The Halloween season is a busy time for Peta Banks’ ghost tours business, where tourists and locals alike, flock to hear about ghostly sightings and strange phenomena.
Peta, owner of APPI Ghost Hunts and Tours says customer orders have increased by 20% during the Halloween period.
“I believe that people think that there is more of a connection to the afterlife during Halloween and that spirits make themselves known more,” she says.
“So people are keen to come along on a ghost tour to see if they can make any contact with a spirit.”
Peta started running her ghost tours seven years ago. Today she boasts ten locations across New South Wales.
The most popular location is the Parramatta Gaol, first opened almost 170 years ago. The jail is now owned by the Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Parramatta Gaol. Source: Supplied
“Getting access to Parramatta Gaol was not easy, it took me a year to get access to the jail and in that year, it involved a lot of phone calls, a lot of meetings and countless emails,” says Peta.
“Eventually the Council said yes, we signed a contract, and they love me.”
Despite the business’ popularity, Peta still works full-time and runs her ghost tours business on the side.
“The revenue is increasing every year, but I'm still not at a level where I can have it as a wage," she says.
“I am not registered for GST, so that's a good indication of my profit.”
Peta was raised as a strict Catholic by a superstitious Irish grandmother which influenced her love for ghost hunting.
Owner of APPI Ghost Hunts and Tours, Peta Banks (middle) with her grandmother (left). Source: Supplied
“(My grandmother) used to always tell me stories about the spirits who would visit her during the night."
And it was a fateful ghost tour trip organised by her sister in 2010 that got Peta hooked.
“I went and I loved it.
"That led me to do a little bit of investigating about where there were other ghost tours and what ghost hunting was,” she says.
“So I became a paranormal investigator, advancing people who had a like interest, and we started our own team.”
After being contacted by the Casula Powerhouse Art Centre about running tours, Peta leaped at the business opportunity and has not looked back.
“For me, it began as a hobby,” she says.
“It was just something that I would do with my friends on a weekend.”
“There was no way that I thought that this would actually become my life.
"What I hope is in store for me in the future, is exactly what I'm doing now just times ten, I would love to take this and make it global."
