DIARY OF A GHOST HUNTER

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 ...

In 2006, the town of South Shields in Tyne and Wear, England, became the unlikely setting for one of the most aggressive and bizarre hauntings ever reported in the UK. This was not a centuries-old legend passed down in whispers. This was recent, documented, and witnessed by multiple people — including seasoned paranormal investigators. The events that took place in this modest red-brick terraced house defied logic, challenged belief systems, and terrified everyone involved. A Normal Family… Until It Wasn’t The haunting began quietly — as these things often do. The couple at the center of the story, who have remained largely anonymous and are referred to by pseudonyms Marc and Marianne, lived in the home with their young son, just three years old at the time. Their lives were ordinary — until one night in December 2005, things began to unravel. It started with a simple but unnerving incident: a child’s rocking horse was found inexplicably moved across the room. At first, Marc and M...

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...