Port Arthur’s Ghosts

A Meeting with His Satanic Majesty-Isle of the Dead.

He was a hardened criminal who had been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Despairing of his continued repeat offences after he was transported from England. The Australian authorities confined him to an isolated Island off Port Arthur in Tasmania with approximately 1769 graves of the Dead. Mostly prisoners and around 180 free people for companions where he would work as a gravedigger. No living man or woman lived on the Isle apart from him. He was not afraid of the spirits that may have lingered with him. But one thing and one thing only frightened him to such an extent that he could not stay there despite the relative freedom it offered him. A personal account of a meeting with the Devil himself!

Mark Jeffrey a convict transported from England, whose strange and singular life would one day lead to him being remembered for posterity, would be found by authorities after lighting a signal fire severely distressed in his hut claiming his entire dwelling had been shaken and lit up by an astounding powerful force leading him to a full encounter with a Satanic Force, a being with horns and red eyes he saw as the Devil in a forcible enough form that amazingly he would in future reform his whole life and eventually repent of his past! Whether he escaped some Faustian plot or was suffering from isolation and delusions his experience would change his life forever and he would thereafter claim repentance for his transgressions including manslaughter and profess his belief in the spiritual realm!

Spooked, intrigued or baffled?

Welcome to the chilling and unnerving stories and true-life accounts of the still partially preserved Port Arthur Tasmania and its special burial ground the Isle of the Dead and prepare to be prepared for some scary tales!

Widely believed to be one of the world’s most haunted places the Australian island state of Tasmania holds many historic secrets and is home to one of the best kept colonial penal settlements in the world. Its Port Arthur is located around 60 miles south-east of the capital Hobart. Named after the former Governor Lieutenant Arthur (1825 -1836),Port Arthur’s recorded history of ghostly and paranormal experiences by literally hundreds of people, including not only visitors but people who have worked there including guides and security staff ,has made believers of complete sceptics and earned it its place as an extraordinary testament not only to general colonial and penal history (which is of incredible value on its own)but to the field of paranormal history and study .

Home to the indigenous and highly isolated Pydarerme peoples for around 40000 years before European settlement, Tasmania was originally named Van Dieman’s Land after Dutch Governor General Anthony Van Dieman who had sent Explorer Abel Tasman to explore the area and who landed on it in 1642.

Port Arthur

Port Arthur which is located on the Tasman peninsula on an inlet was originally just a peaceful timber town in 1830 replete with essentials such as water and ample natural materials with appropriate space for creating an infrastructure to build houses and dwellings but in 1833 the first repeat offenders were allowed after which by 1840 it would house over 2000 prisoners staff and officers. Its relative isolation made it an impregnable fortress with the only means to escape guarded heavily by soldiers and dogs. Rivaling Alcatraz in the United States for its position as a prison it was also a social experiment. The experts in penal punishments were veering away from physical punishments to control and or reform of prisoners and were moving to more psychological controls and extreme isolation as punishment.

The Prison

To deal with prisoners who authorities deemed deserved it, a number were confined to the “Separate Prison” another now famously haunted spot where each person was deprived of all interaction with others and had to remain silent always. Sack masks were worn over the head when they did have to go out. This extremely harsh inhumane treatment naturally led to severe illnesses and deaths for many over the years of operation.

The prison continued from 1833 to 1877, after which time the remaining prisoners were redistributed to welfare areas or other forms of confinement. It’s legacy however as a monument to the history of 19th century penal treatment and its cruelty and misguided experimentation as well as its consequent amazing paranormal activity was only just beginning. Several main buildings have numerous, sometimes corroborated by several witnesses, totally unexplained encounters of their own ranging from physical interference, phantom figures, voices, ghost children in windows and rocking chairs that move on their own and a phantom coach! We will examine some of the most intriguing cases herein.

First Hauntings

Even before Port Arthur’s closure, the first reports of hauntings began. In what is now a famous spot for paranormal happenings, “The Parsonage”. Reverend George Eastman who died in 1870 at the property is said to haunt the building (constructed for Port Arthur’s clergy in 1840s).

George Gruncell a journalist for the Clipper paper in 1893 reported on unexplained lights witnessed by a Reverend Hayward and a Doctor. Who were in the house after Eastman’s death.

Gruncell also reports on more frightening incidents that later occurred including extremely loud banging as well as loud knocks and the apparition of a man with a dagger or knife by a servant which so alarmed her, she collapsed and had to be brought around. The journalist himself reported on lights and sounds he witnessed for which he could find no explanation.

Tall Male Figure

Since then, visitors and staff at what is now the historic tourist site. Have repeatedly witnessed a tall male figure with a dark brown suit. Even reported on extremely frightening sensations of constricted throats and problems breathing! With lights and knocking noises have continued to be heard repeatedly as well. Reports from tradespeople working to restore the house have also confirmed serious disturbances and physical sensations. Including a man who claimed to be pinned to a bed by an unknown force.

As to who it is that is haunting the Parsonage, some believe the imposing former parson George Eastman refuses to leave his assigned place and stays on to look over it with the lights and noises belonging to his determined spirit’s efforts to remind the living of his presence and after life purpose.

Whoever or whatever it is whose presence, or energy remains at this site, there are a myriad of reports of strange phenomena making it a worthy contender for the most haunted dwelling on this incredibly eerie settlement.

The Church

The once grand Gothic Revival Church located at Port Arthur was curiously never consecrated due to a preference to it remaining non-denominational by the authorities.

A grand structure with a tower, arched doorways and heavy stonework chiseled by boy prisoners. It has a disturbing history of murder at its very beginning. Two convicts (William Riley and Joseph Shuttleworth) were engaged in building it when Riley struck the Shuttleworth in the head repeatedly killing him in 1835.He was charged and sentenced to murder. Such was its historical beginnings. It went on to be used by up to 1000 convicts for Church Services to help reform their natures but in 1884 a terrible fire totally gutted the inside.

Although only the stonewalls remain no. There have been many documented reports of sightings within the ruins of the Church. Including dark shadowy figures both within and outside it and physically disturbing sensations of being pushed by actual staff working at the site. A tour group witnessed the entire outside of the Church ruins inexplicably lit up. With no reason ever found for the experience. Visitors have also reported seeing figures with tools. Hearing sounds like building tools being used and felt pain in certain parts of their bodies!

The Separate Prison

Mentioned above, this gruesome former solitary confinement prison is heavily haunted. It’s set up, based on an English model, was to keep almost absolute silence within as much as possible. Prisoners could not make any sounds at all and had only one hour to exercise in 24! The cruel history of the Separate Prison to this day upsets and unnerves many visitors some of whom refuse to enter it. For those who brave their fears a number have reported heavy feelings of sadness and oppression. Apparitions are said to haunt every corner from figures in white to the sighting of a known convict John Gould. While as with the other areas physical targeting of individuals has also been experienced. Some are reported to have been touched poked or prodded even pushed!

Given its history, there are many theories as to why the area is not at rest. Including the known recording of the suicide of a prisoner, one William Carter. Others believe that the ones who stay behind are still keeping watch over this area to protect the living in this time or to remind us of the past so we can learn from it. Whatever the reason. It stands as a monument to a former time of great suffering to those who were confined to it. Whose lives were spent in what must have seemed like an eternal vacuum.

The Commandant’s Residence

Haunted by a ghost who loves to rock the old rocking chair in one of the rooms. A gate that opens mysteriously by itself. A phantom coach completes with the sound of horses’ hooves heard by an entire tour group at one point. Disembodied voices and a dark suited man wearing a wig and gown. The former house of the settlement’s Commandant’s house has a reputation as a haunted house extraordinaire.

As to who the spirits or ghosts there are theories the former Nanny who lived there still haunts her room. As aside from the chair. Numerous visitors were reported to have encountered difficulty in taking pictures in the part of the house she lived in. And the Rocking Chair that rocks by itself is thought to have belonged to her.

The Medical Officer’s Residence

The ghosts of Port Arthur are not all gloomy and happier sounds. Apparitions have also been heard and seen at Port Arthur. Including that of a child laughing and playing at the Medical Attendant’s House which is believed to be haunted by child spirits.

The image of the ghost of a pretty small child also been seen on many occasions including during official tours. As with other buildings in Port Arthur including the Commandant’s House. Images of children have been captured on film on a number of occasions including at the window.

Other notable dwellings have their own Story, and maybe the subject of a Part 2 Article.

Conclusion

Is it the time capsule effect of the well-kept former colony. That weaves its spell over so many leading them to “imagine” so many events? That notion seems unlikely. Or do people step back into the past for brief periods seeing life and characters as they were?

On more than one occasion a sighting by a visitor. Who claimed no prior knowledge was matched to preserved photographs of real people who lived there.

The story of Port Arthur may never fully be known. But its legacy no doubt will go on inspiring new generations of ghost hunters and more thrilling encounters!

In the meantime, regular ghost tours are still run there so if you brave a visit for yourself one day. Venture forth with a sturdy heart and a good phone or other camera! You may capture the illusive characters that appear to still reside inside and outside its walls or create an “X File” of your own! I wish you luck.

Happy Ghost Hunts until we meet again!

Further Reading and information. Port Arthur

“In Their Words” Port Arthur Site Management Authority 2015 Mel Andrewartha.