Rookwood Cemetery (officially named Rookwood Necropolis) is the largest multicultural necropolis in the Southern Hemisphere, located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Rookwoodis also considered to be a suburb, close to Lidcombe railway station about 17 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district.

Rookwood Cemetery is divided into denominational and operational areas with individual offices, staff, and equipment to run different parts of the entire area. The cemetery is now managed by five denominational Trusts, each of which is responsible for the care and maintenance of a number of burial sections catering to various ethnic and cultural groups within the community. The following individual Trusts manage the cemetery on behalf of the NSW State Government: Anglican & General Cemetery Trusts, the Catholic Cemeteries Board, The Independent Cemetery Trust,Jewish Cemeter, Muslim Cemetery Trust, and, importantly, The NSW Cremation Company, which founded and operates The Rookwood Crematorium, the oldest operating crematorium in the country. The NSW Cremation Company is the only private company operating a 'cemetery' section within the necropolis grounds, today the company is part of the Invocare company, with links to Service Corporation International of the USA. Rookwood also contains a number of memorial shrines including those dedicated to victims of the Holocaust and to members of the merchant marine killed in wartime. The Sydney War Cemetery is located in the eastern section of the necropolis. The Circle of Love is a shrine dedicated to stillborn children or those who died in young infancy.

It is estimated that approximately one million people have been buried at Rookwood, which covers an area of over 300 hectares. The "Friends of Rookwood Inc" is a voluntary organisation dedicated to preserving the site. As the largest Victorian era cemetery still in operation in the world, Rookwood is of significant national and historical importance.

Some older sections of Rookwood are overgrown with a riot of plants, early horticultural plants, some now large trees or groves, as well as an interesting array of remnant indigenous flora. This results in quite an eclectic mix of flora to be found within the necropolis.

The Serpentine Canal within the Anglican section was restored in recent years, repairing and replacing ornamentation, landscaping and vegetation over 31 hectares of the cemetery.

On the edge of the desert in the far north of South Australia, Farina is situated on the aligmnent of the original Ghan railway, 26 km north of Lyndhurst and 55 km south of Marree where the Oodnadatta and Birdsville Tracks commence. The townwas the railhead from Port Augusta from May 1882 until 1884 when the line was extended first to Marree and then Alice Springs. Railway buildings included platforms, goods shed, sheep and cattle yards, station masters residence, workman’s cottage and a 5m gallon reservoir. The line closed in the 1980s and was removed in 1993. One of the more unusual cargoes embarked at Farina railway station was South Australia’s biggest meteorite. The 1.2 tonne Murnpeowie iron Meteorite was dragged out of the desert north-east of here about a century ago; and can be seen today at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide.

The area was originally proclaimed a town on 21st March 1878 and called Government Gums because of the mature River Red Gums in the creek to the north of the town. Encouraged by a series of unusually wet winters in the 1880s, many optimistic farmers settled here, hoping that rain follows the plough. During the wet years, plans were laid out for a town with 432 quarter-acre blocks.

The locality's name was changed to Farina (Latin for wheat or flour) by farmers who optimistically hoped to turn the vast flat lands here into fields of grain. For a few years the rains were unusually good, and the farms and town flourished, reaching a population of about 600 before the copper and silver mine closed in 1927. It was believed that it would be good for growing wheat and barley, however normal rainfall is nowhere near enough to grow these crops.

Afghan camel drivers lived on Afghan hill, on the eastern side of the town. They brought in wool from the stations and delivered supplies to them. Chinese came to Farina as construction workers on the railway and some stayed on as gardeners.

The town is no longer inhabited, with the closest residents now living at Farina station, visible to the west of the town. The last resident died in 1960. The post office closed in the 1960s. In its heyday, the town had two hotels (the Transcontinental and the Exchange), a bakery, grain store, two breweries, a general store, post office, Anglican church, five blacksmiths and a school. Today nothing but stone ruins and the elevated railway water tank remain of the township. A bush camping area is maintained by the owners of the present-day Farina station.

The town's cemetery is located a few kilometres away via a signposted track. It was last used in 1960 and the town was finally abandoned in the 1980s. Of interest is the Afghan corner of the cemetery which contains several headstones with both English and Arabic inscriptions, plus several headstones without inscriptions, marking the resting place of former Farina residents of Afghan origin who were involved in or connected to the Afghan camel trains which used to provide transport services before the railway was extended. All the gravestones face Mecca in the Islamic tradition.

Albany - Camp Quaranyup - This was a port where ships came in Albany. A young girl who arrived in the 19th century with her father, who was a governor, inspired the name. The Camp was used as a residence. There have been sightings of a young girl in a 19th century nightgown. A heavy branch is said to break and fall off a tree near a gravestone in the old graveyard without a wind to accompany it. The ghost of an electrocuted young man, whose body was buried under the floorboards of a house in the Camp, is seen walking around and howling. This is a really scary place!

Albany - Salt Flats and Albany Family Christian church - deep holes there one day the next day its not there [for the salt flats]. One day a person was riding his push bike at the family church when he went super fast and smashed into a tree he died. Someone committed suicide there on a motorbike he put fishing line around him and a tree and he drove forward.

Fremantle - Fremantle Arts Centre - The Fremantle Arts Centre used to be the old asylum and has a reputation for being one of the most haunted buildings in Australia. Many stories exist, ranging from the experience of cold spots, sightings, and unexplained images appearing in photographs. There have even been reports of actual physical experiences, such as being comforted or kissed when no one is there. Doors open and close without explanation, objects move by themselves, and some people have reported seeing strange lights. Witnesses have also claimed to see people moving about in the windows that are covered by display panels from the inside.

Fremantle - The Old Fremantle Prison - As the holding pen of some of the most notorious, violent and first convicts to arrive in the country, the goal and it’s associated structures which include the Roundhouse and many tunnels are said to contain many ghost and souls. There are many stories of ghosts include everything from executed inmates to those that were classed as insane, and even Aboriginals from before the structure was even built.

Nannup - Old Bakery - Even just poking your head through the window of this run down bakery gives you the creeps! Built in very early 1900’s and abandoned in the 1930’s it still contains all the old baking pans and equipment, when the owners just picked up and left. The smell of buns and the noise of the cash register can be heard during business hours; residents also claim to hear voices ordering bread rolls and jam tarts. At night, you can hear arguing (a man and woman) and banging pots.

Perth - Fremantle Arts Centre - This large building used to be a mental asylum, then converted into a women’s home, and now it’s a museum for the arts. The building is always cold even in summer, when it reaches 100 F plus. There are three resident ghosts, including one lady ghost who always walks this one walkway, angry and sad over the loss of her baby, legend says. Poltergeist activity, cold spots, voices and apparitions have all been reported, and it has a reputation of being Western Australia’s most haunted building.

In 1905 the Victorian Government, under the administration of the Health Department, established the Greenvale Sanatorium for the treatment of consumptives. It was opened by the Minister of Health, the Hon. E.H.Cameron, a month later on 10 May 1905; on 11 May there were ten patients. When the Premier of Victoria visited the site of the Sanatorium in April 1905, he found that the patient accommodation and auxiliary buildings were almost completed.

The choice of location of the new sanatorium seems to have been determined at least in part by the traditional nineteenth century criterion of elevation, which provided access to the necessary fresh air and temperate climate. The description of the institution in the 1908 Parliamentary Papers notes the situation of the 300 acre property: “on the wooded uplands near Broadmeadows ... over 500 feet above sea-level.”

The Essendon Gazette description of the site prior to its opening described its position as “an ideal one, from the standpoint of beauty, cleanliness, fresh air, fair shelter, proximity to the city etc.” In terms of beauty it noted that “the locality chosen by Mr Bent [the Premier] for the Consumptive Home is one of the most charming positions for many miles around Melbourne.” It went on to a classically romantic description of the approach to the sanatorium:- of being “suddenly confronted by a large granite outcrop, looking like a natural fortress to guard the beauty spot beyond”; followed by a gentle descent through the “beautiful park-like country, with red-gum and grey-box trees.”

It might also be that the “famous Back Section” on which it was built was also appropriately isolated from the general populace which, until the introduction of modern treatments from the 1940s, treated TB sufferers somewhat like lepers, to be generally avoided. The 1908 Parliamentary report describes the rationale of this new “special hospital” at Greenvale in the contemporary treatment of consumption. The moral injunctions hint at the strict regimen which would have awaited patients at the sanatorium:- “The primary purpose of such an institution is, by means of generous and selected food, open-air life, and other forms of recuperative treatment, to develop the resistance of the body to the disease, and to arrest the progress of the disease, and to restore the patient to his normal condition. Consumption, however, is a disease that usually requires treatment for a considerable time, often for one or two years, and under the present conditions it is generally impracticable for patients to remain in an institution for such an extended time.

Further, consumption is a disease which the patient, if he desires to recover, must take a large share in his own treatment, and the conditions of the disease are such that if the patient will not help himself, other persons can assist him but little. It is within the power of the patient by very simple means to render himself largely independent of help of others (who are thus set free as wage-earners), and, even though he may have a crippled lung, be of very little burden to his friends. He may indeed become very helpful in the family group.”

The Greenvale Sanatorium was established primarily for patients in reduced circumstances - those who were not able to pay fees, and whose living conditions prevented the improvement of their health, or could lead to the infection of others. Patients were expected to contribute as much as they could afford. Patients were admitted for a month trial; if they responded well, they were retained for a longer period, generally up to three months.

Preventative measures fell exclusively to local government. Immediately after the patient was removed to the sanatorium, notice of the fact was forwarded to the municipal Council of the district where the patient lived. An officer was sent by the Council to carry out the disinfection of the rooms which had been occupied by the patient. “The abolition of such centres of infection is a matter of the highest importance, and Councils are urged to spare no effort in immediately rendering the dwelling clean and uninfective,” said the Parliamentary report.

There was also a considerable emphasis placed upon educational activities, so that patients knew how to minimise infecting other people upon their release. In the beginning, seven 'huts' or framed tents, specially designed for the treatment of patients in the early stages of the disease, were used to house up to 6 patients in each structure. The tents were built for a cost of some £80 each and consisted of a timber frame lined with canvas for the walling; the roof was extended on all sides to form a verandah. The ventilation was so designed as to prevent draughts while ensuring a plentiful supply of fresh air.

Sliding canvas shutters formed the upper part of all the walls, allowing air and sunshine to penetrate; folding canvas doors at each end of the tent also allowed ventilation, and a louvered lantern in the roof acted as an outlet. Other buildings, constructed of weatherboard, were also part of the complex; they housed the kitchen, the dining hall, the surgery and dispensary, and accommodation for the doctor and attendants.41

Ventilation features, of the type which remain on the surviving early-style timber building, were important:- “Verandahs are provided around the wards, so that it is possible to run out beds under cover from the wards, folding doors between the wards being provided to facilitate this. Air perflation has been provided for by means of the numerous doors, fanlights, and valved ventilators above and below each bed, while in the ceiling are many outlet vents.”

In 1905 photographs of the complex appeared in the Weekly Times. They show pavilion style buildings similar to that single example which remains on the site. In 1906, patient accommodation was increased with the opening of two permanent weatherboard buildings, capable of housing 18 patients each, called the Bent and Gresswell Wards. The former name was that of the current premier, the latter was that of the late Dr. D.A. Gresswell and was given in recognition of his invaluable work in fighting the disease. By 1910, the erection of more framed tents enabled the number of beds to be increased to about 90.

Between 1906-8 half of the grounds were planted with ornamental trees and shrubs, “many of which came from the State nursery, while a number were kindly supplied by Mr Guilfoyle, of the Botanical Gardens.” A vegetable and fruit garden had also been partly laid out. In 1928 a long range plan of re-afforestation was commenced by Dr Bell Ferguson, the result of which was that by 1950 the Hospital was drawing on it for its wood supply. Over the years the Sanatorium went from using its own water supply, taken from a dam constructed in the grounds, to the laying on of a water supply from Yan Yean in 1928; septic tank and sewerage was installed in 1929; and electricity was supplied from Yallourn in 1936.

Around 1929, the original patients' dining room became the concert hall, and then the craft room. In about 1933 an iron hut was relocated from Coode Island on the Yarra River to serve as a 'temporary' concert hall. (This building was probably taken from the Asylum, or the Melbourne Harbor Trust workshops, which were situated on the Coode Island wasteland at the time.) Seventeen years later it was replaced by a four-storey building housing wards and a large recreation hall.

The new boomerang shaped ward building was built as a result of the new Commonwealth funding for tuberculosis, along with other new buildings at Heathmont and Gresswell. It was designed by notable Public Works Department Chief Architect Percy Edgar Everett, and opened by the Minister for Health on 29 March 1950. The theatre had been designed to hold up to 400 people and was also to be used by the medical staff for demonstrations and lectures, as well as meetings and post-graduate teaching. At the time the building with its 'wide expanse of window space' was considered quite 'modern'; by then the 'old tents and primitive accommodation' had been demolished.

Some ten years earlier a new Administration Block had also been designed. It was constructed with expansion in mind - in order to provide for a future increase in staff the footings were laid to allow one or two storeys to be added at a later stage. Both of these buildings are in the new modern style, with flat massed elevations and features such as use of glass walls, sometimes rounded at the ends. A feature of the 1950 building is its sweeping curves, especially the elliptical chimney stack, with some contrasting flat surfaces. The fly-wire mullions on the verandahs added a strong horizontal appearance.

The 1950 ward building originally had open verandahs (encompassed with fly-wire) onto which TB patients would be wheeled out during the day. Its ends were glassed “solaria”, common in hospitals of the time, enabling the beneficial ultra-violet rays of sunlight to contribute to the treatment, especially important in the pre-antibiotic days. The solaria on the Administration Building were added later, about 1948.

There remains on the site approximately a dozen detached houses, some timber (maybe dating from the 1920s), and some brick (maybe built in the 1940s and 50s). These were considered necessary, in view of the isolation of the complex, to attract workers. They accommodated maintenance personnel, such as engineers, laundry, groundstaff etc. Also associated with the self-contained living environment which was created are the tennis court, the hall, and exotic decorative plantings of palms and eucalyptus around the grounds.

In 1950 it was considered that 'in its treatment of tuberculosis, Victoria was in the forefront of the Australian States, and compared favourably with other parts of the world'. The success achieved in the treatment of consumptivesGreenvale was turned to the accommodation of elderly people, and in July 1962 it was registered with the Commission as a special hospital for the elderly. The objectives of this 'new' institution were twofold. The first was to provide care for the elderly; the second was to establish a geriatric centre for both the study of the disabilities of aged people, enabling their treatment and rehabilitation, and the study of the social and medical problems associated with such disabilities.

Since the closure of the sanatorium the complex has been known as the Greenvale Village for the Aged, the Greenvale Geriatric Centre, the Greenvale Centre, and the Greenvale Campus of the North-West Hospital. It is now part of the newly created North Western Health Care Network. In 1998 this will move to the Broadmeadows Hospital, and the Greenvale campus will close, ending its 93 year history as a public health facility. led to Greenvale Sanatorium's obsolescence. Other sanatoria that had been established near Melbourne - such as Gresswell and Heatherton - were enough to cope with the reducing numbers of patients, and Greenvale was transferred to the Hospitals and Charities Commission in February 1956.

The Haunted Melbourne

In 1835 John Batman and a group of businessmen bought 243,000 ha of land from the local Aborigines for some trinkets. The Aborigines thought they were only granting him the right to pass through their land. This purchase was later declared illegal by the government. The first building in the new settlement was Fawkner's grog shop (near the present day Spencer Street railway station).

The First Census showed the Population of the new settlement as 145 men and 35 women.

In 1837 this new settlement was named Melbourne (after the British Prime Minister at the time: Lord Melbourne) and the rectangular street grids were laid out. Melbourne grew quickly and soon the first public building was erected two years later in 1839. The customs house still stands at the corner of Flinder's and Williams street. In 1847 Melbourne was proclaimed a city.

THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP - DREW SINTON'S MELBOURNE GHOST TOURS 

For those wishing to experience a tour of haunted Melbourne or have a blossoming interest in the paranormal and supernatural I suggest you make a stop at Drew Sinton's Haunted Bookshop. Located at 15 McKillop Street, Melbourne this place is a small bookshop lined with wooden bookshelves and heavy red velvet drapes. Mr Sinton also runs well known ghost tours of Melbourne, we have taken one or two of these tours including one of Melbourne and one of the State Library. It was fascinating not only for the ghosts but also for the history of the alleyways that run in between buildings and through China Town. Being a resident of Melbourne for at least 25 years I had no idea these places existed.

We were shown back alleys with poltergeists and old coroner's courts with a garage that is lit and open to anyone who wishes to park there for free. Nobody does however. The security guards that used to work there were frightened out of their wits when they heard strange voices and saw strange beings inside this garage, so there is no longer any kind of security on the place. The garage holds an old upstairs house where the ghost of a woman has been both seen and heard - it contains an old alleyway behind that is both dark and spooky. I certainly wouldn't dare go there by myself.

Another interesting spot was Chinatown - with the frightening space between buildings called "Death Alley". Bodies used to be found there in the early 1930's, dumped there by gangsters this alleyway has had lots of strange things happen in there. Stories are told to us in China town of how the Asian residents refuse to walk down certain Alleys as they believe ghosts use them to pass through. Another gruesome story is told of a body that was used to make Dim Sims.

We then trekked up to the Princess Theatre to visit with the famous ghost "Federici". Federici died of a massive heart attack on March 3rd, 1888 after a successful performance of the opera "Faust". A thirty-eight year old Italian-born Englishman with the original name of Frederick Baker, Frederici still resides at the Princess Theatre. On the night that Faust resumed after the death of Frederici the cast swore that his ghost was there with them, they claim that two Mephistopheles (Federici's part) stepped forward to take their bows that night. Ernest St. Clair who had taken on the role swears that every time he stepped forward to take his bow some invisible hands would push him backwards.

Another respected man reported of a strange man sitting in the dress circle during a late night rehearsal and took one of his staff to task for allowing a visitor into the theatre. The employee swore that he had certainly admitted no one. A search was made of the theatre but no stranger was ever found.

Many claimed that the ghost had brushed by them in the corridors and any mishap or equipment failure was then blamed upon Federici's ghost. The Theatre owners spotted a way to get a bit of good publicity for the theatre and offered up 100 pounds to any member of the public prepared to spend a night alone in the theatre, there is no record of anyone ever taking up their challenge.

In the very early 1900's a new fire alarm system was placed into the theatre. The resident fireman would have to punch a time clock every hour, which then triggered a light on a switchboard at a nearby fire station. If he failed to clock in the alarm was raised and a brigade dispatched to the theatre. One particular night during a heat wave no message came through on the hour and within minutes the brigade was dispatched. Upon reaching the theatre the firemen could find no sign of a fire but did find their colleague - huddled in a corner terrified beyond belief. He later claimed that he had opened the sliding section of the roof to let the heat out and some air in. As the panels opened, bright moonlight came into the auditorium revealing a figure standing, statue-like, on center stage. He described this figure as a tall, well-built man with distinguished features, dressed in evening clothes with a long cloak and a top-hat.

The best known sighting of the ghost occurred in 1917. The Theatre's wardrobe mistress was working back late to finish costumes for an upcoming production. At approximately 2.30am a fireman knocked gently on her workroom door and stuck his head inside and asked her if she'd like to see a ghost. The skeptical woman's curiosity got the better of her and she went with him. The went up some side stairs to a landing beside the dress circle. The fireman pointed to Federici who was sitting in the middle of the second row of the dress circle. He was staring down at the empty stage as the fireman and the wardrobe mistress looked on, they eventually left the ghost and returned back to their work quite amazed at what they'd seen.

A couple of years later another fireman had an experience. He saw the ghost standing in the same spot on two separate occasions. The list goes on and on of people who have seen this ghost, even up to this day. It is now considered good luck if the ghost is seen on opening night. I've heard that the Princess Theatre leaves a particular seat vacant in the Dress Circle for him on an opening night. Imagine sitting in the seat next to his!

We finished the tour of Melbourne not long after visiting the Princess Theatre, but there are many more haunted sites around Melbourne.

STATE LIBRARY TOUR 

Dark shadows hide between the bookshelves, wispy white figures are seen amongst the different book sections. Strange figures on the staircases and lights that move around on their own. All are tales told of the hauntings of the State Library, Melbourne.
The state library tour was also run by Drew Sinton, unfortunately it is no longer running whilst they are repairing the glass dome. I guess Mr Sinton will start the tours up again when these renovations are complete.
The place is dark and eerie at night when we go through on the tour. You expect to see something hiding in some of the places. The most common things seen are reported by security who are alone in this dark an ominous place at night time. They see, hear and smell numerous strange things, when no one else is around. Tour groups taken on ghost tours through the library have also reported unusual happenings. When taken up. into the dark realms of the upper dome area you feel nothing else but fear. Not just from being surrounded by thousands and thousands of books and darkness but you get the feeling something is lurking in the back, something dark that is watching you, waiting for you.
The State library is well worth a visit just to admire the beauty of the place. We were thrilled to witness the dome room being lit up by the numerous small lights around the place, truly a beautiful sight to behold!

The ghost tour took us to all areas of this large antique building, ghosts have been spotted left, right and center, even ghosts on a second floor that doesn't exist have been spotted there. A lot of the tour consisted of State Library staff, interested to visit this place at night. All admitted to never looking at the place the same way again. I spoke to some of the staff members later on during the week after the tour, all admitted to constantly looking over their shoulders from now on.

VICTORIA MARKETS 

And you just thought they sold fruit and vegies there? Well guess what, the Vic markets has it's own resident ghosts and guess why, well it's built on top of the old Melbourne Cemetery, just like Poltergeist the movie. Except I expect that dead bodies won't come up out of the ground. It is estimated that 10,000 bodies were buried in the first general cemetery of Melbourne. When first opened a fence was put up around the cemetery to keep out cattle and to deter thieves from stealing the redgum headstones for firewood.

Those not worthy of a proper burial in a proper cemetery were buried outside the fence. Three bush rangers who were caught and hanged beside their graves outside the fence. It was said that these three outlaws haunted the cemetery inside of the fence that they were not permitted a proper burial in. Reports of these three continued on even after the markets were established. They would intermittently appear among the fruit and vegetable stalls or in the flower pavilion.

OLD MELBOURNE GAOL 

The place where the famous bushranger Ned Kelly was hanged in 1888, this place is one of total sorrow and misery which can certainly be felt as you tour through it's cold stone corridors.

It is known to be haunted by many ghosts; there are stories a plenty about apparitions and strange occurrences by both visitors and paranormal investigators. I guess the question most asked is "does Ned Kelly haunt the Old Melbourne Gaol?".. well he could do, his body was originally buried there underneath the flagstones and uncovered in 1929 by a steam shovel during excavations. It's reported that they tore the lid off the coffin marked with Kelly's initials "EK".
Unfortunately when it was announced that it was Ned Kelly's grave there was a mad rush as workers and anyone else who happened to be around made a ghoulish attempt to grab one of his bones and keep them for a momento. It is still unknown, and stories abound, about the wherabouts of Ned Kelly's skull.



FLINDERS STREET RAILWAY STATION 

Built in the early 1900's this large historical station stands alongside the great Yarra River. One of the most popular sites for fishermen in those early years many could be seen spending their days attempting to catch a bite or two. Train travellers often reported of seeing a little old many carrying a fishing pole and a wooden bucket filled with perch. He would stand on the busy platform but never board a train or move in any way. He seemed completely oblivious to the noise, people and trains. If anyone would approach this strange man he would vanish right before everyones eyes. Train travellers would be so upset by this that they more often than not missed their trains.

NATIONAL GALLERY 

A strange report of a distinguished pianist by the name of Stephen McIntyre was giving a concert for a full-house at the National Gallery. As he was playing an unseen being took over his piano, Stephen battled on through the concert trying to gain control but as he pressed a single key the piano would emit several other notes at the same time, completely upsetting the sound of the tune he was trying to play. The audience could quite clearly hear the strange sounds that were made by this mischievous spirit.