Witch and ghost make merry on this last of dear October's days

I was speaking to a friend this week about Halloween and with furrowed brow he informed me that he didn’t like Halloween and it was “just another American thing” invading our shores. I appreciate the sentiment but my view is, if it brings happiness to people then why not.

When my kids were all under 10 years old, I announced one year that instead of doing the rounds of the neighbourhood and asking for lollies, we were going to give back. The kids dressed in their scary costumes and I marched them down to the local age care facility and they walked around handing out small cellophane bags with white marshmellows in them, labelled as “ghost poo”. To this day they haven’t forgiven me.

These days I buy a couple of kilo’s of pre-wrapped lollies (can’t have e-coli getting around on those little hands) and put them in a big bowl. When the children drop by I say to them “you can have as many as you can pick up with one hand”. Some kids go to a lot of trouble with their costumes, others are pretty pathetic really but I don’t mind..it’s a lovely way to meet the neighbours..

So just for fun…and because it’s Halloween this Monday October 31, I’ve gone to great lengths (googled it) to fine the most haunted places in Australia…one for each state.

For all you members in the Top End, the best I can find was a ghost called Kevin who was after a bit of nooky…apparently….would only happen in the NT….lol

MONTE CRISTO – JUNEE, NSW

The history: A boy burned alive in the stables, a small girl was “pushed” out of a maid’s arms and down the stairs by a mysterious unseen force, and most recently in 1961, the gardener was shot by a young man who was obsessed with the film Psycho.

How it’s haunted: Guests often report seeing strange lights, feeling strange presences, and many who choose to stay overnight report seeing former lady of the house Mrs. Crawley.

OLD MELBOURNE GAOL – VICTORIA

The history: Ned Kelly and 132 other convicts were hanged there.

How it’s haunted: People have reported hearing disembodied voices and other strange noises, as well as cold spots.

FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE - WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

The history: Prior to becoming an art centre this was, you guessed it, an insane asylum, and is believed to be one of the most haunted buildings in the Southern Hemisphere.

How it’s haunted: People have reported unwelcome feelings, cold spots, figures being mysteriously added to photographs, feelings of being touched, and doors opening and closing. There are also reports that ghost-hunters heard voices saying “those are chains” and “it’s not cold.”

NATIONAL FILM AND SOUND ARCHIVE – ACT

The history: Until 1984, this building was the Australian Institute of Anatomy, so yeah, they collected body parts.

How it’s haunted: One contracter claims to have been pinned against a wall by an unseen force, while others report that the downstairs corridor, once used to house hundreds of human skulls, is a hotspot for paranormal activity.

PORT ARTHUR – TASMANIA

The history: Originally sold as an an ‘inescapable prison,’ many convicts died here over the years. Port Arthur was also the location of Australia’s worst shooting massacre in 1996, which prompted the introduction of stricter gun control in Australia.

How it’s haunted: Over the past 20 years, 1800 apparitions have been spotted.

DEVIL’S POOL – BABINDA, QLD

The history: 17 people have died here since 1959, the most recent being in November 2008.

How it’s haunted: Aboriginal folklore says that a woman drowned herself here after being separated from her lover, and now she haunts the pool, luring men to the pool to join her in death. People have reported seeing strange apparitions and the sound of someone crying.

 SEPPELTSFIELD WINERY IN THE BAROSSA VALLEY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

The history: Oscar Benno Seppelt allegedly went insane after a prolonged amount of time in his private retreat, hidden away behind a trophy cellar.

How it’s haunted: Guests report the sensation of being watched and pushed by forces that are not there. The lights will not turn on after 7pm. Moans, whispers and gunshots have been heard, as well as sounds of machinery working in a building that has been locked for over 150 years. There are bloodstained walls in the mausoleum that are wet on the anniversary of their deaths.

PALMERSTON – NORTH TERRITORY

The history: Jennifer Mills-Young claims a ghost, named Kevin, once tried to drag her out of bed in the middle of the night.

How it’s haunted: Jennifer says she was sleeping when suddenly she woke up to the feeling of someone grabbing her wrist. “I thought, `Hmmm, hubby wants a bit of romance’, when I suddenly remembered he wasn’t even at home. I yelled at Kevin that he was not welcome in my bedroom and that he couldn’t come into bed with me.

I'd love you to share how you celebrate Halloween (or not) with us in the feedback forum below!