ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sean Reynolds
Cultural Archaeologist, The Ghost Signs Guy
Sean Reynolds, the mad mind behind the hit Aussie-Instagram account, “Melbourne Ghost Signs”, didn’t set out to become a cultural archaeologist. His journey into Melbourne’s ghost signs and their hidden histories began as a lockdown project, navigating Melbourne’s tangled web of laneways and streets with his tiny toddler, Quinn, in tow, digging up the city’s buried stories through ghostly ads, weathered signs, and crumbling architecture.
It wasn’t long before his Instagram became a cult sensation, attracting tens of thousands of followers hungry for a taste of Melbourne’s gritty past. A book deal followed, along with speaking gigs where Sean spins wild tales of yesteryear, captivating crowds with his stories of long-forgotten ghost signs and the peculiar characters who once roamed the streets.
Ghost signs, forgotten stories, wild characters—collab with Sean for tales lurking behind the faded, peeling underbelly of Melbourne’s history. From walking tours, keynotes, and events, Sean brings the chaos, the grit and the glory of Victoria’s past with the kind of unhinged energy that history deserves. Book now—before the city swallows its secrets.
Podcasts, blogs, radio, television—an expert on ghost signs, forgotten businesses, and the rogue characters who built (and burned) Melbourne’s past, Sean brings Victoria’s history to life with sharp insights, deep research, and just enough madness to keep it interesting.
Spot a sign haunting your street? Maybe its one you’ve walked past a hundred times, or a fresh relic unearthed by time. Shoot Sean a message to uncover the story behind the faded paint. Let’s keep Melbourne’s history alive—one sign at a time.
The guy behind the ghost signs.
Sean grew up in the cornfields of the American Midwest—a place as devoid of culture and unremarkable as the mind of a corporate executive. Yet, even as a young man, Sean was fascinated by the stories lurking behind people, places, and objects. With the restless spirit of a nomad and a brain running on caffeine and ADHD, he escaped the dusty cornrows and landed in the rain-soaked city of Portland, Oregon. There, he produced mini-documentaries for the likes of Nike and Planned Parenthood.
But the siren call of the entertainment industry eventually pulled him to Los Angeles. Landing a gig at Warner Bros., he whipped up commercials for shows like Ellen and TMZ, snagging a couple of Emmy nods along the way.
In 2015, fed up with America’s increasingly deranged circus, Sean packed his bags and made a break for Melbourne. There, he masterminded marketing and media projects for EA Games, before unravelling histories, mysteries, and tales too strange to be fiction on the “Past Lives” podcast as the Marketing Officer at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria.
These days, you can find “that ghost sign guy” touring the city and suburbs presenting unearthed tales, taking unexpected groups on the occasional wild walking tour, and gearing up for more signs, stories and surprises than there are stoplights on Hoddle Street.
