Mallala Museum - Hidden Secrets

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In 1877, the Mallala Milling Company was floated with a capital investment of ten thousand pounds. A site in the township was chosen and James Martin and Co of Gawler were contracted to build all the machinery and carpentry for the new Mallala Mill.
The foundation stone was laid on 26 July 1878 by Miss M.A. Chivell, who was presented with a silver trowel for her efforts.[1]

The Mill was opened by Mr W. Cavanagh M.P. on Tuesday 18 March 1879.

The completed building was three stories tall, built from hammer-dressed limestone, with brick quoins and cement dressings.  At the rear was a shed that contained a Cornish boiler manufactured at James Martin and Co in Gawler. The boiler drove a horizontal engine of 22 horsepower, with a flywheel weighing three tons.
 The mill consisted of three pairs of French burr stones, each being 3 feet and 8 inches in diameter.[2]

On 31 August 1880, just after 12 noon, the boiler at the Mallala Mill exploded. Mr Armfield, the Mills engineer had just been to check on the boiler and returned to the engine room when the accident happened. The boiler exploded, blowing down half of the boiler-house walls and bursting numerous pipes. The explosion blew the roof of the engine and boiler room houses and shattered the base of the chimney stack. Luckily, no one lost their lives, as most workers had gone to lunch, however, Mr Armfield received some head injuries from flying debris

When the mill closed, the inner workings, the steam engine and grinder were removed and used at the Blyth Mill.[3] Mathew Henry East held the title in 1909, and in 1933, East Brothers and Co took possession

In 1947 the 50-foot-tall chimney, made from over 6000 bricks, that had been built in 1878 was demolished. It had been declared unsafe and a risk to the buildings nearby

The Mallala and Districts Historical committee was formed in 1968, and in 1970, the Adelaide Plains Council bought Mallala Flour Mill to be used as a museum. The museum holds a comprehensive military display of local involvement, farming machinery, an REO Speedwagon Fire Engine, displays of old typewriters, toys, blacksmith forge, and Mr Temby’s penny-farthing, which was ridden in the Adelaide Xmas Pageant by Lance Tiller. The Long Plains Schoolroom has many displays, and recently, in 2021, a new upstairs gallery was opened and dedicated to long term volunteer, the late Margaret Tiller.

The Mallala Museum is considered one of the finest local heritage museums in South Australia. It is open every Sunday afternoon from 2pm until 4:30pm and is run by volunteers. <end transcript>

© 2021 Allen Tiller


[1] 'Laying the Foundation Stone of Mallala Flour Mill', Yorke's Peninsula Advertiser, (6 August 1878), p. 4.

[2] 'Opening of the Mallala Mill.', South Australian Register, (20 March 1879), p. 1.

[3] 1947 'Out Among The People', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 15 April, p. 4. , viewed 14 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article30522934

  The Murder of James Curran.

 

Grave of James Curran - SLSA [B 28120]

  James Curran worked at Minnipa on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. He was employed by the Hydraulic Engineers Department, working on constructing a holding tank for the Tod River water scheme in 1927.
 On Sunday morning, 30 January 1927, Curran had a drink of coffee before breakfast and became ill.
 Before he died and in throes of agony, Curran spoke to the foreman, H.E. Scott. He gave the address of his daughter at Warrnambool, but before he got to speak his son’s address, he died.^[1]

  It was believed that poison had been put with sugar that Curran had used to sweeten his coffee. Police constables Hann and Cain investigated. They found that a cook from the construction camp had suicided six months earlier and that recently two pigs, who had eaten scraps from the camp dinner, had also died. Further investigation was sought.

  An inquest was held under the watch of Dr McCarthy of Wudinna, ordered by Coroner A.G. Collyer-Braham.
 At the inquest, Charles Jones, the assistant cook gave evidence of the morning of Curran’s death. He said that at 7:30 am Curran came into the kitchen with a pannikin. Jones put coffee and sugar in it. Curran remarked to Jones, “What did you out in this? You are always putting jokes upon me.”
 Jones replied that he hadn’t put anything in it. Curran asked him to taste it, so he took a teaspoon full, which Jones thought tasted bitter.
 Curran threw out his coffee and was poured a new one. A short while after drinking it, he shouted “I am poisoned!”^[2]

 Another witness, Walter Rowe, a Deputy Government Analyst, stated that he examined the 3 oz. of sugar in the container. In it, he found a ½ grain of strychnine. There was no poison in the sugar bag in the storeroom. He also examined Curran’s liver and kidneys and found enough of the poison present to deliver the fatal blow.

More witnesses were called, and a suspect pointed at. Frank Styrmin recalled that he had handed a bottle of strychnine to a man named Schultz who was with Carl Bystedt. A suspect had been found.

 

Based on circumstantial evidence, Carl Eugene Elwing Bystedt was committed for murder.^[3] Coroner A.G. Collyer-Braham stated that the evidence against Bystedt was strong. He commended Detectives Slade and Golds on their investigation into the case and their collection of evidence, which met with difficult circumstances due to a large portion of the workers at the camp being foreigners whose first language was not English.
Coroner Collyer-Braham stated,

“That James Curran came to his death on January 30 at mess camp at Minnipa through strychnine poisoning, after having drunk a cup of coffee, in which was mixed sugar containing strychnine.' He stated that the evidence against Bystedt was so strong that he must face the jury at the next sitting of the Criminal Court.”^[4]

 Bystedt was taken to Adelaide to face charges. The South Australian Crown Solicitor, A.J. Hannan, investigated the case and decided that there was barely any evidence that pointed toward Bystedt being the murderer.^[5] As there was no case, Bysted walked a free man.^[6]

 

James Curran is buried in the Minnipa cemetery.

© 2021 Allen Tiller.

[1] 'Poisoning Case at Minnipa.', West Coast Sentinel, (4 February 1927), p. 1., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168243416.

[2] 'Minnipa Inquest.', The Register, (23 February 1927), p. 15., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54886406.

[3] 'Minnipa Tragedy', Barrier Miner, (24 February 1927), p. 4., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article45981347.

[4] 'Minnipa Tragedy.', The Register, (25 February 1927), p. 9. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54884520.

[5] 'No Indictment.', The Armidale Chronicle, (9 April 1927), p. 6., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188070777.

[6] 'Minippa Tragedy.', Recorder, (8 April 1927), p. 1., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article95872984.

 The 1855 Macclesfield Murder.

 

Davenport Arms Hotel 1921 – SLSA [B 34161] 

 On Monday 24 September 1885, an inquest was held at the Davenport Arms, Macclesfield after the murder of a local man named James Spencer.
 On the Friday prior, locals witnessed Spencer dressed in his best clothing at about 7pm in the evening, after he voted in a local election. He was seen to return to his small home about three-quarters of a mile from the town.

Spencer lived by himself. A neighbour, Mr Crick, noted that no smoke left his chimney on Saturday and Sunday; something that in 1855, would have been a regular occurrence anytime someone cooked, or even wanted to boil the kettle, being as there was no electricity or modern conveniences.
  Crick went over to check on his neighbour and found the old man had been murdered.

The police were called immediately, and upon inspection, locked the door of the house so any potential evidence would not be corrupted. The police then informed the local magistrate and then investigated the home.

At the inquest, it was revealed that Spencer had been stabbed twice in the chest, and three times in his side. He had been left to bleed out. Spencer’s blood covered his body and much of the interior of the hut. Near his body was a washbasin filled with water, where the murderer had washed his hands.^[1]

 

  After the announcement of his murder in local media, a story was published in the South Australian Register about Spencer’s life by his former employer. It was revealed that Spencer was a ‘ticket-of-leave’ man, a former prisoner at Tasmania, sent from Oxfordshire, England.
 Spencer had lived in poverty in his younger days, and worked as a chimney sweep.
Spencer had a grand idea one day. He decided to descend into a house through the chimney and rob it. On his way back up he got stuck in the chimney. He tried to escape but wedged himself tighter, he had no choice but to call for help. When help did arrive, a large section of the brickwork had to be removed to free him. His loot was discovered, and he was arrested, sentenced, and sent to Van Diemen’s Land.

 The author of the description did not know what Spencer was like, nor how long he served during his time in Tasmania’s gaols. However, he stated that Spencer had,

 “Sacred veneration for what he termed his word of honour. His word was literally his bond, and his integrity in fulfilling his encasements was unimpeachable, he was a man of a charitable disposition, and was ever ready, as far as his scanty means would admit, to assist those who were in need, while with scrupulous pertinacity he would avoid incurring an obligation himself.”^[2]

 

It was also written that Spencer was not keen on socialising. He kept few friends, never married, and kept to himself as much as possible.

 The author of the letter addressing the character of Spencer was Mr E. Holthouse, of South Terrace Adelaide. He went on to describe that he had recently employed Spencer as a log splitter. He stated that Spencer was physically strong and that he believed the person in the hut had been caught by Spencer, who tried to stop the infiltrator from robbing him, resulting in his murder.

 The police never found the murderer, and in a statement published in the Adelaide Observer, the South Australian Police Commissioner of the day said: "society is unable to avenge the death of one who had almost entirely withdrawn himself from her circle."
 A curious statement, that may hint at the possibility the police were not going to waste their time on an ex-convict’s death.^[3]

 After the inquest, the jury returned the following verdict of: “Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown.' The deceased was a single man, about 50 years of age, and followed the occupation of a splitter.”^[4]

Spencer’s belongings and property were sold in January 1856 at auction.^[5]

© 2021 Allen Tiller


[1] 'Declarations.', South Australian Register, (28 September 1855), p. 2., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49294447.

[2] 'The Macclesfield Murder.', South Australian Register, 95 October 1855), p. 3., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49298678.

[3] 'The Police Report.', Adelaide Observer, (17 November 1855), p. 6., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158100707.

[4] 'No title', South Australian Register, (26 September 1855), p. 2., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49298367.

[5] 'Advertising', Adelaide Times, (29 December 1855), p. 4., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207076731.

 Peter’s Ghost

 

Peter’s ghost is also alleged to haunt the Owen Road/ Aerodrome Road between four miles between Mallala and Owen. He is seen walking along the side of the road and sometimes hitchhikes.

It is thought the spirit is that of Peter Denis Kierse, a 19-year-old RAAF Leading Aircraftman (LAC), who was killed while on duty obtaining sand for operations at the Mallala Airbase.

According to the Mallala Now and Then website, “They were travelling in the open back of a three-ton tender. While travelling along Owen Road, the truck moved from the left-hand side of the road to the centre and passed over a rise, giving a sharp jolt and causing LAC Kierse to lose balance. He fell from the truck and was fatally injured.”^[1]

 

Have you experienced this haunting? I would love to hear your story. Contact me at eidolon@live.com.au.

© Allen Tiller 2021

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[1] RAAF No. 6 Service Flight Training School Fatalities, Mallala Now and Then, (2021), https://www.mallala.nowandthen.net.au/RAAF_No._6_Service_Flight_Training_School_Fatalities

 The Ghost of Edmund Bowman.

 

Edmund Bowman SLSA: [B 6912/ G6]

  Edmund Bowman, a wealthy pastoralist died on his property Werocata Estate near Balaklava in 1866. Bowman had walked out on an incomplete bridge, become unstable and plunged into the Wakefield River below, where he drowned.
 It is believed that in late August, near the date, that Bowman drowned, that his calls for help can be heard. The calls fade into the sound of gurgles as he drowns, then the area falls into an eerie silence.
Other people have witnessed Edward sitting on rocks near the pool, appearing to either be fishing or on some occasions in quiet reflection.[1]

  Edmund Bowman is associated with two other allegedly haunted locations in South Australia. Barton Vale House at Enfield (You can read more about this building and its hauntings in my 2020 book The Haunts of Adelaide: Revised Edition), completed in 1852.[2]

 The other location associated with the Bowman’s is Martindale Hall at Mintaro near Clare, which was built by Edmund Bowman junior in 1879.[3]

The Haunts of Adelaide: Revised Edition (2020) Buy it by clicking here:

Haunted Adelaide (2021) Buy it by clicking here

© 2021 Allen Tiller

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[1] Gordon de L. Marshall, ‘Ghosts and Hauntings of South Australia’, (Jannali, NSW, 2012), pp. 150-51.

[2] SA Heritage Places Database ‘Barton Vale House’, http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=1747

[3] Martindale Hall, Martindale Hall Historic Museum, (2021), https://www.martindalehall-mintaro.com.au/.

 

The Haunting of the Macclesfield Hotel

  The Macclesfield Hotel was built in 1841, with a second storey built in 1882.[1] The first publican was Matthew Linn junior in 1855.[2] This hotel was the second built in the town. There are numerous outbuildings on the property, including old stables.[3]


  In 2015, the then licensee, Mary Rhode, was interviewed by the media and alleged a woman named Rosemary was pushed down the stairs of the hotel, breaking her neck. It was alleged that a psychic visited the hotel and spoke to the spirit, with the spirit claiming that her murder was covered up by local police.[4]

  Rhode claimed, “She was pushed down the stairs and broke her neck. It must have been over 100 years ago. The pub was built in 1841 and the second level was built in 1875. She was having an argument with a man who wanted her to make money for him. She told him that she wasn't that sort of girl and so he pushed her.”
“She was really angry. She said he got away with it because he knew the coppers. The person who did the clearing for me was telling me she was so happy because she hadn't spoken to anyone for so long – she was angry and all alone.”[5]

Rhode also claimed that another psychic, who visited later and knew nothing of the pub, also experienced the ghost on the stairs. Currently, there is no proof of the alleged murder in the hotel.

Another ghost believed to haunt the building is a matronly lady. It is claimed this lady has attempted to push people down the stairs!

Macclesfield Hotel - SLSA [B 31754]

 
© 2021 Allen Tiller

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[1] Macclesfield Hotel, Macclesfield Community History, (2015), https://www.macclesfieldhistory.com.au/macclesfield-hotel.html.

[2] JL Bob Hoad, Hotels and Publicans in South Australia, (1984), pp. 352-53.

[3] Anna Pope, DC Mount Barker Heritage Survey Part 4, (2004), p. 174., https://data.environment.sa.gov.au/Content/heritage-surveys/2-Mount-Barker-Heritage-Survey-2004-Part-4.pdf.

[4] Madison White, Adelaide Hills Ghost Stories, (2015), https://madisonwhiteportfolio.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/adelaide-hills-ghost-stories.pdf.

[5] Madison White, Adelaide Hills Ghost Stories, (2015), https://madisonwhiteportfolio.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/adelaide-hills-ghost-stories.pdf.

 

Adelaide Hills UFO Battle

On Thursday the 7th of February 1980, at 9:30pm, 10-year-old Phil Tindale and his twin brother Rob witnessed what they believed to be two UFOS battling for supremacy over the skies of Aldgate in the Adelaide Hills.

The two boys watched in disbelief from their bedroom window as a yellow object and a red object fought in the skies above Stirling. The two ten-year-old boys claimed they watched the objects fight for a good fifteen minutes.[1]
 The alarmed brothers woke their parents, but they told them to go back to bed. The following day, the boy's grandmother found a story in the local paper reporting on Daryl Browne who had seen a similar-sounding incident in the sky.[2]

Daryl Browne, a twenty-one-year-old farmhand witnessed a yellow object in the sky. The object crashed into the ground nearby. He went to investigate the crash and found the object that he described as, “a crescent-shaped 8-metre diameter, speed boat-shaped, yellow, half-moon thing”. He ran back to the house and called the police. By the time the police arrived, the object had disappeared.
 Browne was interviewed by UFO Research South Australia the next day and showed them the crash site. The UFO researchers discovered a 40-metre-high pine tree which had a big section of its demolished, as if from an impact.

 
Multiple government agencies and UFO clubs travelled to the crash site at Glenalta Stud on the Old Gully Road at Stirling. Browne was interviewed so many times, that during a final interview he stated, if he ever encountered anything like this again, he wouldn’t bother reporting it because of all the attention he received. He also stated he did not believe in UFOs.

© 2021 Allen Tiller

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[1] Paula Ahillon, Two brothers say they're SURE they witnessed two UFOs 'battle' in the skies above the Australian Outback before one made an 'emergency landing' and crashed into a tree, Daily Mail Australia, (20 October 2019), https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7593141/Two-brothers-say-theyre-SURE-witnessed-two-UFOs-battle-skies-Sterling.html.

[2] Frank Chung, South Australian brothers say they witnessed two UFOs in ‘conflict’ before 1980 Stirling crash, (21 October 2019),  https://www.ntnews.com.au/technology/science/south-australian-brothers-say-they-witnessed-two-ufos-in-conflict-before-1980-stirling-crash/news-story/c752b6a3ef019990819d87fb72b7bd62?fbclid=IwAR0wwwEBU72HxcDnQQ0Kljk6M4OyQmUJkEK7hVP3K-bq_erNXTFBPsn8Zus.

 A Ghost in The Old Mill Hotel – Hahndorf

 

Old Mill Hotel - 98 Main Street Hahndorf
2021 - Allen Tiller

In July 2021, I presented a talk at the Mount Barker Library on ghosts and hauntings in the Adelaide Hills. That evening, Karen and I stayed overnight in the Old Mill Hotel at Hahndorf, where the staff told of us a ghost!

2021 - Allen Tiller

The hotel has recently been leased by the Meek family, who own the incredibly popular bars and nightclubs The Woolshed, Downtown and Blackbull. The Meeks have begun renovating the hotel, which as some of you may know, is alleged to be a trigger in some hauntings.
 The hotel now has several older cars, including Model T Fords as part of its unique decor.^[1]

The Mill was built in 1854 by Friedrich Wittwer, an earlier built mill on the site burned down in 1853.[2] It ran for 60 or so years and processed famous brands of flour such as ‘Pride of the Hills’, Windmill' and 'Phaultless’.^[3]

In 1971 it became a German food-themed restaurant with a motel at the rear.

 There used to be an old piano in the hotel. It is claimed that a spirit liked to ‘tickle the ivory’, playing piano tunes at random times of the day and night. When staff went to check who was playing, there was no one there. (The piano is no longer in the hotel).

For more information on the Old Mill, visit their website here: https://hahndorfoldmill.com.au/

 

© 2021 Allen Tiller.

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[1] The Forager, Nightclub owners bringing new life to Hahndorf's Old Mill Hotel, In Daily, (31 March 2021), https://indaily.com.au/eat-drink-explore/the-forager/2021/03/31/nightclub-owners-bringing-new-life-to-hahndorfs-old-mill-hotel/.

[2] Anni Luur Fox, 'Hahndorf - A Journey through the Village and its History', (2002), https://localwiki.org/adelaide-hills/Old_Mill_%28Wittwer%29_-_Hahndorf.

[3] Hahndorf, Old Mill Hotel, (2021), https://hahndorfsa.org.au/business/old-mill-hotel/.

 A Haunting at the Hahndorf Academy

 

Hahndorf Academy - 2021 Allen Tiller

 The Hahndorf Academy was established in 1857 by Traugott Wilhelm (TW) Boehm whose nickname was ‘Chibby’. Two storey building was erected in 1871 and a belltower in 1875.^[1] The Hahndorf Academy, according to Boehm was to provide 'a sound and good English and German education, to enable its pupils to enter the learned professions or to prepare for commercial life'. In 1863, the academy became a boarding school.

 In 1877, Boehm sold the school to the Lutheran Church for 700 pounds. It became a Lutheran College and seminary. The property was repurchased by Boehm in 1883 and resold in 1886 to Douglas Byard.
  Byard reopened it as Hahndorf College. Under Byard an Oxford Master of Arts and Anglican lay preacher, the College gained a solid reputation for scholastic excellence.
When Education Department high schools were introduced in 1916, the building was sold. The property was next owned by H. Hirthe and became a nursing home and hospital between 1917 and 1937.[2] During World War Two, the building housed the local council offices and local military headquarters.
 For a short while, it was a betting shop and a dentist. In 1939 the property was owned by Mr H. Haebich, who converted the Academy into flats. He died in 1959, with renovations unfinished, and the property falling into a state of general disrepair.

At the beginning of the 1960s, the Mt Barker Council declared the building unsafe, meaning it could be demolished if bought at auction. Several petrol companies became interested as the building was in a prime location. Karlis Lidums bought the property in 1961. The Hahndorf Academy Museum Trust was established the same year under Dr Derek van Abbe, with Miss Josephine Heysen (Sir Hans Heysen's granddaughter) as secretary. The aim was to restore the building. In the same year, Sir Hans Heysen donated paintings to the Academy.
 In 1963, the Trust took over the building from the Lidums. In 1966, the building was sold to Elva and Walter Wotzke. The Wotzke's restored the property. They opened the rejuvenated building as an art gallery in 1967 on the 90th birthday of Sir Hans Heysen.

In 1988 the building was bought by the Hahndorf Academy Foundation Incorporated, and in 1998 by the District Council of Mount Barker.[3]

 Ghosts

One of the best-known ghost stories from the Academy is that of the Woman in White. She is alleged to appear at the top of the staircase. She is described as an elegant spirit who appears on the upper level and glides back and forth from the hall to the former balcony. She wears a dress that hides her feet, she wears her hair up and sometimes wears a hat.

Another ghost is that of a young boy, who runs up and down the steps on the south side of the old academy. He is thought to be between 10 and 12 years of age. A witness described him as a blond boy who wore hobnailed boots, home woven pants, and a smooth white shirt. She claimed the boy laughed a lot and was smiling as he ran up and down the steps on the southern side of the academy.

A third ghost is reported as an unpleasant old man who sits at the bottom of the stairs leading to the former Heysen gallery. He is known to terrify visitors as well as frighten local animals. A witness described him as dirty grey in colour. Another spirit was witnessed by Julie Messenger. This spirit was described as a forlorn-looking woman who was looking out a top floor window.

In an article titled “Adelaide Hills Ghost Stories” by Madison White, Academy Director Kate Wake states that she has had her own ghostly experiences in the Academy. “I believe that we do have ghosts and I believe that I've heard them,”. Kate went onto say that heard some very heavy breathing in the downstairs gallery.[4]

© 2021 Allen Tiller.

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[1] Suzanne Edgar, 'Boehm, Traugott Wilhelm (1836–1917)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/boehm-traugott-wilhelm-5280/text8903.

[2] Gemma Nisbet, Hahndorf’s past proud heritage, Yahoo! News, (5 May 2014), https://au.news.yahoo.com/hahndorfs-past-a-proud-heritage-23118763.html.

[3] Hahndorf Academy, History, (2021), http://hahndorfacademy.org.au/history.

[4] Madison White, Adelaide Hills Ghost Stories, (2015), https://madisonwhiteportfolio.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/adelaide-hills-ghost-stories.pdf.

 A Haunting at the Two Wells Hotel.

 

Two Wells Hotel 2021 - Allen Tiller

The Two Wells Hotel opened on 23 April 1860 as the Two Wells Inn. The original hotel was on the Mallala Road. John Cowan, the owner, decided to build a new hotel to better catch passing traffic. In 1867, Cowan applied to transfer his license to the new building, he also changed the name from ‘Inn’ to ‘Hotel’.[1] This new hotel was much larger than the original.
  The new building had 18 rooms – nine up and nine down – and a cellar. The dining room also functioned as a courthouse.  It was realised close to completion that no provision had been made for an internal staircase to the upper floor, so an outside staircase had to be constructed until an extension was built to allow for the internal staircase.[2] It was officially opened in 1868.

Ghosts

It was alleged in The Advertiser newspaper in January 2016 that the ghost of the Two Wells Hotel is a Sea Captain named George.  Publicans, Rodney, and Loretta Wilmshurst who owned the hotel from 1999 claimed that their granddaughter, Krystal Wilmshurst had seen the ghost when she was a child.
  Loretta stated that: “On one occasion she (Krystal) came down the staircase, stood at the doorway and said the monster had gone to bed,’’ Loretta recalled.
 “She took her dad around through the original front bar to the key room and said, ‘he lives in there!’.”
 Krystal referred to the ghosts as a monster, and claimed at times, he would not let her sleep. She witnessed him on one occasion in the shower. He was wearing a hat and a cloak, but he had no feet!

Loretta had not witnessed the apparition but had felt him. She also had an experience; “One Saturday afternoon I was going up the staircase and heard the girls’ soft toys being thrown around the room,’’ she said. “No one was home. I didn’t go up.”

Another witness to the ghostly goings-on was Pam Sisken who was employed as the cleaner. Sisken often worked after hours in the hotel on her own. On one occasion she claimed “strange things” started happening to the alcohol. “I can still see the brandy and whisky bottle in the auto pourer bubbling up, fizzing up with bubbles,’’ she said. “I wasn’t upset. I thought he’s (George) up and about.’’

George has also been heard going up and down the stairs. It was claimed by one witness that George was fond of the downstairs cool room, and this is where he was mostly sensed. A former publican claimed that this was the room that George had lived in while alive, and that George was unhappy as it had been turned into the cool room.

A variation on the identification of George was published by Gordon de L. Marshall in his book Ghosts and Hauntings of South Australia. In this version, George is the son of a former publican who was killed in a war, having half his face blown off.[3]

Further muddying the identification of George is a former publican who claimed the ghost is that of his son. Identified only as a ‘Bruce’ (possibly Bruce Hart, but unconfirmed). This publican claimed that a photo of his son was continually thrown down, and this was the way in which George was trying to communicate with his father.[4]

 It is claimed in this version of the ghosts habits, that George is blamed for an upstairs shower that turns on of its own volition. George is also blamed for mysterious goings-on in the toilet, with Toilet doors opening and closing by themselves, toilet paper being strewn throughout the room and hand dryers operating of their own volition.
  George has been blamed for three front bar fridge doors opening at the same time. On another occasion six people watched a port keg tap turn on by itself, and then port pour all the over the floor; none of the witnesses were close enough to have turned the tap on.[5]

© 2021 Allen Tiller


[1] 'Bench of Magistrates', The Express and Telegraph, (10 September 1867), p. 2. (LATE EDITION.)

[2] Williams, Bet & Williams, Les, & Kranz, David, Two Wells: then and now: a history of the Hundred of Port Gawler, (Mawson Lakes, S. Aust, 1991), p. 30.

[3] Gordon de L. Marshall, Ghosts and Hauntings of South Australia, (Jannali, NSW, 2012), p. 278

[4] Ibid.

[5] Williams, Bet, Two Wells: then and now, p.31.

 A Haunting at Mount Lofty House

Mount Lofty House - photo courtesy QANTAS

Mount Lofty House was built for Arthur Hardy, Adelaide’s wealthiest man at the time. Hardy was a barrister, pastoralist and quarry owner who was also the first district Grandmaster of the English Freemasons in South Australia.
 The home was built in 1852. The upkeep and housekeeping expenses became too great for the family, so the Hardy's sold it in 1865. A Gardener named George Smith died on 10 August 1922 at the property. During the 1970s the house was a commune.
In 1983, all but the walls were destroyed during the Ash Wednesday fires that ravaged the Adelaide Hills.[1]
 The property was rebuilt in 1986, with the Piccadilly wing added in 1988. In 2009, the Horbelt family purchased the property and have continually upgraded it adding a day spa and restaurant.[2] The buildings are now part of the Grand Mercure Brand of Hotels.[3]

 

 Haunting Australia planned to film here in 2013, but due to renovations and bookings at the time, were declined. Instead, we filmed at the Adelaide Arcade.

Room 7 is said to be one of the most haunted rooms in the building and is in an original section of the house. A visitor from Sydney once had a ghost experience in this room. He reported to staff that he woke up one evening and could feel a presence in the room with him. He could see, at the end of his bed, a woman standing, staring at him. He jumped out of bed and checked his belongings thinking he was being robbed. When he looked around the room, the woman was gone, except, his bed covers now had the distinct shape of a woman lying underneath them, when he pulled the covers back, no one was there!

 The woman in room 7 is not the only ghost, another has been identified as ‘George the Gardener’ who died in 1922. George is seen mostly in the old section of the building. He has been known to wake people up. He is considered a friendly, but curious ghost and is not known to be harmful or to scare people.

© Allen Tiller 2021

---

[1] Brad Crouch, A magic moment of inspiration, The Advertiser, (8 Sept 2007), http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/travel/a-magic-moment-of-inspiration/story-e6freexc-1111114373361.

[2] Powla Gee, Meteoric Rise, Hotel Management, (13 May 2011), http://www.hotelmanagement.com.au/2011/05/13/grand-mercure-mount-lofty-house-continues-meteoric-rise/0.

[3] [3] Brad Crouch, A magic moment of inspiration, The Advertiser, (8 Sept 2007), http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/travel/a-magic-moment-of-inspiration/story-e6freexc-1111114373361.

Shot of Spirits: Episode 10: Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide, South Australia.

Holy Trinity Church on North Terrace, Adelaide was built in 1838.

 An unknown male parishioner is thought to haunt the church. It is believed he died during an Easter service very early in the Churches history. Every Easter service since, parishioners have heard a disembodied voice, louder than all the rest, shout “AMEN!” at every possible opportunity. 

The congregation often looks to the direction the booming voice has come from to find no one there at all. Many people thought it was a hoax perpetrated yearly by the same person, but that person could never be identified.


Find out more about this haunting in the book: The Haunts of Adelaide: Revised Edition
https://www.amazon.com.au/Haunts-Adelaide-History-Mystery-Paranormal/dp/B08JLQLLC5

 Shot of Spirits: Episode 9: Exeter Hotel Adelaide. S.A.

“On 18 November 1970 the body of the hotel’s owner, Mrs Joy Josephs, was found in the kitchen and a 30-year-old man trialled and sentenced for her murder. Years later, screams, sighs and a female voice of no known source are often reported as coming from the kitchen by hotel staff. “The Exeter’s reported paranormal occurrences predate Mrs Josephs’ murder, but she’s thought to be behind almost all the spooky goings-on alleged in the hotel today. “Disembodied footsteps and voices are frequently heard throughout all levels of the hotel, while the most often reported phenomena happen near the upstairs hallway where her bedroom used to be situated. “Another common disturbance is the moving of objects - often staff will place an item on a kitchen bench, only to find it’s been moved moments later!”

Read more about this haunting in The Haunts of Adelaide: Revised Edition:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Haunts-Adelaide-History-Mystery-Paranormal/dp/B08JLQLLC5

Shot of Spirits: Episode 8: Estcourt House, Grange S.A

 Shot of Spirits: Ep.8: Estcourt House, Grange S.A.

Estcourt House was built at Grange (now Tennyson) in 1883 by Frederick and Rosa Bucknall, the house getting its name from Fred’s middle name ‘Estcourt’. Frederick had married into money, Rosa’s was the widow of beer baron Henry Haussen. 

Within 3 years Fred and Rosa were facing bankruptcy and had to sell. The AMP bought the house in 1886. In 1892, the James Brown Memorial Trust bought the house and set itself up to help disabled people. 

In 1931, the home became a TB and polio treatment centre for children run by the Salvation Army.

 In 1978, the State Government bought the house making it part of the Strathmont Centre. It is now privately owned. Estcourt House has long been alleged to be haunted, but what old house isn't?

 Are there ghosts within its walls? watch to find out... 

Read more about this haunting in the Haunts of Adelaide: Revised Edition https://www.amazon.com.au/Haunts-Adelaide-History-Mystery-Paranormal/dp/B08JLQLLC5

 Shot of Spirits: Episode 7: Criterion Hotel, Gawler.

The Criterion Hotel is situated in an area of Gawler formerly known as 'Basset Town'.


It is alleged that a girl who fell down the interior staircase died and is now haunting the hotel - this is unconfirmed.

 Shot of Spirits: Episode 6: Brighton Beach and Dunluce Castle

Does the ghost of shark attack victim Kitty Whyte haunt Brighton Beach, South Australia? Does Rev Macully haunted Dunluce Castle, Kitty's childhood home...watch to find out.


Read more about this haunting in the Haunts of Adelaide: Revised Edition

https://www.amazon.com.au/Haunts-Adelaide-History-Mystery-Paranormal/dp/B08JLQLLC5

Shot of Spirits: Episode 5: Angaston Hotel

 

Shot of Spirits: Episode 4: Angaston Hotel

The Angaston Hotel, in the Barossa Valley, is allegedly haunted by spirits that display poltergeist type activity.

 Shot of Spirits: Episode 4: Haunted Halfway Hotel

It is alleged the Halfway Hotel at Beverly, South Australia is haunted by a poltergeist named George

 Shot of Spirits: Episode 3: Seppelts Mausoleum

It has long been rumoured that blood runs down the walls, and seeps out the doors of the Seppelt Mausoleum on the anniversary of family deaths...

Shot of Spirits: Episode 2: A Haunting at the Jens Hotel

 Shot of Spirits: Episode 2: A Haunting at the Jens Hotel, Mount Gambier.

Is the Jens Hotel haunted? Watch the video, then decide for yourself.

Ghostly Gawler - Allen Tiller - Gawler History Team Presentation

Ghostly Gawler

Allen Tiller is a member of the Gawler History Team executive committee and an experienced paranormal investigator. He addresses the room about the many alleged hauntings of Gawler's old buildings and Hotels.

Facebook:

Allen Tiller - https://www.facebook.com/AllenHauntingAustralia

The Haunts of Adelaide - https://www.facebook.com/TheHauntsOfAdelaide

SA Paranormal - https://www.facebook.com/SAParanormal

Eidolon Paranormal - https://www.facebook.com/EidolonParanormal

Churches and Cemeteries in South Australia - https://www.facebook.com/CandCSA

Hidden Secrets: South Australia - https://www.facebook.com/HiddenSecretsSA

Ghosts of the Port Self Guided Walking Tour - https://www.facebook.com/GhostsPortAdelaide

Adelaide Ghosts and Ghouls Self Guided Walking Tour - https://www.facebook.com/AdelaideGhosts/

Ghosts of the Barossa (edited) - Allen Tiller - Barossa History Fair 2021

Ghosts of the Barossa (edited) 

 Barossa History Fair 2021

Paranormal historian Allen Tiller discusses ghosts and hauntings in the Barossa Valley at the 2021 Barossa History Fair at Angaston.

 Haunted History with the Tiller’s

Allen Tiller paranormal investigator, Historian and Author and Karen Tiller Paranormal investigator and Founder of Whimsy creations join Jason Ghost Hunter team to talk about the fascinating history of Australia.

Jason Ghost Hunter on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasonghostman1972

Jason and Julia also appear in the documentary Ghosthunter: https://www.facebook.com/ghosthunterthemovie

Allen Tiller on Studio 10

If you've ever heard unexplained bumps in the night or felt the hair on the back of your neck stand up... you may not be alone! More Aussies are reporting paranormal activity since many of us went into lockdown, as paranormal investigator Allen Tiller explains this phenomenon.

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