Allen Tiller’s Top 5 Most Haunted Hotels in South Australia

Allen Tiller’s Top 5 Most Haunted Hotels in South Australia

 I have never done one of these on the blog before, but thought it time. The following hotels, in my opinion, are the (allegedly) most haunted in South Australia. You are welcome to disagree with me, or submit your own opinion on which South Australian hotels you would put in your top five, in the comments here or over on facebook at:

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

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

Allen Tiller (Official): https://www.facebook.com/AllenHauntingAustralia/

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

1. North Kapunda Hotel

 Licensed as “The North Kapunda Arms” in 1849, this pub grew from the growth of the copper mines in Kapunda and would later be the home of Sir Sidney Kidman’s horse sale, the largest ever held in the world.

 Long considered the most haunted pub in the most haunted town in Australia, The North Kapunda Hotel is home to a plethora of phantoms thought to be ex-residents, publicans, ladies of the night, and miners – the activity in the hotel was recently documented on Haunting: Australia, including a “possession” of one cast member!
Previously it had featured on the documentary “Kapunda: Most Haunted Town in the Western World”.

North Kapunda Hotel: http://hauntedadelaide.blogspot.com/2019/05/ghosts-of-barossa-north-kapunda-hotel.html
Hallway From Hell: http://hauntedadelaide.blogspot.com/2016/06/kapunda-hallway-to-hell.html

2. Overland Corner Hotel

 The Overland Corner Hotel is situated on the bend of the Murray River between Renmark and Barmera. It is an isolated pub that has seen two of Australia's most iconic Bushrangers drink at its bar.

  Many active spirits have been reported as haunting the pub for the past 160+ years of its existence. Some of the ghosts are thought to be the Brand brothers, the original family builders of the hotel, who lived, laughed played and died within the Iconic Hotels walls.

Other spirits include that of a local aboriginal girl, and even Queen Adelaide!

Devlin’s Ghost: http://hauntedadelaide.blogspot.com/2013/06/devlins-ghost.html
EVPs captured at the Overland Corner Hotel by Eidolon Paranormal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WSkkE8P2qw

3. Grand Millicent Hotel

 A recent TV advertisement has listed The Grand Hotel at Millicent as the 2nd most haunted pub in South Australia, but as you can see, in my opinion, it comes third.
 It is thought the hotel is haunted by up to 10 different ghosts which includes the spirit of a little boy who is seen playing near a pool table. The ghost of an elderly man who is seen ascending the staircase, and a spirit who leaves wet handprints on the walls!

ABC News report on the haunting and investigation: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-31/hunting-the-ghosts-of-the-grand-hotel/8752610

4. Copper Coast Hotel

 I have investigated the hotel on several occasions, both privately and with the public, and have encountered some very strange phenome within its walls.
 The upstairs section of the hotel houses the guest’s suites and shared shower facilities. This seems to be the epicentre of the haunting, particularly in the one wing containing bedrooms 11 through to 13.
 On one occasion, about the middle of the day, I was standing in the junction of the hallways, which wind and turn through the upper levels. In one spot I could smell very distinctly the smell of the ocean and old tobacco, but take a step in any direction and the smell would be completely gone. Now, not being one to jump to the “ghost” conclusion in an instant, I put it down to being so close to the ocean, and the smell of tobacco being embedded in the walls and carpets, and didn’t think any more of it, until I went downstairs to the dining room and a psychic told me that right above us was a spirit of an old Swedish sailor who had died elsewhere, but returned here as he felt this was home – (this still did not convince me the place is haunted by a Swedish sailor!).

EVP captured at the Copper Coast Hotel (formerly The Cornucopia Hotel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VkNioLcM5w
Cornucopia Hotel – MEGAscene: https://issuu.com/risingstarmedia/docs/megascene_issue_7

5. Golden Fleece Hotel – Gawler

Gawler's oldest hotel, The Golden Fleece Hotel first opened its doors on April 1st 1840. The hotel is famous for its hauntings, with one exceptional ghost photo being taken by photographer Scott Pearson in the mid-1990s

 The hotel is reputed to be haunted by a little boy who sometimes seen sitting on the front bar. Other ghosts include an old gentleman and teenage girl. The rear of the hotel was once the town's morgue, until a proper morgue was built by local funeral firm Taylor and Forgie’s.

Scott Pearson’s Ghost Photo: http://strangenationaustralia.blogspot.com/2012/09/ghosts-of-old-spot.html

Ghosts of Gawler: https://hauntedadelaide.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-old-spot-hotel-ghosts-of-gawler.html

Spring-Heeled Stephen: https://hauntedadelaide.blogspot.com/2013/01/spring-heeled-stephen-ghosts-of.html

SYFY USA - Haunting: Australia - The North Kapunda Hotel

The North Kapunda HotelSYFY USA airing:

Long known as Australia’s Most Haunted Pub – The North Kapunda Hotel is situated at 50 Main Street Kapunda.

  Kapunda has long held the title “Australia’s Most Haunted Town” and gained national notoriety after the release of the documentary “Kapunda: Most Haunted Town in the Western World” in 2001.
  The documentary featured investigations by television host Warwick Moss of 1990s supernatural TV show “The Extraordinary”.

The North Kapunda Hotel garnered international interest after it was featured on TV show Haunting: Australia in episode 7. The show featured local paranormal investigator, Allen Tiller, founder of Eidolon Paranormal, SA Paranormal and The Haunts of Adelaide investigating in his local pub alongside team members Robb Demarest, Ray Jorden, Gaurav Tiwari, Rayleen Kable and Ian Lawman.

The hotel has operated since 1849 and received extensions and upgrades in 1866 by then-owner James Crase.
  Over the years the hotel, which is the central focal point of the town, has seen its rooms used by Prince Alfred, 2^nd son of Queen Victoria, State Parliament, Circus troops, travelling salesmen, social clubs and much much more!

The hotel is said to be haunted by a number of spirits, including Sir Sidney Kidman, Dr MHS Blood, former owners Henry Fairclough & Denis Horgan, a former travelling scissor-grinder, prostitutes, children and a dark shadow man with a bad temper!

If you are visiting South Australia, head north on the Max Fatchen expressway to Gawler, then onto the Theile highway to Kapunda – and whilst in the town don’t miss the Museum, the haunted Information Centre, the Haunted Court House, The basement museum in the Kapunda Bakery and just a little out of town the amazing Anlaby house and gardens!

Allen Tiller outside the North Kapunda Hotel

You can stay in Kapunda at the Station B&B, Anlaby House, The Kapunda Tourist Park, Ford House or The Sir John Franklin Hotel!