DIARY OF A GHOST HUNTER

Evening News (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1924 - 1941), Friday 4 August 1939

Yarralumla - The Governor General's House Canberra

Canberra "Ghost" Haunts Home Of Kents

STORY OF DIAMOND THEFT TOLD IN OLD LETTER SYDNEY.

Yarralumla, House, which is to be the Canberra home of the Duke of Kent, has a ghost.

It has never been seen, but half a century ago there were tales of a shadowy spirit of a murdered aborigine—' which used to flit uneasily about the countryside on dark nights.

In the dusty archives at Canberra an old letter purports to give the history of the ghost.

Unsigned and dated 1881, it was discovered when the Commonwealth Government took over the old house in 1920 for use as Government House.

It told an interesting but probably entirely romantic tale of the theft of a valuable diamond,

bushrangers, loyalty of a faithful blackfellow, and the burial of the gem beneath a giant deodar in the . gardens of Yarralumla.

"SWALLOWED" DIAMOND"

In 1820, a convict' stole a large diamond from James. Cobbity on an obscure cattle station in Queensland.

Captured in 1858; the convict refused, despite floggings, to reveal the hiding place of the stone.

He had given it to a groom, who passed, it to. his son, fearing to try to dispose of it during his lifetime.

With a trusted aborigine the son eventually left Cooma, about 60 miles south of Canberra, to take the diamond, to Sydney.

They, were attacked by 'bushrangers and the black was captured.

Angered when they could not find the .diamond, which the black had swallowed they, shot him and left the body in the bush where it was found by a wandering tribe.

The old manuscript says, "He was buried in a piece of land belonging to Colonel Gibbes, and later Mr. Campbell.

I believe the diamond to be among his bones.

It is of great value. Believe, and receive a fortune - Scoff, and leave .the jewel in its hiding place."

A deodar - SPRUCE TREE

The majestic deodar, which is about 100 years old and the parent of the Canberra deodar avenues, is about halfway along the south western : side of Yarralumla's magnificent new reception room.

Colonel Gibbes built a homestead near the site of the present Government House and Mr Frederick Campbell built the central three-storied portion of the present Yarralumla in 1891.

Comments

Title: Haunting History and Ghostly Whispers: The Story of Morisset Insane Asylum

If you’re fascinated by eerie places, spine-chilling ghost stories, and a slice of Australian history, then you’re in for a treat. Today, we’re diving into the intriguing past of one of New South Wales’ most infamous locations – the Morisset Insane Asylum, nestled in the quiet town of Morisset near Newcastle. Ready to uncover its secrets? Let’s go! The Beginning: When and Why Was Morisset Insane Asylum Created? Back in the early 1900s, mental health care was a very different beast from what it is today. In 1908, the Morisset Insane Asylum was established to serve as a psychiatric hospital primarily for patients from the Hunter Region and northern NSW. The government needed a facility to care for those struggling with mental illnesses, and Morisset was chosen for its remote and tranquil setting—ideal, they thought, for healing. The asylum was built with a mix of imposing brick buildings and sprawling grounds. It was designed not just as a hospital but as a self-sufficient commun...

Lemon Tree Passage Ghost - Local legend is alive and well

Lemon Tree Passage is a suburb of the Port Stephens local government area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, located at the end of the Tilligerry Peninsula and surrounded by the waters of beautiful Port Stephens . Ever since I can remember there have been a few urban legends about a stretch of highway named Lemon Tree Passage Road. The story begins when a motor bike rider and his pillion passenger died after colliding with a four wheel drive killing both. This seems to be the source of the ghostly lights and apparition. These sort of events don't stay quiet in small townships. Stories spread fast often not ending up like they started. Every so often this urban legend makes a comeback with a number to people tempting fate and poking the ghost rider. A memorial to Dale Dickens on the Lemon Tree Passage Road / Pic: Robert Mckell Source:The Daily Telegraph The Lemon Tree Passage ghost f...

The Haunted History of the Hydro Majestic Hotel: Ghosts in the Mist of the Blue Mountains

Perched on a cliff’s edge at Medlow Bath with sweeping views of the Megalong Valley, the Hydro Majestic Hotel stands as a jewel of Edwardian architecture—and a hotspot for paranormal activity. Known for its luxurious past and distinctive Art Deco charm, this grand hotel also harbours chilling tales of tragic deaths, spectral figures, and eerie encounters that have become part of Blue Mountains folklore. A Brief History of the Hydro Majestic Established in 1904 by retail tycoon Mark Foy, the Hydro Majestic was originally designed as a hydropathic retreat, offering mineral water therapies and strict diets in the European spa tradition. Foy imported marble, mirrors, and even a dome from Chicago, installing them in the now-famous Casino Lobby and Grand Dining Room. Over the decades, the hotel transitioned into a glamorous high-society getaway, hosting politicians, socialites, and international performers. But beneath the glitz, strange events whispered through the hallways—events th...

Search This Blog