One of the earliest reported ghost sightings in the region appeared in 1877. A Newcastle newspaper’s Wallsend correspondent wrote of “a deal of excitement” in Plattsburg (now part of Wallsend) over rumors that a house on Devon Street was haunted Crowds of curious onlookers gathered at night, and even a local constable kept watch, suspecting a prank. According to the report, those present heard “a noise like a stone or ball rolling along the house… [which] stopped with a hollow thud, accompanied with a hissing” noise This mysterious disturbance fueled speculation that a ghost was responsible. The August 23, 1877 edition of the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate documented this “Real Ghost Story” on page 2 trove.nla.gov.au, making it one of the first long-form ghost narratives in Hunter Valley’s press. Here it is - the original comes from trove.nla.gov.au A Real Ghost Story. [FROM OUR WALLSEND CORRESPONDENT.] A DEAL of excitement has been caused in Plattsburg by ...
A Singleton telegram to the Sydney Telegraph of Tuesday last says: - The town is much excited over the supposed appearance of a ghost. Some years ago a man named Vickery, who had in his possession a large sum of money, is alleged to have left Singleton one night for his home at Bulga, and to have been seen for the last time when going down to the river near Fawcett's paddocks. He never reached home, and his disappearance up to the present moment is altogether unaccounted for. Since Pickery vanished there have been rumours of strange lights and apparitions about the locality in which he was last seen alive. It is said that a well-known resident, while walking along the road one evening in the gloaming, overtook, as he thought, a personal friend, and he tapped this supposed friend on the shoulder, only to find that his hand met no resistance, but went through something unsubstantial. The wraith or form, which he tried to touch, immediately vanished. During the last month ...