public from 8am - 2pm, from Monday through Friday. Due to deterioration it’s now dangerous for visitors to walk through and can only be viewed from the outside to ensure visitors safety.

What is the story behind the mushroom tunnel in Picton?

Located between Picton Junction and Thirlmer, the road through the tunnel is unpaved. Remember to bring your camera. Buried deep in the hills behind Picton, the Redbank Tunnel was the first railway tunnel to be used by the NSW Railways. Experiencing some tragedies in its time, the tunnel is said to be cursed by a young woman by the name of Emily Bollard who was walking through Redbank Tunnel and she was hit by a train and killed in 1916. It also was a beacon for tragedy - with many local residents accidentally dying or taking their own lives within its stone walls. There are reports of lights floating above people’s heads, sudden drops in temperature, and ghostly children appearing out of the darkness in the tunnel.
Pic: Dion Clewett