Reader beware: The stories behind Newcastle and the Hunter’s most haunted places
From a crash victim who stalks young motorists, to a maniacal inmate trapped in the cells of Maitland Gaol – these are the Hunter’s scariest ghost stories.
Newcastle
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Do you believe in ghosts?
With its long convict history, and a gaol previously housing Australia’s most dangerous criminals, it’s no surprise the Hunter has become the setting for several hair-raising ghost stories.
While some are well-known, we could be surrounded by the supernatural at any time.
“There are literally hundreds of places that I’ve been told about, where people have had ghostly experiences,” said Renata Daniel, owner and guide at Newcastle Ghost Tours.
“Many of them are private places like homes, but some are public places we can go to.
“Ghosts are a bit like memories. They’ll appear when you’re not expecting it, and are often attached to emotions.”
Here at The Newcastle News we’re suckers for a ghost story, so we’ve compiled a list of the most terrifying tales from across the region.
Whether they’re fact or fiction – is up to you to decide.
LEMON TREE PASSAGE
The ghost of Lemon Tree Passage Rd has been the subject of local legend for decades, and become one of Australia’s best-known spooky stories. So much so, the legend was made into a full-length movie in 2014.
According to the tale, a man who lost his life on the lone stretch of road at Lemon Tree Passage, Port Stephens, in the 1980s returns to stalk young motorists.
The ghost is usually described as a single light that appears in a driver’s rearview mirror while driving along the road. There have been many reports of the light chasing and overtaking motorists. It’s said the light follows vehicles until a particular point on the road, before crashing into a telegraph pole and disappearing.
While some say the ghost is warning motorists not to speed, sceptics explain the phenomenon as merely the reflection from a driver’s own lights.
Either way, hopes of seeing the apparition still lead people to Lemon Tree Passage Rd in the dead of night, with many uploading their encounters to YouTube.
MAITLAND GAOL
Maitland Gaol has a long and gruesome history as Australia’s longest continuously running maximum security prison. Many deaths occurred on site, and although an exact figure is unknown, they included 16 executions.
With its grizzly past, it’s no surprise Maitland Gaol is the subject of ghost stories. Reports over the years vary, but include apparitions of uniformed guards on the guard tower and in the guards office, an inmate who rocks back and forth in his cell, heavy cell doors swinging closed on their own, the sounds of chains and men whispering, and an overall eerie sensation.
“Maitland Gaol is an extremely interesting place,” Ms Daniel said.
“We’ve had a lot of encounters there, whether it’s a light touch, a sense of being watched, or a push or a shove.
“We’ve had people locked into cells, or the doors have slammed behind them, and even one or two people have walked out with scratch marks on them.
“There have been a few people who have felt overcome and their character changes, which is can be quite scary.”
Newcastle Ghost Tours operates night-time tours at the gaol, where hunters are given a history of the gaol and its paranormal inhabitants, taught to use K2 meters and voice recorders, then led to the cells to investigate.
MISS PORTER’S HOUSE
This heritage-listed home has remained untouched since the Porter family lived there in the 1900s. Furniture, decor and even clothes are the same as they were left after the deaths of unmarried sisters, Ella and Hazel Porter.
Eldest sister Hazel requested the house be left untouched, and it’s now under the guardianship of the National Trust. Many people have claimed paranormal experiences there, including seeing the sisters dressed in nightgowns and slippers, and furniture moving on its own. Some have even reporting hearing voices and be poked and prodded.
THE OLD NEWCASTLE COURTHOUSE
The relocation of Newcastle Courthouse to shiny, new headquarters may come as a relief for some, with the former site reportedly a hotbed for paranormal activity.
Jurors have reported the feeling of being watched from above during trials, as well as the rattling of doors and cold spots throughout the building. One even reported seeing the apparition of a woman seated in the gallery, with a pillbox, hat and gloves, and her hands folded in her lap.
Whether the site is really haunted will soon be tested by its new occupants. The former courthouse has been bought by Japan’s Nihon University and will be converted into a campus.
MOUNTAIN MAID GOLD MINE
Gold was first discovered in the Copeland Tops State Conservation Area in 1876. People travelled from around the world to try their luck, with the Copeland village growing to about 1100 people. But how many lost their lives chasing riches?
Venture deep into the forest and some say you might find miners still watching over their living quarters, and calling out from the tunnels and tracks.
The gold mine and nearby village are the focus of a new ghost hunt launching in 2021.
“We’re going to go the entrance of the old gold mine shaft, and listen in to see whether we can hear the voices coming out,” Ms Daniel said.
TOMAGO HOUSE
Maria Windeyer is said to still linger in the historic Tomago House, as she keeps an eye on her homestead. She and husband Richard built the home in 1847, but he died before they moved in. Maria was left to finish the property and manage affairs single-handedly.
A number of paranormal experiences have been claimed over the years, including witnessing Maria’s ghost sitting in her rocking chair on a veranda, or overlooking the cellars. Some people have reported strange noises and energies within the home.
Volunteers say they’ve had their own unusual experiences as they renovate Tomago House for the National Trust. The property suffered $400,000 in damage during 2015 storms – with some surprises uncovered during repairs. Two trap doors in Maria’s bedroom, previously hidden under the carpet, are believed to have been hiding spots built in anticipation of visiting bushrangers.
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