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Port Arthur’s Ghosts!
This is a comprehensive (well sort of) look at the ghosts and hauntings, which make Port Arthur one of the world's most haunted sites.
We list the known and as many unknown spirits as we can, each place has a resident spirit (or more) and we list the hauntings that the spirit made contribute too. It’s not only the buildings that house ghosts, the whole of the grounds are also haunted. Those who try to debunk the hauntings here have left skeptics no more.
What makes Port Arthur haunted, this place has foundations built from suffering, torment, and pain, depression…. The basic building blokes for a haunting, many a convict also passed on with in these grounds…. Most are buried on (The Isle of the Dead)…. The first ghost sighting in Australia took place here in 1871 (while the site was still operational). The subject of ghosts have caused Port Arthur to add a Ghost Tour (operation since 1991) and many of tours have had strange, even frightening encounters, with the 100’s of spirits of Port Arthur. We have added the link to the site and to the pictures and stories from those who have encountered the Ghosts of Port Arthur. Plus we have added our own encounters that we had when we were last down.
The Church
Two convict spirits have been (reported and witnessed by a number of folk) seen standing near the oak trees by the Church.
Now and then a brilliant flash of light will illuminate up the church
Ghostly church bells have been heard ringing on a number of times.
The Parsonage
A few tourists have witnessed “The Lady in Blue”, though she mainly shows herself to children.
This place does house a disturbed spirit, who has become physical over the decades. A young renovator was awoken out of a sleep to icy hands gripping him around the neck. His co-workers witnessed this.
Footsteps have been heard walking up the stairs.
A ghostly child has been seen watching out the window
An elderly man was seen by the fireplace and to the amazement of a couple of tourist…. He vanished.
PORT ARTHUR IMAGES
The Commandant’s Residence
The Nanny is the most famous ghost in all of Australia, many photos and videos have captured many different phenomena all centered around her chair.
The Commandant also makes himself known, Booth O’Hara’s ghosts is said to haunt his bedroom; a ghostly indentation on the bed has been seen on a few occasions. He is also seen looking out a window and on the porch, a from time to time he is seen on his Jetty.
O’Hara’s daughter is said to haunt the front steps, a sound of a person falling down the stairs has been heard, it’s even been heard on a few ghost tours.
The servant bells have been heard on numerous occasions, causing people to move away from the home quickly…. Why would you say! It’s only the bells were disconnected when the settlement closed.
Medicals Residence
Children’s laughter has been heard on several occasions, plus most times it’s heard there’s a tour going on.
One disturbing encounter some have had…. Is the sound of a person snorting real loud, it not terrifying it’s more off putting.
Port Arthur is lucky to have two (Ladies) the parsonage is “The Lady In Blue”…. Here it’s “The Lady in Grey” she is seen walking or floating down the hallway, those who see her become frozen in disbelief.
If you lived here years ago, one sighting that happened now and then is a child watching you through a window (when in bed).
Separate Prison
Ghostly Apparitions have been seen standing in the doorways of the cells, on one notable ghost tour over 20 people saw a ghostly convict walk out of the cell and back in again.
Entering isolation cell no4, take notice of the heavy depression feel it produces, as a convict took his own life in that cell, some tourist who know nothing of the haunted cell, have left in tears as they felt an over whelming sadness.
The Penitentiary
Being in this ruin at night alone is an uneasy task, there are so many places that ghosts can appear from or sounds can come from. The one main thing I noticed about this place, movement from the corner of the eyes…. At first I thought it was my mind playing tricks, but when I focused I could see shadowy figures moving about as if teasing or taunting me…. I became a little on edge but I had to face the fear…. Nothing happened and felt comfortable enough to continue my exploring. Though before we left we all walked through one last time, as Julian is coming down the stairs, something pokes him in the ribs (something soldiers would do to get the convicts moving along) his reaction said it all and he quickly left…. Don’t blame him. Not much is written about the penitentiary but we hope to find something soon about or at least another encounter there next time.
The Asylum
The Asylum may house a poltergeist, doors have opened and closed, an ashtray was witnessed moving on a table, strange smells and cold spots.
Pauper Mess
There maybe some reported sighting or encounters from The Pauper’s Mess, we will keep looking until we do.
Government House
There a small happening that go on in or around here…. But this is our tale of an encounter. It was after 12.00am when Mike and I entered this building, the place had a eerie silence to it, which gave us a great chance of picking up and manifested voices. It wasn’t voices we got; in fact it was the strangest encounter we have ever had. We were standing in the hallway looking out front door way (pictured) suddenly Mike complained about an icy sensation on his right arm, not just in one spot but his entire arm, at first he thought it was a stroke but his arm became colder, he even started shaking from the cold (granted it was a cold night but not freezing cold) I felt his arm and to my amazement if felt the coldness, if felt slightly clammy…. So move from that spot and went to another, the coldness left and Mike felt normal temperature again. We explored the ruin with nothing else happening; we had to try the spot one more time not only did it return to Mike but my right hard and half way up started to become cold…. I asked if their was any presence with us and could they please stop doing what their doing…. The coldness went slowly and left as soon as we left the building. This was without the strangest encounter we’ve had.
O’Brien Cottage
The feeling of being observed is the main sensation you may feel when near this small cottage. The occasional sounds of heavy footsteps also heard.
Hospital
Moans of suffering have been heard on full moon nights; those who went in never came out. This place also was a morgue and many a dead man left here.
The Accountants House
Where the “Lady in Blue” is seen to walk across the yard, disappearing before the connecting fence.
Isle of the Dead
Mark Jeffries was a care taker on the island for a short while, he was at that time Port Arthur’s most fear convict, one tough man, he was sent to the island to keep him away from the other convicts, one night he sent a signal fire for help, when the guards came and got him, he kept mumbling about the devil…. Apparently his tiny shack started to glow on the inside, it glowed an eerie red, and Jeffries himself said “I saw the devil” something on that island terrified the toughest man to go through Port Arthur.
Point Puer
The boy’s prison, it was just as brutal as Port Arthur. To the point where the young lads to (free themselves from that hell), leaped off the cliff known as (Suicide Cliffs). Ghostly screams have been heard, the screams are that chilling people just flee.
The Pine Trees
These row of trees have a few ghostly images attached to them, in the dark of night, you will see two pale faces staring at you, if you acknowledge them…. They sometimes reply with a nod, the faces are not completely detailed so it’s hard to tell what sex they are? If it’s so dark how can you see the faces? They glow.
Another ghostly sighting is of a young woman and child, both dressed in period clothing, both have what some say “A forlorn look” they seem to be watching the water for someone’s return.
The small creek that runs into the settlement has a ghost from what we understand. A woman fell in and drowned. Not a common sight, but has been seen on a few occasions, a body has been seen floating in the creek, then it disappears…. Who she was we are trying to uncover.
The Guard Tower
This place was where some convicts would be placed, straight from here to the flogging yards or the hangman’s rope. Some have heard the anguish cries, as if someone pleading for their lives.
The most common encounter here is…. Is a ghostly soldier standing near the rail?
Sometimes the soldier can be heard move back and forth, as if pacing.
Psychical encounters happen as well, some tourist day and night have felt someone grab their shoulder, they turn to find nothing and no-one.
Other strange ghostly happenings are….
Shimmery Figures have been seen walking around in the distance, only to vanish.
Following footsteps
Strange echoing cries
People being touched by no one
When we came down we had two mates with us who had only done two other investigations with us…. So you could say they dove straight into the deep in. Mike and I had been building ourselves for the night, we did several warm up investigations, and plus the past 4 years was building up to that night. We wanted to be ready, we knew what the possibilities could be and what could happen, but our two mates didn’t…. Even though they were interested in the subject of ghosts and were enjoying themselves investigating…. I don’t think they really knew what this ghostly world has to offer, and when the night is through they would have felt a small piece…. Julian did admit a few days later he thought nothing would really change his mind (Some what skeptical and I think he needed proof to fully believe) I think in some way he got his proof and started to see that there’s more to know understand. It takes a brave person to admit he may have been a bit hasty in his judgement (this is a good step in becoming a respect ghost finder).
At first we was all-together and explore a few building in the dark, before separating…. That’s when the mood changed, still excited and enjoying themselves but they were alone and if something did happen…. They would have to face it alone. Though thinking of it now…. When we were at the Commandants House, there are small rooms built off the house it self, the boys encountered a child’s voice and then the nerves kicked in…. so from that moment on the two were on edge. They didn’t leap and scream and run at every sound, but now and then something would set them off, but both handled themselves with maturity…. There’s even some funny bits when the scared themselves accidental.
