Captain Johnstones Cottage – Murray Bridge
Owned and lived in by the family of Captain Adam Johnstone,
the Captains Cottage Museum in Murray Bridge has long been rumoured to be
haunted.
Captain Johnstone
served under Captain Cadell in Europe in his early days as a trader between
Leith and the Baltic regions. Later he began whaling operations alongside his
brother in the Arctic Seas.
He arrived in South
Australia in 1856 on-board the brig “Lady Emma”, which was also carrying the
first two Murray Steamers the “Albury” and the “Gundagai”.
Captain Johnstone aided in the building of the two vessels
from the parts imported on the Lady Emma, he then went on to be a shipmate on
the Gundagai before earning him the distinction of being the first officer.
Captain Johnstone in
1851, like many other people in South Australia at the time, soon moved east to
Victoria to the goldfields to try and make his fortune, but returned soon
after, and resumed his place on the river.
The Captain now took service under Mr S Hesiltine captaining
his vessels, under his master, undertook retirement and sold his vessels.
The Captain then went into the service of Mr John Whyte,
and Captained two of his steamers, the “Medindie” and the “Shannon”, and stayed
with the firm until that owner passed away and his ships were sold off to
contractors elsewhere.
Captain Johnstone passed away at the age of 71 in 1905. One
of the most respected men to steam the Murray River ion his time.
Ghost stories about the
home are hard to find, but it is alleged that a spirit lingers in the rear
kitchen of the old home. Clues to the spirit being that of the Captain are
few and far between. It is more plausible that the spirit is a later resident of
the property. As of yet, the identity of the spirit remains a mystery.
I am curious to know
if any of you, constant readers, have had a paranormal experience in the old cottage in
Murray Bridge – if so, please let us know over on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/TheHauntsOfAdelaide
© 2015 Allen Tiller
© 2015 Allen Tiller
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