The cursed Mushroom Tunnel in Picton

Redbank Range Railway Tunnel is located in the small town of Picton, in the Macarthur Region of New South Wales, in Australia. Picton Tunnel 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.

Commonly known as the “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 m 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. This disused railway tunnel is closed on weekends and public holiday and is now only open to public access between 10 and and 2pm Monday to Friday. 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.

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. 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.
Pic: Dion Clewett