Lantern Ghost Tours

Altona Homestead Investigation Friday 12th August

2011-08-21T23:58:00.000-07:00

We ran two investigations on the evening. One at 7pm with 3 guest investigators and one at 9.30pm with ten investigators. We recorded the entire evening and after reviewing all the data, have summarised it below. The evening was run by Jacqui from Lantern Ghost Tours and Andrew and Troy from Ghost Tech who joined both groups.

Overall we had a lot of activity. The intruder alarm armed itself three times and went off once with no explanation. Three EVP recorder batteries drained entirely then were full again after 2 hours without us charging them. The group sensed children all night. We saw a child in loungeroom, many of us felt a cold touch against our hands, fingers and legs. Sarah Langhorne came through the Ouija board, saying she is scared of her grandson starting with “T”. William Henry Croker kept telling the group to leave- and as he did so the intruder alarm went off. We heard noises from the cupboard in the bedroom and sent the little boy hiding inside it to the light. The dowsing rods were very active. An unidentified spirit was communicating through glasswork. Several people felt what they describe as a horse kick to their hips in the kitchen. Shereen and Nathan had personal messages from people they know come through.

We also caught some fantastic EVPs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MJhtRAtHNM

Thanks everyone for a fantastic and active evening, a full report of the evening is below.

Happy Haunting

Jacqui

7pm Investigation

3 Investigators + Andrew and Troy from Ghost Tech and Jacqui from Lantern Ghost Tours

Equipment

-Andrew’s camera battery drained (fully charged at start)

-Three EVP recorders drained (they then showed fully charged after 2 hours without us charging them)

-EMFs and K2 Meters unresponsive

-Dowsing rods active

-Ouija board active

-Black mirror unresponsive

-Mixed luck with pendulum

-Mixed luck with automatic writing

Dining Room
-EVP battery drained (back to full battery after 2 hours)
-Ouija Board had a personal message for Shereen. A relative with initials HM from a town with initials AM in Ireland. Female from Shereen’s mother’s side
-Spirit trying to stop the Ouija board, initials HC and WC kept cropping up. Believe it is William Henry Croker- owner of the Homestead in1900s. He kept telling us to go away.
-Felt movement in the room like children running past and playing hide and seek
-Felt cold, numb arm and hand like someone touching our hands

Kids Room
-All felt heaviness in legs
-Feeling of being pushed to the floor in a squatting position
-Felt the children spirits were trying to make us look under bed

Kitchen
-Tapping sounds from the fireplace
-A guest felt a kick to her hip like a horse kick
-Communicated via dowsing rods. This person was a maid who didn't die from the horse kick but from secondary infection
-She was a maid attached to the house
-Only small fluctuations in the EMFs

-Felt cold air moving past

9.30pm Investigation

10 investigators + Andrew and Troy- Ghost Tech, Jacqui- Lantern Ghost Tours

Dining Room

-Ouija board very active.

-Personal messages for Nathan came through. It was a young girl who seemed to just want to talk. She spelt ambulance several times.
-Sarah Langhorne came through. She was scared of her grandson whose name starts with "T'.
-The candle flickered when asked several times
-William Henry Croker took over the board several times and violently moved the planchette to GOODBYE over and over
-As the planchette was moving to GOODBYE, the intruder alarm armed itself three times and went off once though it was not active- this has never happened before
-Saw glimpses of a child moving around the Room
-Coldness in legs- little boy running around us

Kids Room
-Feeling of heaviness in legs

-Feeling of a child holding our hands

Kitchen
-Felt a strong kick to the left hip
-2 people felt cold going through them between the kitchen and loungeroom
-One person drew a sheep during the automatic writing
-The letter “S” appeared over and over in the automatic writing- we think its Sarah Langhorne

-Personal message for Nathan came through the rods

Bedroom
-Candles flickered when asked
-Dowsing rods very active- the boy said he misses his mum and that the furniture is not original to the building
-Little boy in the cupboard came through

-Sounds coming from the cupboard
-The little boy held several investigators’ hands and fingers
-Jacqui sent the boy to the light so he shouldn’t be there anymore
-Felt a lot of cold air and temperature fluctuations of 6c
-Felt cold going through our bodies

Loungeroom
-Glass went crazy

-The spirit was lying about its identity and was playing tricks on us.
-The glass moved very heavily and frantically side to side and tried to lift of the table.
-Felt this was not a good entity

Altona Homestead Investigation Friday 10th June 2011

2011-06-20T02:34:00.000-07:00

**Photo Copyright of Sean I.F.T.T

Thank you all for joining us on the Altona Homstead Investigation on Friday 10th June and thank you to those of you who have posted and emailed photos and findings through.

I am very excited to announce that based on our collective findings we have been able to make some positive identfications.

Team

A big thanks to our team:

Dean VPI
Sean and Peter I.F.T.T
Jason Independent
Alex Lantern Ghost Tours
Jacqui Lantern Ghost Tours
Andrew Lantern Ghost Tours
Kim Fawkes Medium

Findings

Kitchen

I had a look at the automatic writing- at first they looked like scrawl but I noticed two pieces of paper both with the letter "V" on the page
The butter churner sounded like someone was tapping it
We heard footsteps on both the left hand side and right hand side of the fireplace
Chair at the table moved on its own

FOLLOW UP:

We picked up that the "V" is linked to a male. Believe it could be Lloyd Vaughan (see "Bathroom findings")

Dining Room

Felt the presence of a domineering man walking around the room. Felt cold spots moving around.

Ouija board moved to "goodbye"- we sensed there was a very domineering man present. His wife was trying to communicate with us but he stopped her.

Ouija board spelt out 2,3,4- spirit did not confirm if this was an age, number of spirits or code. The group had a sense that it could be a confused 2 year old toddler.

Ouija board- a male's name starts with "H"

EMF's only responded once throughout the evening- at the end of the last ouija board session. The two EMFs were placed next to each other and both sets of lights lit up full several times then stopped.

Heard footsteps in corner- closest the bedroom

Saw a silhoutte in the corner- closest the bedroom

Sensed children

FOLLOW UP:

We reviewed the historical files and Sarah and Alfred Langhorne had a son- Henry August born here in 1842.**THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK WHICH LEAD TO THIS ID**
We made contact with Henry earlier this week and he confirmed he came through on the 10th June.
We don't know who the 2 year old was- could not make contact

Bedroom

Felt cold spots

Smelt a strong, floral perfume wafting in and out

Bed shook on its own when there was no movement in the room

Sensed children under the bed

The cupboard on the left hand side of the room creaked and we sensed someone was next to it

Saw the silhoutte of a person infront of the cupboard on the right hand side of the room

Footsteps heard around the mirror next to the bed

Uneasy feeling

FOLLOWUP:

We already know that a woman died in childbirth on the bed
We also know that a young boy haunts the cupboard on the far wall
Still trying to determine who the other children are

Loungeroom

Pendulum and dowsing rods were very active
High EMFs near the fireplace
There is a lady attached to the dresser- she says the dresser is from a house in Melbourne and she thinks she is still in Melbourne
Group picked up on the name "Katherine"
Heard footsteps in the loungeroom

FOLLOWUP:

Successfully made contact again with Katherine- believe the dresser is from a Victorian home in Carlton

Bathroom

Sensed that a man in his 50s died in the bathtub here of respiratory problems and jad a bath not long before he passed
One person felt breathing in their ear
Sense he is linked to the kitchen

FOLLOWUP:

Based on the "V" intial from the kichen and the description of a man in his 50s in the bathroom we trawled through death notices and a Lloyd Vaughan died here in 1928 aged 58. He is buried at Williamstown Cemetery **THANK YOU FOR EMAILING YOUR FINDINGS- THIS ONE IS A PERFECT MATCH**

Children's Bedroom

Group picked up that a 13 year old girl died here

FOLLUP:

We researched 13 year old girls who passed here- The Langhorne's had a daughter who died 13 years of age- born here 1848 **AGAIN THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS THAT HELPED IDENTIFY HER**

Other

Fully charged batteries on three cameras drained at the beginning of the night

Scaring up a good time in old haunts

2011-05-02T02:05:00.000-07:00

The Age
Sandy Guy
April 30, 2011

NELSON Place, the old centre of Williamstown, is home to stylish eateries that are a popular haunt of alfresco diners on balmy evenings. On a recent Saturday night I found myself in the dead centre of town — literally — in Williamstown's old morgue. It's anything but balmy inside the bluestone building, which dates from 1860, tucked away in a deserted street off Nelson Place.

"Before the morgue was built, corpses were wrapped in hessian sacks and hung in the cellars of Williamstown's many hotels," says Jacqui Travaglia from Lantern Ghost Tours.

Travaglia, a local, leads our group of 15 to Gem Pier, where the lights of the CBD make a dazzling backdrop as she relates tales of Williamstown's European history: how Melbourne's founder John Batman dropped anchor here in 1835 and called the site Port Harwood; how settlers waded ashore carrying sheep on their shoulders and how penal hulks bobbed in the waters offshore.

We walk to Point Gellibrand, where Victoria's first cemetery was established. Hundreds of seafarers, convicts and pioneers were buried in a patch of scrub near the bluestone Timeball Tower, built by convicts in 1849 as a lighthouse. Although later reburied at Williamstown's new cemetery, the site swirls with spectres, according to Travaglia (right).

A few weeks later I rejoin Lantern Ghost Tours, up a creaky flight of stairs to the second storey of Williamstown's Bayview Hotel for a haunted dinner. Once a bordello, today it's a sedate dining room that's part of Al Porto Vecchio Restaurant. The dining room is busy with more than 20 people, including Troy Williams from Victorian Phantom Hunters, Jan Evans from Australian Paranormal Investigations, medium Ama Nazra, and curious people like me.

"Hanna's here," says Nazra as we finish dinner.

Travaglia's research has revealed that Hanna ran the house of ill repute here in the 1900s.

Nazra points to a corner of a room where people head with electromagnetic frequency detectors. Red lights flash on the detectors as they near the corner of the room. Then stop when they retreat. Travaglia grabs some divining rods and asks "Hanna" questions. The rods move around in her hands — yet she doesn't move a muscle.

Two-hour Lantern Ghost Tours of Williamstown are $25 adults, $15 children, $60 family of four, phone 8340 0428, see lanternghosttours.com.

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Geisterstunde in Williamstown: Melbournes Geschichte wird lebendig

2010-10-21T22:06:00.000-07:00

Geschrieben von: Jana Doebler

Sicherlich hat jeder von uns eine andere Meinung über Geister und andere paranormale Phänomene. Fest steht: Ob wegen des Gruselfaktors, dem Interesse an Melbournes Geschichte oder weil Sie Ihr professionelles Geister-Aufspür-Gerät ausprobieren möchten, bei einer Lantern Ghosttour durch Williamstown, an der man auch während der DiM-"Christmas in July"-Party am Samstag, 17. Juli, teilnehmen kann, ist garantiert für jeden etwas dabei!

Jana Doebler testete mutig für alle Deutsche in Melbourne-Leser die Führung, die von Jacqueline Travaglia ins Leben gerufen wurde. Warum unsere geister-skeptische DiM-Praktikantin am Ende doch leicht verblüfft nach Hause fuhr, erfahren Sie hier...

Vollmond - und die Möwen kreischen

Die Kieselsteine knirschen unter unseren Füßen. Wie bestellt erleuchtet der runde Vollmond ereignisschwanger die kalte Nacht am Nelson Place in Williamstown. Stimmen schallen aus den Restaurants und Bars zu uns herüber. Samstag abends finden sich etliche Touristen und Einheimische in dem attraktiven, am Meer gelegenen Melbourner Stadtteil ein, um auszugehen.

Plötzlich ist es für einen Moment ganz still. Das Horn eines Dampfers dringt zu uns vor. Nur noch das Kreischen der Möwen ist zu hören. Wie aus dem Nichts erscheint plötzlich Pauline Snell vor unseren Augen und wünscht uns einen guten Abend. Sie ist heute unser Stadtführerin. Die Ghosttour durch Williamstowns historische "hidden lanes and haunted houses" beginnt...

"Anything can happen on this tour!"

Pauline trägt ein langes, dunkles Samtkleid und ein großes, blaues Schultertuch. In ihrem dichten, dunklen, nach hinten gestecktem Haar schlagen kleine Plastik-Schmetterlinge ihre Flügel im Wind. Mit ihrem großen Flechtkorb, dessen Inhalt auch nach der Tour für uns geheim bleibt, sowie ihrem altmodischen Regenschirm wirkt die quirlige Australierin, als sei sie eben aus einem früheren Jahrhundert entsprungen, auf dem Weg, eine Freundin zu besuchen.

„Anything can happen on this tour! "sagt sie geheimnisvoll. Anscheinend wollen sich heute Nacht mehr Frauen als Männer gruseln: 14 sind erschienen, nur ein Mann. Einige der Teilnehmerinnen sind "locals", wohnen seit Jahren in Williamstown. Andere sind extra aus Werribee und Hoppers Crossing angereist, weil Freunde ihnen die Tour empfohlen haben.

Die Neugier auf das, was uns erwartet, ist uns ins Gesicht geschrieben. Aber auch die Skepsis ist einigen anzusehen. Es wird lachend in das Ohr der Nachbarin geflüstert und mit dem Kopf geschüttelt. Andere sind fasziniert, machen ihre Videokamera startklar und nicken Pauline bejahend zu.

Schutz vor Geistern: Einhüllen in weisses Licht

Doch bevor wir mit unserem Geister-Spaziergang beginnen, sollen wir uns vorstellen, dass wir uns einhüllen in weißes Licht, damit uns die Geister, denen wir auf unserem abendlichen Spaziergang durch die Stadt König Williams begegnen werden, nichts anhaben können. Geister, so belehrt uns Pauline, sind auf der Suche nach Energie, möchten sie uns Lebenden aus dem Körper ziehen und fühlen sich darum vor allem zu jungen Menschen hingezogen, die bekanntlich besonders viel davon haben. Paulines Lichtkreis soll uns davor schützen. Wie beruhigend!

Gleichzeitig lernen wir die unterschiedlichen Geisterarten kennen und werden mit Geisterjargon vertraut gemacht. "Apparations" beispielsweise entstünden, wenn Geister sich selbst manifestieren, also sichtbar machen. Das Ergebnis: Man sieht sie als Silhouette oder Schatten.

Von "Orbs" und "Apparitions"
Sei hingegen von "Orbs" die Rede, gehe es um Geister, die versuchen, sich zu manifestieren, aber anscheinend nicht ganz erfolgreich dabei sind: Man fühlt sie eher oder meint sie wahrzunehmen, in einer Form aus Regentropfen oder Staubpartikeln. Geister ließen sich auch unterscheiden in solche, die gewaltsam aus dem Leben gerissen wurden und sich ihrer "unlebendigen" Situation nicht bewusst sind sowie Geister, die zufällig in ihr Geistdasein gekommen seien und nicht wissen, wo sie sich befinden und einen verwirrten Eindruck machen, wenn man sie trifft.

Der Geist des schottischen Doktors Edward Figg
Beschwingt schreitet Pauline voran. Wir folgen - nicht ganz so beschwingt. An einem imposanten Gebäude aus dem Jahr 1850 direkt am Nelson Place bleiben wir stehen. Pauline spricht plötzlich im schönsten schottischen Akzent. Wie gebannt starren wir auf das alte Haus mit der Nummer 231, hinter dessen Mauern einst Dr. Edward Garland Figg lebte und arbeite. Keiner kichert mehr. Die Geschichte des ehemaligen Health Officer and Port Doctors von Williamstown hat unsere ungeteilte Aufmerksamkeit.

Dr Figg soll ein großer, stattlicher Mann gewesen sein, lässt uns Pauline wissen, und fortschrittlich: Zu der Zeit, als er in Williamstown praktizierte, habe Figg wesentlich dazu beigetragen, das Ausbreiten von Krankheiten zu reduzieren. Williamstown und der Staat Victoria verdanken Figg übrigens auch die erste "Morgue", das erste Leichenhaus, in der Nähe des Titanic-Gebäudes, das wir später noch bestaunen. Leichen mussten nun nicht mehr in Kellern von Pubs oder auf grüner Wiese gehortet werden, sondern es gab nun ein eigens für sie reserviertes Gebäude.

Dank Dr. Figg Chloroform als Betäubungsmittel

Figg soll es auch gewesen sein, der die betäubende Wirkung von Chloroform in Australien bekannt machte. Noch ungeübt in der Chloroform-Dosierung experimentierte Figg vor allem an jungen Frauen, heißt es. Leider gingen seine Bemühungen oft gründlich schief. Fast 100 Patienten, so hören wir, starben an den Folgen einer Überdosierung.

In der Residenz, in welcher so viele Menschen ihr Leben ließen und die heute ein normales Wohnhaus mit einem kleinen Geschäft im Untergeschoss ist, soll es spuken. Wenn wundert's! Manchmal würden sich menschliche Umrisse an den Fenstern zeigen. „Die Geister wissen, dass wir da sind. Sie beobachten uns!" meint Pauline mystisch, die selbst schon Zeugin recht ungewöhnlicher, unerklärlicher Erlebnisse war, und manch einer schaut verstohlen um sich.

"It is amazing just how haunted Williamstown is!"
Jacqueline Travaglia (Foto) hat die Ghosttour durch Williamstown, der Stadt, die nach King William benannt ist, ins Leben gerufen. "I have always been fascinated with all things paranormal since growing up in a haunted house in Williamstown," sagt sie und gesteht: "I used to spend all my free time chasing ghosts staying in haunted houses and going on ghost tours around the world." 2004 entschloss sie sich nach einem längeren Aufenthalt in England in ihre alte Heimat zurückzukehren und hier ihr Hobby zum Beruf zu machen.

Sie startete ihr Unternehmen "Lantern Ghost Tours" und führt seitdem mit ihren Angestellten Touristen aus Nah und Fern, Geisterbegeistere und sogenannte "Medien", die in direktem Kontakt mit Geistern stehen, sowie Geisterforscher weltweit durch Williamstowns Strassen, deren Geschichte sie akribisch recherchiert hat. „It is amazing just how haunted Williamstown is!" schwärmt Jacqui.

Hufgeklappere und Hühnergegackere

In der Tat hat Williamstown, einer der ältesten Stadtteile Melbournes, in dem sich 1835 die ersten westlichen Bewohner ansiedelten, einiges an Geschichte und Geschichten zu bieten. Pauline führt uns vorbei an historischen Gebäuden, die meisten aus dem 19. Jahrundert, und macht es uns leicht, die Historie zu verstehen. Mit viel Witz und Charme, gekoppelt mit unterschiedlichen Stimmlagen und Akzenten, schafft sie es immer wieder, uns in die Vergangenheit zu katapultieren. Wir meinen, das Knarren und Hufgeklappere alter Pferdekutschen zu hören, das Gegacker von Hühner, die hier einst in Hintergärten gehalten wurden, das Weinen von Babys.

Winkel von Williamstown, die selbst Einheimische nicht kennen
Dabei lernen wir nicht nur geheime Winkel und Nischen des Melbourner Stadtteils am Meer kennen, die noch nicht mal Einheimische kennen, sondern erfahren auch eine Menge über die interessante, teilweise grausame Geschichte der Stadt. Schlägereien mit Todesfolge standen auf der Tagesordnung, ebenso Armut, Krankheit, Dreck, Prostitution, Gewalt, Alkohohl-, Spiel- und Drogensucht. Vor allem Opium stand hoch im Kurs während des Goldrauschs.

Das Beweisfoto: Geist oder Lichtreflex?
Vorbei an dem Gebäude, in dem heute das Titanic-Theater seinen Platz hat, sollen wir in ein dunkles, enges und angeblich mit einem Fluch belegtes Gässlein abbiegen. Laut Pauline werden wir uns zurück in eine entfernte Zeit versetzt fühlen, die Temperatur würde sich ändern und die eigene Stimme ebenfalls. Frühere Teilnehmer hätten gefühlt, wie jemand oder etwas mit den Fingern durch ihr Haar strich, andere auch einen Atemhauch im Nacken.

Der Weg ist matschig und dunkel, nur der Vollmond leuchtet uns den Weg. Fotos werden geschossen. Auf einmal ein lauter Schrei! Ein Geschwisterpaar wirbelt aufgeregt die Kamera durch die Luft. Genau dort, wo sich die sogenannten Lavender Ladies, zwei "ladies of the night", auf gut Deutsch "leichte Mädchen", aus dem Fenster gestürtzt haben sollen, haben die beiden Frauen es geschossen: Das Foto, auf dem der weiße, verwischte Nebelstreifen zu sehen ist! Das muss ihr Geist sein! Wir drängen uns um die zwei Schwestern, die selbst in Willliamstown leben, staunen und machen Fotos vom Foto.

Der Geist des jungen Bauer
Eines der geistermäßig interessantesten Häuser ist das ehemalige Fünf-Sterne-Royal-Hotel aus dem Jahre 1852. Im obersten Stock hätten sich Konferenzräume befunden, in denen gelegentlich Glücksspiele stattfanden, berichtet Pauline. Genau bei diesen verlor ein junger Bauer nicht nur seinen Hof, sondern verwettete zu allem Übel noch dazu seine ganze Familie, die eigene Frau samt der Kinder.

Ein Sprung vom Dach des Hotels sollte seinen Qualen ein Ende setzen. Doch, so haben Geisterexperten festgestellt, der Geist des jungen Bauers findet keine Erlösung und soll noch immer vom Dach des Hotels springen, unaufhörlich, wieder und wieder und wieder. "Residual Haunting" sei der Fachbegriff, lernen wir, als wir uns einem der Wahrzeichen Williamstown nähern, dem Timeball Tower.

Plötzlich funktioniert der Fotoapparat nicht mehr
Gespenstisch erhebt sich der alte, gemauerte Turm, ehemaliger Wegweiser für Seemänner, die in den Melbourner Hafen steuerten. Einige von uns zucken leicht zusammen. Eine dunkle Gestalt scheint dort zu sitzen und bewegt sich nicht. Es ist stockdunkel, nur der Turm wird gespenstisch angestrahlt.„Um die Uhrzeit? Wer ist das?" murmelt es in der Gruppe. Bei genauerem Betrachten entpuppt sich die dunkle Gestalt dann doch als großer Anker, der vom Mondlicht angestrahlt wird.

Pauline weiß, dass der einsam gelegene Timeball Tower ein begehrtes Fotomotiv ist und hält einen kleinen Rat bereit: Wir müssten uns keine Sorgen machen, sollten unsere Kameras und Mobiltelefone hier nicht funktionieren. Sie verspreche, dass diese später wieder normal zu benutzen sein würden. Unbeeindruckt wollen wir ein Bild des Turms schießen. Uns kann so was nicht passieren! Ein Klick und ... Nichts tut sich. Die Kamera versagt uns ihren Dienst. Verdutzt schauen wir zu Pauline. "I told you so," meint Pauline und lächelt lieb.

Zurück in der Nähe des Nelsons Place entlässt uns Pauline nach Hause. Zuvor lässt sie uns noch einen Kreis formen und uns verabschieden von unseren Ghosttour-Bekannten und allen Geistern, denen wir begegnet oder nicht begegnet sind.

Noch immer sind die Restaurants und Pubs am Nelson Place brummend voll. Die Möwen sind schlafen gegangen, dafür die Possums im Park erwacht. Noch rasch ein Erinnerungsfoto, dann geht´s ab nach Hause. Übrigens funktionierte die Kamera später wieder einwandfrei, ganz so, wie es Pauline vorhergesagt hatte!

Geisterspaziergang zum Deutsche in Melbourne-Spezial Party-Preis

DiM-Fazit: Man mag an Häuser, in denen es spukt, Geister und übersinnliche Aktivitäten glauben oder nicht, interessant und unterhaltsam sind die Lantern Ghost Tours von Jacqueline Travaglia und ihrem Team auf alle Fälle. Auf unserer Tour haben wir längst nicht alles gesehen, was Williamstown und Latern Ghost Tours, die verschiedene Führungen im Programm haben, zu bieten haben. Unbedingt empfehlenswert!

Übrigens: Latern Ghost Tours bietet Gästen, die an unserer Deutsche in Melbourne "Christmas in July"-Party am Samstag, 17.Juli in der Pirates Tavern in Williamstown teilnehmen, eine spezielle Führung für einen Spezialpreis von $16.50 anstelle von $ 25 an. Jeder Abenteuerlustige kann sich jetzt gleich unter www.deutscheinmelbourne.net dafür anmelden. Für Kinder unter zwölf Jahren ist die Tour allerdings nicht geeignet!

Nähere Informationen zu Latern Ghost Tours gibt es auf http://www.lanternghosttours.com

http://www.deutscheinmelbourne.net/melbourne-entdecken/melbourne-sehenswertes/320-ghost-tour-williamstown.html

Williamstown font of wisdom

2010-10-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

WHEN the Reverend George Wilkinson preached against the demon drink to the carousing locals of Williamstown, he would not have imagined that his key weapon would become a historic treasure.

The fountain at Nelson Place, outside the Hobsons Bay Visitor Information Centre, is a testament to the Anglican preacher’s 19th century campaign to convert the hard-drinking residents from wine to water.

The gothic fountain was shipped from Scotland in 1876 and has the inscription, “Keep the pavements dry”.

According to Jacqui Travaglia, a guide taking people on historic tours of Williamstown, the area was thick with men attracted to the gold diggings and sly grog dens were rife.

“He died before his dream of converting people to drinking water was realised,” she says.

The fountain is just one of the highlights of the twice-weekly tours, held on Fridays and Sundays until November from the information centre in Commonwealth Reserve. Cost: $8/$6.

For more information and bookings, phone 9932 4310.

http://hobsons-bay-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/williamstown-font-of-wisdom/
Hobsons Bay Leader Local News25 Sep 09 @ 12:50pm by Sasha Shtargot

Altona Investigation

2010-09-30T22:19:00.000-07:00

Activity Report : Altona Homestead
Friday, 24 September, 2010
Weather : Cool, slightly hazy, light breeze
Outside Temperature : 7.3 deg C (8pm)
Inside Temperature : see below
Moon Phase : Full Moon

7.30pm – Team arrived at the Homestead to set up equipment
8.30pm – Donna Abrahams, psychic medium arrives.
Activity Log
Donna’s initial impressions of the house was that someone came with her by the name of Glen. She felt the house did not have any earthbound/grounded spirits, but certainly did have free/ungrounded entities present. She felt happiness but also a lot of death - by natural causes. She did not feel anything untoward like murder had occurred here. In all, she felt it was a very peaceful, calm house.

Sitting Room Avg EMF : 0 m/G Avg Temp @ 8pm : 13.5 deg C
One guest in this room became upset, so much so that she had to leave the room.
It was also noted that the mandolin played, with no-one near it.
One group reported a torch falling off a small table near the window. The guest deliberately placed it close to the centre to avoid falling. Tests to try and recreate this were not very successful though the table is slightly unstable.
Whilst in this room, Donna picked up on a strong energy, enough to make her dizzy. In all, she found it a peaceful room. The presence of an elderly lady told of her love of the room as you could see the garden through the window.
One guest, Linda, reported strange stomach sensations (hopefully not as a result of dinner!) and various guests reported experience fluctuating temperatures and the investigator felt a blast of air in her face.

Dining Room Avg EMF : 0.3 m/G Avg Temp @ 8pm : 14.6 deg C
The names James, John and Sarah were picked up in this room.
Details from Sarah came up such as the family having a little brown and white dog, she loved fashion and shoes in the 1850’s and going to the opera, the smell of jasmine or rose perfume, she had red/brown hair and fair skin. She had a white bonnet with pink flowers. She apparently loved the dining room best as it caught the sun during the day.
The names Peg or Meg/Margaret came up, as well as the names Eric, Tom and Louis.
A guest, Bernadette, picked up that there had been a fire. She felt her skin burning.
Cold spots were felt under the table and several people reported feeling sick and a tingling on their legs. A guest, Leah, picked up on the name John (middle name ?) and whilst using glass divination, the glass moved towards a guest, Janice.

Kitchen Avg EMF : 0.5 m/G Avg Temp @ 8pm : 13 deg C
Several names came up during the night – either through guests or via Donna Abrahams, our psychic medium.
It was reported that a female named Sarah – possibly a maid - was heard asking “What are you doing here?”.
It was felt that an aboriginal was hired to work on the property and the names Peter, Bill/Billy and Sam came through.
The name John was also brought forward, and it was picked up that he was a shearer and overseer of the property. His daughter Jane was also picked up. John was described as wearing overalls with a tight grey top, he had a potbelly, a beard, blue eyes and a ruddy complexion.
The names Daisy and Mary were also brought forward, Mary being 13 and having died of typhoid fever.
One guest, Bernadette, was drawn to a particular chair and to the fireplace. Whilst using the dowsing rods, Leah had them spin on request and felt pins and needles in her hands. There was also the feeling of a presence lingering behind her.

Bedroom 1 (master) Avg EMF : 0.2 m/G Avg Temp @ 8pm : 12 deg C
Donna felt a spirit, that of Sarah Langhorne, moving around in this room. She felt a lot of love but also became hot and dizzy. She also felt the presence of a small boy and girl.
One investigator felt a cold spot near the dressing table, temperature registered 13.7 deg C, 1 degree cooler than was measured earlier in the vigil.
One vigil claimed they felt the bed move, though it is noted that he bed does tremble with the slightest movement of anyone sitting there.

Bedroom 2 Avg EMF : 0 m/G Avg Temp @ 8pm : 13 deg C
Two guests in here reported a very peaceful feeling and quite comfortable

Bathroom Avg EMF : 0 m/G Avg Temp @ 8pm : 13.6 deg C

Remainder of House
Foyer Avg EMF : 0.3 m/G Avg Temp @ 8pm : 15.9 deg C
Whilst setting up, before the evening had even begun, one investigator reported that a book that had been standing up on a table had fallen off. No one was moving in the room at the time though the table wasn’t very steady. Several attempts to try to get the book to fall by walking past the table or slightly knocking it proved fruitless.

Ghost of the west

2010-09-29T19:53:00.001-07:00

I’m about to join a ghost tour and a black cat has just crossed my path. Should I be worried?
“Now my loves,” says our guide Pauline in a broad Somerset accent, “up there is where a famous opera singer of the 1850s shot himself after losing his voice.”
Dressed in a long black shirt and shawl, lustrous dark hair in ringlets and carrying a wicker basket, Pauline is the epitome of 1800s barrow-girl chic and you can almost hear the clip-clop of horse’s hooves as she speaks.
All of a sudden though, she’s become the daughter of an Irish potato farmer with a perfect sing-song lilt as she uses her voice talents to explain the mix of races that made up the early years of the area.
Melissa and I have tagged along with a group of accountants on an end-of-financial-year piss up for a spooky Lantern Ghost Tour around Williamstown.
And even if you’re a sceptic like me you’ll find this whimsical walk fascinating… and not just for the secret alleys and hidden-away pubs that you’ll discover!
We start at the Steampacket Hotel and as we move on down the street Pauline paints a colourful image of Williamstown’s past, starting with the little backstreet that runs along a ley line. Best described as the lines between ancient sites where paranormal activity is often witnessed, the muddy alley seems an unlikely spot for ghosts to be hanging out, but Pauline assures us photographers usually pick up orbs — or balls of energy believed to be spirits — on their pictures.
Pretty soon though, after exploring the narrow back streets we find ourselves on the main restaurant strip of Williamstown blinking at the suddenly bright lights, looking at the turrets of a “love castle” above a Greek eatery.
“One man was so in love with his wife that he built her a castle; they had a death pact that they would die in each other’s arms,” says Pauline. “Tragically, she broke her neck when horse riding, but she’s often still seen framed in the upstairs window looking sadly out to the street.”
Eagerly, Melissa and I snap away as we pass more allegedly haunted properties, including one whose past occupants were involved in the occult, before trekking through a large boat shed to a real-life pirate’s lair.
This tucked-away pub on the Williamstown Pier is packed with yachty-type revellers enjoying a funky little two-man band — drinks are ordered and any chills up the spine are forgotten as we rest our legs.
But Pauline still has creepy up her sleeve; our next stop is ye olde Williamstown Morgue, a small but imposing bluestone structure where the ghosts of women and children in particular are said to dwell.
“Is anyone brave enough to knock on the door my loves?” Pauline shouts to the chattering group. “Remember that whoever is in there sometimes knocks back.”
I have to admit to a sense of foreboding as one of the brave accountants — egged on by his brave-sounding, but nervously giggling, colleagues — walks forward and boldly thumps
three times.
We wait with baited breath… but nothing happens. Still I’m keen to get out of there.
Our final stop is the lovely old Stags Head Hotel where the ghosts of a former publican, his wife and son are said to stomp across the floor above the dining room.
Having jumped to their deaths after financial ruin many years ago, the ethereal trio still like to play with the living enjoying a drink or two in the bar.
And while this sceptic didn’t have her mind changed about the presence of paranormal activity, I thoroughly enjoyed our very civilised and intriguing tour.
http://www.theauzone.com.au/personal/features/536-ghost-of-the-west.html

Paranormal Investigation Williamstown 1st August 2010

2010-08-01T20:09:00.000-07:00

C Blunt Boatbuilder, Williamstown
Date: Sunday 1st August
Time: 7.45pm to 8.20pm
Weather: Rain, cold, dark
Sense approximately 8 spirits present:

1. ‘Arthur’
• White beard
• Walking up and down the shed
• A few of us felt as though he was walking through us

2. The man in the third photo in the office:
• He was wondering what we were doing there
• He doesn’t believe in ghosts

3. George
• In his early 50s
• Linked to a fire at Liston Tennis Courts- feel there used to be sheds there
that burnt down

4. Michael Raymond Starch
• 28 years old
• Came in through the back door from the pier

5. 14 year old called Ruben

6. Children
• Kim saw small people- children in the shed. Believe they came in with him.

7. Other workers- going about their normal business
• Men are all working, not minding us being there and not trying to interact
Layout
• Used to be a door on the left hand side wall
• Used to be a verandah extension on the right hand side wall with door
• Used to a large hand wench/crank on the verandah

Middle of the shed
• The strongest activity of the night occurred in the middle of the shed.
• Most of the group sensed a presence in the same spot- middle of the room
between the saw and boat
• Very cold spot to stand on despite the temperature gauge indicating that it
was warmer than the rest of the room
• Ama and Kim were drawn to the middle of the room where Kim became nauseous
and entered a trance like state.

Other
• Sense barrel making and barrels being rolled across the ground
• Someone hanged themselves at the front, felt the need to look up
• Each time we asked for a ‘sign’ the rain became louder (not it was a rainy,
blustery night)

Kuala Lumpur Coffin Exhibition

2010-07-28T18:50:00.000-07:00

This is the first coffin exhibition I have attended and it was well worth the trip to Malaysia. Nestled in the National Museum the exhibition displayed over 39 'coffins' from Malaysia, Thailand, Borneo, India and the Philippines. There were also displays on burial traditions and rituals.

Any burial box can be referred to as a coffin, which means 'basket'. However many refer to a casket(coined from a the term used for a jewlery box) as having four sides and a coffin as having six sides.

Highlights of the coffin exhibition included a 14-karat gold plated Chinese coffin valued at $AUD 200,000 on loan from the Nirvana Memorial Park. The coffin was not dissimilar to the Carl Williams coffin posted over front pages of Australian newspapers in April.

Other highlights included a series of animal shaped coffins from Borneo. Shapes included full scale buffaloes and crocodiles. The buffalo head is symbolic of bearing burdens of the dead, assisting with the passage to the afterlife. Animal shaped coffins house the body of a man, if the cover has no particular shape, then the coffin houses the body of a woman.

Log coffins from Thailand and parts of Malaysia were also on display and typically stood in cliffs such as Coffin Cave.

Jar coffins and tree coffins were on display from indigenous tribes in Peninsular and East Malaysia.

The Rattan Chair coffin was also interesting, bodies would be seated on the chair and exposed to the elements until they rotted and then could easily be shoved into pottery urns.

Malaysia and surrounding regions are rich in archaelogical finds with the earliest evidence of human occupation in Sarawak an 38,000-year-old skull from the Niah Caves.

Friday 13th, the luckiest day of the year???

2010-07-28T18:36:00.000-07:00

Do you suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia, or fear of Friday 13th? The Chinese believe it to be a lucky number, considered to bring good fortune but airlines such as Continental, Air France and KLM don’t share in this belief, often jumping rows from 12 to 14. Hotels and hospitals are superstitious, too. Around the world entire floors and wards skip 13 and many also don’t have a 4th floor. Some have removed room numbers like 666.

In numerology 12 is considered a complete number as reflected by 12 months of the year, Jesus’ 12 apostles, 12 hours of the clock, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 tribes of Israel but the number thirteen has always had superstitious connotations due to its irregularity.

13 has often had negative connotations. Judas was the 13th apostle and in ancient Rome, witches gathered in groups of 12. The 13th was believed to be the devil.

Why Friday?

Friday has been considered an unlucky day since the 14th century's The Canterbury Tales, Jesus was crucified on a Friday and there was a mass arrest of all the Knights Templar in France on Friday, October 13, 1307. Some believe Eve tempted Adam with the forbidden fruit on Friday while others believe Abel was slain by Cain on Friday the 13th.

It’s not all negative press for the number 13 though

In Hinduism a feast is organised on the thirteenth day of death for the peace of the departed soul. In Judaism, 13 signifies the age at which a boy matures and there are 13 players in a rugby league team. But in Formula One, no driver has had the number 13 on his car since 1976.

Living in a Williamstown ghost town

2010-07-26T23:19:00.000-07:00

BY GOYA BENNETT
21 Jul, 2010 12:00 AM
AFTER dark, a whole other world emerges in Williamstown. Fresh from visiting a coffin exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Jacqueline Travaglia of Lantern Ghost Tours is back at her favourite haunts.

Last week, the 'ghost host' gave the Williamstown Advertiser a personal tour of the town's most paranormal places. We met outside the Visitor Information Centre at Commonwealth Reserve.

Ms Travaglia said the lush parkland was a far cry from what it was in the 1850s. Back then, it was swampland filled with trash, mud, rotting meat and offcuts ... sometimes rumoured to be of the human variety.

Ms Travaglia reveals that keepers of the morgue, which still stands today, would also drain blood and empty bodies into the swamp.

We head to Blunt's Boat Builders in Nelson Place which has been in the Blunt family for 150 years. Immediately, strange phenomena start to occur. The Advertiser's photographic equipment is seemingly gripped by an unseen force and tossed into the sea. Could it be the blustery wind or the ghost of founder Arthur Blunt?

Next door, the Australian Navy cadets are convinced they had an encounter with Mr Blunt.

"The sea cadets contacted us to say they had a seance about a year ago," Ms Travaglia said.

"Apparently, they had the glass jar upside down. They were contacting the spirits and all of a sudden the jar went flying across the table.

"They saw a dark silhouette move across the wall and they all screamed and got on their i-Phones and Blackberries and Blueberries and all that and called their parents to pick them up."

She believes it was Mr Blunt telling them to go to bed and behave themselves.

Across the road lies a building that was once a notorious doctor's surgery. Dr Edward Garland Figg was the health officer and port doctor in Williamstown and employed an early form of anaesthetic known as chloroform.

Unfortunately, the good doctor didn't always get the dosage right. "One of his first patients to use it was a young woman. She went in and said, 'I need some stitches in my hand'," Ms Travaglia said. "Edward said, 'No problem, would you like some opium, alcohol or chloroform?' And she said, 'I'll have the chloroform, thank you very much'.

"So she sniffed the handkerchief, fell asleep and he repaired her hand. Problem was, she never woke up."

Part entertainment, part history lesson, the tours attract the sceptics, the curious, believers and even other professional ghost seekers with their electromagnetic field detectors.

One place where the EGMs went wild was The Steampacket Hotel in Cole Street. It's said to be haunted by opera singer John De Haga, who shot himself with a horse pistol after losing his voice.

Other tour sites include the Yacht Club Hotel, Old Royal Hotel, Oriental Hotel, former Prince of Wales hotel and laneways where cheaper 'ladies of the night' sold their trade.

Ms Travaglia believes the most haunted spot in Williamstown is Point Gellibrand where, offshore, prison hulks held more than 6000 convicts and where, on land, a cemetery stood.

http://www.themail.com.au/news/local/news/general/living-in-a-williamstown-ghost-town/1890945.aspx?storypage=2

MAY Haunted Weekend in Talbot

2010-05-30T16:54:00.000-07:00

Summary of J Ward Activity: By Kathleen Higgins Australia Boyle heights paranormal project.

On arrival we were met with Ange and her boyfriend Trevor, who both agree to help me for the night, we didn't do the tour, they went to tea and we went to investigate, first place we did was west wing, using the franks box we got names quiet a few, and remembering what Ama said last time about them playing with us I asked do you want to play, and I got a clear ÿes" so I put the K2 meter down and a torch and said if they want they can play with these, and the next word we heard on the K2 meter was "trap", we reassured them it wasn't, but I don't think it worked as they didn't go near it. At one stage I thought I saw a face in one of the doors, but because I wasn't 100percent I brushed it aside.

We than went to the main ward and was told to go to Garry Web cell, in the cell next to this we got a name Tom Linsey oh and the K2 meter went off in his room too, we than went to Garys room, I couldnt get him to say his name so I asked did you commit the crimes they charged you with and got a clear yes with the franks box, we also got please dont, war, and police, now I didnt know this too later but apparently he wanted a war with the police or anyone of aurthory (sp).

We went up stairs where the hanging rope was and the other rooms and only got 1 name and that was Seth. Very quiet up there.

We than had a break and told Doug and jackie what we had found out, Doug was surprised to hear that Gary was in that room.

Now we went down to the cellar to the governors room, first words we got was Gday nice and clear, I asked if the spirit that was there last time was there and got yeah, and I got no 6 people, wow :O I was shocked so was Ange, later I told Doug and he said that corresponds with that white witch ages ago and we were told last time but I thought it was 5, we didn't get much more so we went into the kitchen down there.

In the kitchen we had some orb activity with the night vision and got a name, name was stuart and I asked his age he said either 19 or 10 we asked to say it again and we got 20 or 21, I asked are you the little boy spirit and got a yes, so what we think it was 10 and each patient there had a number and we think his was either 20 or 21 doug is going to check this out.

We went back to the west wing and thought we might sit there and be quiet and see what we got, again we got a whole heap of names and a temp drop, so we left and I set up the dvd recorder.

We went into the main hall and again asked question to see if anyone was there, Ange went to the door going to the west wing and looked in and she said she saw a shadow and than the door open by itself it all made us jump, also the perspex (sp) window behind me was rattled a lot like someone was banging on it, this happen a few times. Ange at one stage said to us did you hear that (she thought these words came over the franks box, we worked out later it was whispered into her ears) she hear, "you little slut", followed by, "I am going to f*** you". This frighten her so I went and got a few other people to come in, and said you cant harm us as we are many. We didn't hear back from this nasty spirit.

We went outside to the exercise yard, and we got a spirits name of Cletis, I ask how old are you he said either 12 or 21, I said is this right and he said Yes, I asked are you mentally retarded again got a yes, I asked are you still alive and got a yes again, I asked if my torch light was bothering him and he said Funny. and follow by Help me. We got 2 more names in the exercise yard, John roberts 32, and Hamish.
We joined the tour group at this stage and the spirits must of got bored as they went quiet, we did get one more name after this and that was Hamish.

I got a few photos out of the night too, nothing on dvd apart from what we got on franks box's.

Names we got were -: these first lot were in the west wing
Phillip
Cottees
Gilligan
Ben
Bill Morgan
Out in the main hall we got
Tom Lindsay
Adam
stewart
John
Stan
Gavin
John Roberts
Aiden
Hamish
other names were Stuart in the kitchen

Haunted Weekend in Talbot April 2010

2010-04-28T21:26:00.000-07:00

We had yet another great weekend in Talbot with a group of lovely people from all over. A big thank you to everyone who joined us: Mario and Shona, Jenelle and Herb, Michelle and Bec, Victoria and Adele, Judy and Shane, Betty, Ama, Sylvia, Andrew and Kathy.

Friday Night

Was spent eating and touring the house. We were very lucky to have Ama Nazra http://ghosttouring.blogspot.com/ who was able to tune in immediately to some of the spirits of the house and Kathleen Higgins from BHPP Australia who joined us with her paranormal investigation equipment.

Ama and some of the members of group were able to pick up on quite a few spirits including a welcoming gentleman in the dining room from 1836 with the name of Talbot who wanted a glass of port, a young woman called Margaret who was still sitting in her fruit orchid (where the current loungeroom extension is), a dark male spirit who was harrassing Bec, a toddler and Mrs Chesterfield.

We were also able to pick up on a lot of orbs, changes in light and a large, black orb that hurled towards Kathy and me. Kathy also had some interesting EVP recordings of unexplained bangs and whispers.

A few of us could smell strong tobacco smoke wafting around us as if a person was walking around the room smoking an old pipe.

Some of the group also felt cold spots in the rooms and occassionally the cold spots went through us. The digital thermometer wasn't picking up any significant temperature drops.

Kathy and Betty witnessed a dark shadow move across Mrs Chesterfield's old downstairs bedroom three times.

I personally had a terrible night's sleep, I could hear quiet whispering all around me in the new loungeroom extension...was it the ghost of Margaret chatting to her friends?

Saturday Day

Maree, our local tour guide, showed us around Talbot with the usual highlight being the old lockup. Liz kindly gave us a wine tasting from her Amherst Vineyard at the end of the tour. After a short break at London House Cafe and browsing of the local shops, including Slightly Bent Books, we moved on to Ararat.

Marge from J Ward cooked us a delicious meal and we ate amongst the old cells, it was very eerie indeed. We were joined by Helga, Wanda, Julie and Daniel so had a pretty sizeable group. Doug was our guide for the night and showed us around the old cells, the old kitchen, J Ward, the West Wing and the Exercise Yards. We picked up a lot of activity in the old kitchen including some strange EVP recordings, a lot of orbs and a general sensation of being watched.

The main cells were no different, we felt that past prisoners were watching and mocking us. One of them, we think perhaps Vincent, was trying to pull Bec away from the rest of the group. Ama did a great job protecting us and Doug did a great job entertaining us, telling us about all the past inmates and their different personalities.

The West Wing was added later on and also had a lot of activity. A few members of the groups could sense prisoners mingling with us and described their thoughts towards us as being 'like a circus'.

We ended the tour at the old watch tower, well after midnight. Poor Doug was stuck with us for over 3 hours!

Sunday

Betty showed us around Amherst Cemetery where we visited Mrs Chesterfield's grave again. We still can't explain why Mr Chesterfield's inscription has eroded when both Mrs Chesterfield and her first husband's graves are perfectly legible. During the course of the weekend we discovered a few more things about Mrs Chesterfield thanks to the psychics in our group and insights from Betty and also Lee from the Visitor Centre.

*Mrs Chesterfield gave Ama a message to tell 'Chelsea' to put the gladiolus in the front room. Not sure who Chelsea is but we think she thought I was Chelsea. Perhaps she was a past helper?

*William was one of 12 children

*Mrs Chesterfield had 2 girls and a boy

*We think Mrs Chesterfield may also have had a daughter that was actually her daughter's child born out of wedlock.

*During the visit and on previous visits we have sensed the presence of a toddler in the upstairs kids room. We have had confirmation that a toddler died in the room but haven't confirmed the identity.

Please add your comments to the blog to complete the summary of the weekend

Thanks again everyone

Jacqui
www.lanternghosttours.com

Copyright Lantern Ghost Tours 2010

Roslyn and Annabel Haunt Prince of Wales Hotel

2010-04-13T21:06:00.000-07:00

*Photo by Roni Price, Ghosts of the Old City Tour. Could the large white orb be Roslyn and the small green one Annabel?

Since writing about Annabel and Rosyln, our two ladies of the night haunting the old Prince of Wales Hotel, activity has increased. Rosyln has been stroking female guests as they walk down the lane and we smell their lavender perfume on almost every tour now. While living, these lovely ladies used to bath only a handful of times each year then smother themselves with lavendar fragrance to cover any body odour. We have had a few psychics through who have confirmed that Anna's real name is Annabel. Annabel has long, blonde hair and Roslyn is older, with long dark hair. Annabel is believed to have died by being thrown from the upstairs window after an argument with a customer about payment. Roslyn passed away from an STD. Both women are now aware that they have passed away and Roslyn has made it her business to protect those around her. She has followed a group of teenage boys down Nelson Place on our March tour. They felt they were being watched and felt as though they were being touched on their shoulders. I have felt Roslyn's arm around my waist on more than one occasion. Many mediums are able to tune into there lovely spirits who are very curious as to what the fuss is all about. Unlike our other hauntings, I cannot find records of Annabel and Roslyn. Unfortunately there were very few records of burials in Williamstown's unoffical cemetery at Point Gellibrand. We didn't even have grave diggers as they were all searching for gold. As a result, many people simply bought a spade, wrapped their loved ones in cloth and buried them. All the bodies were exhumed and moved to Williamstown Cemetery between 1899 and 1901. The lack of records for Roslyn and Annabel makes us believe they date to the late 19th century. All our clairvoyants and mediums are picking up on the same names and descriptions, our ladies want to be remembered.

*Copyright Lantern Ghost Tours 2010

Mayday Hills Lunatic Asylum Ghost Tour

2010-04-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

We decided to have a break last weekend and sit back, relax and be taken on a guided ghost tour to the former Mayday Hills Lunatic Asylum, Beechworth. Mayday Hills was an Australian psychiatric hospital and its two sister asylums at Kew and Ararat were commissioned to accommodate the growing number of 'lunatics' in the colony of Victoria.

Mayday Hills now resembles a village, overlooking Beechworth- the best preserved historical gold town in Victoria.

The grounds are known as LaTrobe at Beechworth and consist of university buildings, self contained and hotel accommodation, a day spa, conference buildings, empty buildings and of course the original pschiatric wards.

The great thing about Latrobe is you can stay onsite. To our surprise, Adam of Beechworth Tours informed us that our hotel room was actually a converted ward.

Adam and Sharon, of Beechworth Ghost Tours, booked us on their midnight ghost tour of the former Mayday Hills Lunatic Asylum. Our guide, Jodie, was fantastically eccentric and took us on a guided tour of the old female and male wards pointing out the old operating theatre, autopsy room, isolation cells, ha ha walls and quick escape passages for the staff. La Trobe definitely has an atmosphere about it. In one of the male wards we heard an unexplained tapping sound behind a door which moved to the ceiling, then across the ceiling. Apparently it happens often.

The ghosts of former patients still linger, and it's no wonder why when many of them checked in and never left. One of the male wards also made a few of us feel naseous, Adam and Jodie explained that on the tours people sometimes have unexplained nose bleeds.

The Beechworth Lunatic Asylum was built during the height of Beechworth's gold rush period in 1867 and operated until it's closure in 1995.

Quite few relics can be seen at the Museum of Victoria, including straight jackets from 1900, pill trolleys and medical implements.

We had a fantastically creepy weekend thanks to Beechworth Ghost Tours and can't wait to visit again.

Happy Haunting

Lantern Ghost Tours

*Copyright Lantern Ghost Tours 2010
*Thank you Beechworth Ghost Tours for the tour and hospitality

Visit http://www.beechworthghosttours.com/ for the Beechworth Ghost Tour

Visit www.lanternghosttours.com for haunted weekends away to Beechworth
Visit www.lanternghosttours.com to visit Mayday Hills sister asylum in Ararat,as part of the haunted Talbot weekend away

Valentines Weekend in Walhalla

2010-03-03T05:20:00.000-08:00

The Coach House was built as hostel accommodation for workers rebuilding the railway between Thomson and Walhalla as a tourist line. It was built on the site of an original miner’s cottage mainly from building materials recycled from demolished houses in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, and was known as Cook’s Cottage. It was built between 1968-72.

The station was rebuilt in the early 1970s, along with the log cabin (built in 1973). The famous narrow gauge railway was eventually reconstructed by the Walhalla Goldfields Railway between 1993-2002.

The Coach House faced demolition by the State Government following departure of the W&TRST, leading to a local campaign to save the building in the late 70’s. It was sold and served as a hostel for overseas travellers, then was later used as housing for miners on the ill fated Walhalla Resources commercial gold mining project in the 1980s when it became known as ‘The Bunkhouse’. It was better known to some of those residents as ‘Heartbreak Hotel’!

Under a new owner it became known as ‘The Dolls House’, probably due to its quaint style and wooden shutters. When power arrived in Walhalla in 1998, the Coach House was left off the grid. It was then bought and sold twice in rapid succession, and we purchased it in 2005. After efforts failed to get power connected, we went solar in 2008. The building’s present incarnation takes its name from the nearby railway station and coaches. Happy Go Lucky Rd is also known as the Old Coach Rd from stagecoach days, so the new name reflects those times.

We have stayed in the Coachhouse a few times and had activity. On the Valentine's weekend our group all felt a cold chill on Friday night while we were sitting around the table, it felt like icy cold breath and happened to one of us at a time. A few group members also smelt the strong smell of antiseptic move across the room. Interestingly one of the grop members was a medium who felt the presence of Dr Simmons, born in 1825 in America. He also felt a presence lie on top of him in the bunk room and woke us up when he shouted 'Begone'.

The last time we stayed a lady slept in Stringers Cottage with her 2 daughters and had no sleep, she said that she kept hearing footsteps in the room, felt a presence and heard scratching on the window. We also saw a lot of orbs and strange light reflections in the loungeroom. The photos were fantastic.

We don't think there is anything negative in the house there but it certainly has a presence. I could also see and sense a biker who died very suddenly on the dirt track next to the house. I would guess he has only be gone 10-15 years and he is large, with a handle bar moustache, bald head and large, protruding eyes.

Quite a few miners died on the track adjoining the coach house, there bodies were known to simply be left on the side of the road until a visitor or loved one gave them a burial or they simply fadesd into the ground over time.

*Copyright Lantern Ghost Tours 2010
*Thank you to Anne Krohn, owner of the Coach House, for the historical information.

Haunted Williamstown: The Woman in White

2010-02-01T17:38:00.000-08:00

Williamstown did not have the best reputation in the 1850s, it was jam packed with young men searching fame and fortune, convicts, bushrangers and ladies of the night. However, the gold money did bring considerable wealth to the area and in the 1880s Williamstown became very fashionable. ‘The Front’, Nelson Place, was the center of commerce and fashion. Craigantina’s building, corner of Nelson Place and Thomson Street was home to Williamstown Coffee Palace where Fred Woods, proudly prepareds his pastries for afternoon tea and gand balls.

'Craigantina', comprises three shops and residences designed by WE Wells and constructed in 1886 for John Harker Craig, a prominent citizen and Councilor of the city.

These buildings are home to numerous ghost sightings, believed to be Tina, the beloved wife of Craig for whom he built a beautiful castle for the couple to live in. Tina is often see peering out from the top floor windows to passerbys. She has a sad, forlorn look on her face. She has also been seen inside the upstairs residences by many occupants. One young lady remembers living there as a little girl in the 1980s and often being visited be a beautiful lady in white who would sit on the end of her bed and just as qucikly vanish. Some of the residents have seen the woman in white sitting in the loungeroom, when approached, she vanishes. On a recent ghost tour one of the guest's watches suddenly fell in front of the Craigantina's building. The strange thing was it hadn't been working earlier in the afternoon but it lay on the ground displaying the correct time and working perfectly. It was lying in several pieces but wasn't broken. A young woman on another tour saw a hand against the window on the top floor. Some people feel sorrow as they walk past the premises. We all feel that a woman in white, Tina Craig, is keeping an eye on us.

**Copyright Lantern Ghost Tours 2010**

Haunted Williamstown: The Oldest House

2010-02-01T17:06:00.000-08:00

Dating back to pre 1842, the house at 43 Aitken Street is one of Melbourne's oldest houses and represents the first settlement in Melbourne. It would have been one of the first houses built, with many dwellings of the period being temporary tents. It is believe to be pre fabricated. During the 1850s goldrush there was a shortage of builders and many people brought their homes from Europe.

The land was first documented in 1837. James Cain bought it in 1841 and then sold it to William Pope in 1842. William and Clara Pope lived here, during which time Clara became a widow and moved out in 1867. In 1878 it passed into the hands of Thomas Pope. By 1890 the house was owned by William Stone. In more recent history the property has been with the Page family since 1964. The current owner, Mr Page has applied for a demolition permit.

I have received many reports of sightings of a woman in white. She is small, frail and elderly and is seen hanging washing on the line (which no longer exists) in the garden and sitting by the fireplace inside. She keeps to herself and seems to be performing her daily routines. We believe her to be Clara Pope, who was one of the first people to reside in the house. Many people have expressed their concern to me over what will happen to poor Clara when the house is demolished. She seems to be very attached to the fireplace so I feel she will follow the fireplace to its new location.

**Copyright Lantern Ghost Tours 2010**

Haunted Williamstown: The Prince of Wales

2010-02-01T16:39:00.000-08:00

I have been running ghost tours around Williamstown for almost a year now and I can't believe how many Williamstown residents have been coming forward with their own ghostly encounters and just how many experiences we are having on the tours.

*The Titanic Theater Restaurant (Old Prince of Wales Hotel) Williamstown

The surgeon John Wilkins owned the origial 15 room hotel from 1858 until 1873. As with many of the hotels in the 1800s, it's hotel cellar was also used as a makeshift morgue and the bar was frequently used for coroners inquests. William Wilkins, presumably his son, acquired the hotel in the 1870s, then it was owned for a short time (1877-1880) by George Stanway. Between 1880 and 1902 the owner was S. Abraham until 1890. Some of the longest serving publicans were Henry Trump (1858, 1869- 1872), Patrick Brodie (c1883-1889) and Henry and Amelia Fonseca (c1873-1882)

I have recieved numerous sightings of a "short, round, balding man who looks Maltese or Italian in descent". He looks shrewd and busy, running around the outside and downstairs section of the old Prince of Wales hotel. We believe he is the ghost of Henry Fonseca. He is believed to be of Portugese Jewish descent and was s shrewd businessman who used to plan 'power outages' so he could pickpocket partons. The Prince of Wales for sometime was the most popular pub in Williamstown but at the end of Henry's management, numbers dwindled due to power outages.

The laneway next to the building is also haunted by two prostitutes circa early 1900s, believed to be called Ann (several indepedent reports of this name) and Roslyn (only one report of his name). Several people have reported they feel the ladies were pushed to their death from the windows and are still wearing white night dresses, makeup and lavendar perfume. On almost every tour we experience the smell of lavendar perfum waft by us, as though someone is wearing the perfume and walking past. We have also had many unusual photos of orbs and strange shadows down this lane. One group flet they were followed all the way to Thompson Street by one of the ladies.

**Copyright Lantern Ghost Tours 2010**

References

http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/places/heritage/15143

Haunted House In Williamstown

2010-01-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

Lantern Ghost Tours and Medium Kim Fawkes are currently investigating the cause of hauntings of a Williamstown House. Names and addresses have been removed to protect the identity of the family.

Summary from Kim

To summarise, I sensed an outdoor area in the bedroom behind the kitchen/lounge area. This outdoor area was the original area outside the house with a tree with purple covered leaves and an old shed with timber sides and rusted corrugated iron roof (now gone). Underneath or just at the back of this shed several feet down was/is the remains of a circular bricked well (some of the bricks from this well are in your front yard). I feel this well was source of fresh water as a supply of fresh water through pipes was not readily available in this period. Part of the well also drained rainwater off the roof (probably a separate but adjoining pipe some of which still exists under the concrete around your sideway adjoining the other house).On looking at this well I had a sense of revulsion as if something with a bad odour was there (your thought that a foetus could have been disposed of there so as to not attract attention from the neighbours or police might not be far wrong). There is a possible connection with guilt over the crime of disposing of a baby without going through proper procedures. After collecting myself over what I 'saw' I asked Spirit for help as to how this occurred. This led me to going back to the front room where you've had bad feelings. Earlier in our visit we all had a sense of something unpleasant happening there and a Spirit present in the corner facing the door. When I was on my own I bent forward to see if I could connect with anything and 'saw' the very frightened face of a young girl looking back at me. On going outside to join you we explored this event and with a feeling of 'fullness' in my stomach area, and the frighterned look on the girl's face we came to a possible conclusion of a pregnant young girl. This would tie in with what I sensed. The girl had a grandmother energy around her as if she was looking after her (the grandmother is not a spirit in the house. merely a projection). Unfortunately, things being what they were then, the baby was stillborn or if not stillborn, she didn't survive for very long. There are two theories about the girl - one that she survived despite blood loss or it's possible she didn't which would account for her presence. It may be that if she did survive this birth, she died early in life and returns to her old home. I dont see her as a threat - in fact she enjoys being around you and the kids who represent the kids she never had (and it was her who got you the house I feel as she wanted you there). The unpleasant smell which I sensed in the backyard (the bright colours of the room and the family energy dissipate the bad energies there) is possibly because the dead baby was thrown into the sewerage system which was rudimentary by anyone's standards The reason the birth was not reported is possibly because of the stigma associated with the baby's death and the fact the girl got pregnant but it is who the father is that attracts the most stigma and horror even for those days as I believe it was a family member, possibly a father or uncle as a male energy is strong. This male dominated the household which makes me believe it was father and not an uncle. This domination might explain the absence of a mother energy as I feel the mother didnt do enough to protect her daughter.

-Kim Fawkes

Lantern Ghost Tours Summary

As you may be aware, most of your street dates back to the late 19th century, stimulated by the development of 'Beach station' in 1889, later called Williamstown Beach. A small shopping center was also developed during this period, still standing today. The hospital was also built in 1894. From what I can tell the site of your home was vacant land until the late 1890s. During the early 20th century, your neighbours had a son who was an ANZAC born and raised in Williamstown. The neighbours. The neighbours on the opposite side had a son who was arrested for 'false pretenses' for borrowing money which he repaid with a cheque that bounced.

So both sets of your neighbours have interesting histories which could be linked to the activity. Your house does too. Hannah lived in and passed away in your house on Thursday 17th May 1910 at the age of 35. She was the wife of Walter. We feel Hannah is still around keeping an eye on the place as she passed away before her time. She isn’t very active and isn’t of particularly strong character so you are unlikely to encounter her but if you do notice any ghostly activities occurring in your home, it’s most likely Hannah. She died of a chest problem, I get the sense of stabbing pains in her lungs like miners cough, sever pnemonia or TB. I felt she couldn't breathe and would weeze a lot. The house was cold, dank, damp and dark and I feel she died in the front room trying (unsuccessfully) to keep warm. I feel she loves kids but boys can annoy her sometimes with all their energy and cheekiness. I don't know if Hannah is linked to Kim's presense, I couldn't get a sense of pregnancy with Hannah but perhaps I was sensing her in a later time of her life. I could also sense a very serious, proud and stern man wearing a top hat with a moustache and braces walking up and down the corridor. He is dressed like a shabby banker. So I think he is some type of businessman. He checks everything is in order and leaves.

JACQUI

**Copyright Lantern Ghost Tours 2010**

Mrs Chesterfield HauntsTalbot

2010-01-20T05:31:00.000-08:00

What a weekend...we were hoping for activity but I don't think any of us could have imagined what a wonderful weekend we'd have.

The group dynamics were fantastic, we made new friends but apart from that we also unravelled part of the Mrs Chesterfield puzzle.

Background

The Bull and Mouth Hotel was built of local mined bluestone in 1866, having replaced an earlier building of timber construction which had been erected in 1860. At the turn of the 20th century, the present verandah was added and the name changed to 'Town Hall Hotel'. Mr George Spence and Mrs Grace Ann Spence held the license until George passed away and Grace inherited the hotel. Grace soon started 'an affair' with Mr William Chesterfield and eventually married him after being pressured by the liquor licensing board who were keen to raise the moral standards of drinking establishments. After the marriage the hotel changed names to 'Chesterfield's Town Hall Hotel' until the 1960's when it closed its doors.

Grace was a colourful woman, she sold sly grog which she brewed at the back of the premises until her license was reinstated. She also did 'favours' to keep her business afloat. She loved her hotel to the point that she insisted her second husband, William, keep the hotel for her children if anything was to happen to her. She even insisted on him signing a contract to this effect.

Grace was legendary for her high standards, always keeping a tidy hotel with crisp, linen sheets and cooking roasts or stew for weary travelers.

Grace passed away before William and he revoked on his word, selling the hotel. As a result, we believe Grace's ghost remains with the pub. Many people have seen and experienced Grace's presence.

Later, after many years of neglect, the building, together with new cottages was opened as the 'Bull and Mouth Restaurant and Accommodation' in the late 1980's.

Activity during our weekend

1. We made contact with Grace on the Friday and Saturday. She insisted that two spirits were present, initials A and W. We had no idea who those initials belonged to until our trip to the cemetery on Sunday. At that point we found out Grace's middle (and more common name) was Ann. He second husband's name was William.

2. We visited Grace's grave. She shares a grave and tombstone with William. Her inscirption on the tombstone is perfectly legible however, William's has totally eroded to the point that it is difficult to see there ever was an inscription. The perfect erosion is unexplainable especially since William's inscription isn't as old as Grace's. Buried next to them is the grave of George, Grace's first husband, with a perfectly legible tombstone. Grace was buried on 25/01/1949, William was buried 8/03/1963.

3. Daniel witnessed the lights in the old bluestone corridor switch themselves on and off several times.

4. Margaret saw a cream ruffled skirt with black dots swish past her door. On later inspection we found a picture with Grace wearing the same garment.

5. We caught a lot of orbs around the house, especially in the loungeroom where one appears to have a face.

6. We took a video recording of the most haunteds room where Grace passed away. There are unexplained shadows and movement.

7. The left cuboard door in Grace's original bedroom unexplainably swung open infront of the entire group. We couldn't replicate the action, naturally the right door needs to open first.

8. Grace tried to communicate the number '2' to us numerous times, 2 men, 2 spirits. We believe she is referring to her 2 husbands who were present in the hotel too.

9. Grace's first husband died of disease, she had to nurse him until his death. We're not sure how he died but sensed it had something to do with 'E,W'

10. Grace was trying to comunicate with Jacqui and Andrew and warn them about boats on Wednesday nights and communicated bones. They sail on Wednesdays unbeknown to the group.

11. A 52 year old spirit was also present, he died in the house. Believed to be William.

12. Grace said she was 93 when she passed away (this was incorrect she was in her 80s).

13. Grace communicated that she had 3 children. We later saw a photo of Grace with her 3 children.

14. Grace indicated that she is very happy now. We found out later that by coincidence the current owner is related to the Spence family!

15. Grace wanted to communicate with Devi but we couldn't work out the message.

16. The spirit of a 3 year old boy tried to contact us. He lived in the room upstairs on the right hand side. He was very confused.

17. Another spirit with the initials MK was present, he indicated that he is related to the 3 year old boy and his wife's initials were BK. They were all related to Grace. We're not sure who they are.

Any ideas/research most appreciated....