Paranormal investigators search for ghosts at Hobart’s Hope and Anchor Tavern

A livestreamed ghost tour promises to bring the stories of the dead back to life. Fans of all that is spooky have the chance tonight to witness all the happenings inside a Tasmanian icon from the comfort of their own home. WATCH THE INVESTIGATION >>

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A NEW live stream ghost tour promises to bring the stories of its dead back to life.

Ghost fans tonight have the chance to witness all of the spooky happenings at Hobart’s Hope and Anchor from 8.30pm on Tasmania’s Most Haunted Facebook.

Paranormal investigator and owner Sharmaine Mansfield said they are travelling around Tasmania with the #makeyourselfathome Tourism Tasmania campaign, to showcase and support Tassie sites which may have an eerie story to tell.

WATCH THE LIVESTREAM ON TASMANIA’S MOST HAUNTED >>

Sharmaine Mansfield of Tasmania's Most Hunted at The Hope and Anchor Tavern in Hobart. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

The Hope’s licensee Rob Wilson, who lives upstairs and works in the kitchen, hasn’t experienced any ghosts but bar staff recall strange happenings.

Mrs Mansfield said staff saw on CCTV one sitting at the bar and another one pouring a beer at the taps, there was no-one else in the pub at the time aside from the staff member.

Other reports include fires reigniting, music coming back on from being turned off at the power point and a cupboard that opens on its own.

Isaac “Ikey” Solomon, believed to be the inspiration for the character in Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, Fagin, was a regular in the 1820s. Solomon’s story has been told in the book The First Fagin: The true story of Ikey Solomon by Judith Sackville O’Connell.

“We just don’t know what we will find until we live stream investigate,” she said.

The Hope turns 213 this year.

Ms Mansfield said even she felt amazed with 77,000 people having watched New Norfolk’s Bush Inn broadcast during and within 24 hours of the Facebook live stream where paranormal activity was present.

“That’s huge, I didn’t expect this,” she said.

Sharmaine Mansfield of Tasmania's Most Hunted at The Hope and Anchor Tavern in Hobart. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

She said it’s great to share the experience from the investigation live as it’s unfolding, it is like really being there.

Her Facebook page received a boost thanks to lockdown and now sits at 29,000.

“What happens during the streams is people share the link and the business taps into new viewers/followers,” she said.

She uses ghost hunting equipment like Rem-Pods, EMF detectors and parascopes to collect evidence of any paranormal activity.

The next live stream will on August 18.

Well-known Reverend Robert Knopwood, whose diaries record more drinking than preaching, was also a regular at The Hope.

Paranormal believers say there are countless other buildings in Tasmania that have spooky tales, with Willow Court asylum, Port Arthur, Battery Point, and the Hobart penitentiary at the top of the list.

The Richmond Bridge is also notable for apparent ghost sightings.