8 of SA’s spookiest spots

Posted 22 October, 2018 Jeremy Rochow

Halloween is only days away and although it’s not celebrated here as much as it is in other countries, Aussies can still get into the spirit of the occasion – pun intended.

 

Since South Australia has plenty of haunted locations, we’ve come up with a list of spine-tingling spots you can visit.

1. Adelaide Arcade

The Adelaide Arcade is one of the oldest shopping malls in Australia and, according to those in-the-know, has at least one resident ghost. Caretaker Francis Cluney met his unfortunate fate in 1877, falling into an electrical generator while investigating a flickering light. The father-of-five’s body was found a short time later, and many of the Arcade’s business owners believe he still roams the mall.

 

2. Old Adelaide Gaol

More than 300,000 people were imprisoned at the Old Adelaide Gaol during its 147-year history, with more than 300 dying within its walls. Of these, 45 were executed on site. With accounts of everything from unexplained lights to doors slamming, apparitions of guards and footsteps on stairs, the Old Adelaide Gaol is said to be one of the most haunted places in South Australia. Book a tour through the Old Adelaide Gaol with RAA.

 

3. Millicent Grand Hotel

This hotel in the south-east is one of a number of pubs around the state that have experienced paranormal activity. Stories and sightings over the years – by multiple staff and visitors – include a little boy who plays around the pool table, a woman who appears in the old service quarters, and an elderly man who wanders up the back stairs late at night, leaving a lingering smell of cigar smoke in his wake.  

 

4. Overland Corner Hotel

The Overland Corner Hotel, on the River Murray near Barmera, was built in 1859 and quickly became the watering hole for drovers, overlanders and the occasional bushranger. One of those bushrangers was Captain Moonlight. On one occasion Moonlight and his gang allegedly locked the area’s lone police constable in a cell before retiring to the hotel for drinks. Moonlight was eventually captured in NSW and executed. It is believed he sometimes walks the Overland Corner Hotel’s hallways. Staff and visitors have also reported hearing a fiddle being played while the hotel is closed, and seeing the figure of a bearded man in a white nightshirt.  

5. Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre

Staff at this historical train museum in Peterborough have long reported paranormal activity, particularly at the end of a movie shown to visitors. Among the steam of the engines housed at the museum, visitors have seen a man in overalls disappearing into the noise, lights and steam. Other reports include voices, footsteps and mysterious paranormal activity on platform 13.

 

6.Martindale Hall

The hall in Mintaro was built in 1879 for pastoralist Sir Edmund Bowman’s 21-year-old son, who allegedly squandered his father’s wealth. People have reportedly seen a man sitting on the stairs wearing clothes from a bygone era, and a guest believes she once woke up and found a child in bed with her. Is this Sir Edmund Bowman or his son? Find out yourself. RAA members can 5% off the $15 entry price for a self-guided tour of the Martindale Hall.

 

7. Kapunda

This town on the Light River has the reputation of being the most haunted town in South Australia. The North Kapunda Hotel opened its doors in 1849 and has a colourful past which may have contributed to reported paranormal activity at the pub. Two young girls are said to haunt the upstairs former accommodation rooms, including 7-year-old Sarah who supposedly fell to her death from a balcony. Other supernatural residents include Dr Blood – a doctor who is rumoured to have performed strange human experiments in one of the pub’s rooms – and a maid who appears near the front desk and makes her way into the gaming room.