Allen Tiller's Blog, page 6
January 16, 2024
Haunted Adelaide Plains South Australia
Haunted Adelaide Plains
South Australia
On dark and stormy nights, a phantom walks Port Wakefield Road, hitchhiking to Adelaide. He wears a long, Australian Air Force jacket, with a RAAF uniform underneath. He hitches a ride, and then vanishes from the car…who is this ghost that has been reported since the 1940s? Is he the only ghost walking Port Wakefield Road, and what other spectres are seen in the area?In Haunted Adelaide Plains: South Australia, award-winning historian and paranormal investigator, Allen Tiller investigates this ghost story, and others from the region; including the ghost of a soldier in Mallala, phantoms in Alma, Balaklava, Dublin, Pinery, and Two Wells… and, an unusual sighting of Princess Diana in Mallala at the time of her death.
Allen Tiller focuses his research on true ghost stories drawn from historical sources, interviews, witness statements and his own paranormal investigations. Allen Tiller is a former volunteer at the Mallala Museum and the Adelaide Plains Historical Committee. His family are pioneers in the region and can be linked to two hauntings on the Adelaide Plains, which Allen discusses in this book.
Haunted Adelaide Plains: South Australia, investigates the paranormal through fact-checked historical information that adds authenticity to some stories and debunks others; valuing evidence-based stories over psychic hearsay and giving an unbiased, factual account of local hauntings on the Adelaide Plains.
Buy it here: Haunted Adelaide Plains
December 15, 2023
Gawler Club
Gawler ClubFirst published on the ‘Gawler: Colonial Athens’ blog on 05/03/2023.
The Gawler Club in 2023, is celebrating 150 years since the club's foundation.
The Gawler Club was founded in 1873. Originally the clubs’ rooms were situated in the basement under the Institute Reading Room. In 1880, the Corporation of the Town of Gawler leased a basement room in the Town Hall to the Gawler Club, where it has remained ever since, except for a brief period during which the Gawler Civic Centre was constructed. During this time the Gawler Club was located at the Elderly Centre on 14th Street, Gawler South.
Both my uncles, Lance and Robin, as well as my grandfather Edward were members of the Gawler Club, with their names gracing the championships boards in the club room.
researched and written by Allen Tiller. © 2023
'MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.', South Australian Register, (27 May 1880), p. 6.
December 12, 2023
Land Sale, Gawler Monday, February 12, 1849.
Land Sale, Gawler Monday, February 12, 1849.
First published on the ‘Gawler: Colonial Athens’ blog on 29/10/2021.
On
Monday, February 12, 1849.SAMSON, WICKSTEED, & CO.,
(Successors to Mr John Bentham Neales,)
ARE instructed to sell by public auction, at the Mart, the following valuable freehold properties at Gawler Town and Glenelg—
1—The fee simple of that half-acre, No. 56. whereon is erected the valuable steam flour mill, at Gawler Town, at present in the occupation of Mr Walter Duffield, and, producing a rental of two hundred pounds per annum; six years of his lease being unexpired.
2— That half-acre, No. 75, immediately opposite, whereon is built a substantial stone house, let to the same gentleman for £15 per annum for the same term. So desirable an opportunity as the above for the investment of trust-moneys seldom occurs.
The following valuable half-acre allotments : —
No. 33 — Corner of Dundas and Tod-streets.
No- 58_Comer of Jacobs, Finniss, and Cameron streets.
No- 118-Stubbs-street.
No. 136— Frontages to Cowan and Sutton-streets.
No 142 — Ditto to Thomas-terrace and Sutton street.
No. 141 — Ditto ditto ditto (three frontages).
No. 162— Ditto to Howard and Wright-streets.
No. 155 — Jerringham-street.
No. 163— Wright-street.
No. 164— Three frontages to Victoria-place and Terrace, and Wright-street.
No. 166— Ditto ditto to Howard-street and ditto.
The following suburban lots in the Gawler Special Survey: —
No 21—75 acres on the North Para.
No. 22— 63 ditto ditto ditto
On the latter there is a spring of fresh water.
-------
Also, the following half-acre allotments in the marine town of Glenelg, viz. : —
Nos. 8, 13, 14, and 15.
A. Plan of these Properties can be seen at the Mart.
Source: 1849 'Advertising', South Australian Register, (17 January 1849), p. 2., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article502...
Kandy House - Parabanks - Paranormal Investigation
Parabanks at Salisbury was developed in 1962 when Arndale Developmentsnegotiated with the Salisbury District Council to acquire 30 acres of land nearthe Salisbury CBD. Historical houses including that of Salisbury founder, JohnHarvey were bulldozed for 'progress’. Also lost in the razing of buildings wasthe original Hepzibah church and presbytery.I have been contacted many times about unexplainableincidents in the Parabanks. One of the more common stories is that of a ghostof a child seen on the western side of the shopping complex, so I was intriguedwhen South Australian Ghost Investigations invited Karen and I to investigatewith them at Kandy House.
I was aware of thealleged haunting, as a friend, Alex had put me on to it. I had watched the allegedparanormal activity videos on the Kandy House Facebook with interest. Weinvestigated at Halloween. We spoke directly to the owner and staff about whatthey believed had been happening at the shop. We had a visiting psychic, Bea,who felt a presence, which would later prove an interesting connection to alocal crime.
We used a variety of meters and receivedno interaction. While in the back storeroom, which was reported as highlyactive, I personally witnessed a very strange light. I tried through variousmeans to recreate the light and could not – I am still intrigued by the light,as it made no sense how it could be where I witnessed it!
We concluded our investigation. We were told a few days laterthat the alleged paranormal activity had subsided after our initial visit, butwe will be remaining in contact with the owner to evaluate if furtherinvestigation is needed.
In the meantime, check out Kandy House online – they have anawesome range of hard-to-get lollies!
South Australia Ghost Investigations: https://www.facebook.com/groups/15390...
Kandy House: https://www.facebook.com/KandyHouseADL/
https://kandyhouse.com.au/
December 11, 2023
Elizabeth Muriel Millhouse (nee Cheek) A.M.U.A.
Elizabeth Muriel Millhouse (nee Cheek) A.M.U.A.First published on the ‘Gawler: Colonial Athens’ blog on 26/10/2021
Elizabeth married Algernon Edward Millhouse (1887 - 1948) on 14 May 1912, in the Registry Office, Adelaide.
Elizabeth Muriel Millhouse is remembered by her stage name 'Muriel Cheek'. She trained at the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide. Muriel was a Soprano singer who sang frequently in churches and in oratorio.
She was one of Australia's finest lieder singers. In 1921 Muriel Cheek took the part of Yum Yum in the grand presentation of the Gilbert & Sullivan opera 'The Mikado' at Gawler.
She was a valued member of Tod Street Methodist Choir which was conducted by her father for many years.
In Melbourne, she taught at the Albert Street Conservatorium but joined the teaching staff of the University Conservatorium, a position she held at the time of her death.
Muriel was the daughter of Gawler Town Inspector, Phillip Cheek.
The Muriel Cheek Memorial Scholarship is offered at Melbourne University.
Researched by Allen Tiller for the Gawler History Team.
December 9, 2023
Vale Brian Thom
Vale Brian Thom
First published on the ‘Gawler: Colonial Athens’ blog on 24/10/2021.
RIP - Brian Thom, Gawler History Team founder, Deputy Mayor, and Councillor.
Brian was passionate about Gawler's history and made a damn good cappuccino!
I will miss hearing 'How are you my boy?' every time I walk into a history team meeting, or into his home, where he was always welcoming and ready to offer a wine, port, or coffee. He never once forgot to ask how Karen was doing, or how my studies were going...
Brian was very generous with his time, advice and his knowledge. We spent many an hour discussing Gawler's history and how it can be preserved and promoted.
He came into my life just after my dad passed away, and in some way, I guess he fulfilled that fatherly figure we all sometimes need.
His are big shoes to fill. He had spoken to me many times about me taking his place in the future as Gawler History Team chairperson. He obviously saw something in me, I don't see in myself.
His stubbornness, his pestering people, and his passion are what drove the team for more than ten years, and without him there, even in the background as a mentor, it's going to be a much more subdued Gawler History Team for quite some time.
Vale Brian Thom, you will be missed greatly, by many.
Our Condolences to Bev and the rest of the Thom family.
www.gawlerhistory.com
December 7, 2023
Joseph Kettlewell and Julia Hannah Guy.
First published on the ‘Gawler: Colonial Athens’ blog on 24/10/2021
Joseph Kettewell Guy was born on 8 Oct 1875 in Gawler, South Australia. His father was Philip Kettewell Guy (1837-1922) and his mother was Louisa Ella Pilgrim (1841-1936).
Joseph married Julia Hannah Guy (nee Whinnen). Born 21 April 1875 at the Wallaroo Mines, South Australia, Australia. Joseph married Julia Hannah Whinnen on 24 June 1902, at the Residence of John Whinnen, Gawler.
Together they had one child; Marjorie Elizabeth Louisa Guy (1903 - ?).
Joseph Kettewell Guy was a founding member of the Gawler Bicycle Club
Joseph Kettewell Guy Died on 15 July 1964 – in West Mitcham, South Australia.
Julia Hannah Guy (nee Whinnen) died on 23 November 1966 - in South Australia, aged 91 years old.
Gawler History Team is seeking more information on the Guy family in Gawler. Please contact the Gawler History Team at gawlerhistory@gmail.com with historical information.
researched and written by Allen Tiller.
December 5, 2023
The Bunyip Boys
The Bunyip Boys 1.
First published on the ‘Gawler: Colonial Athens’ blog on2/10/2021
The Bunyip Boys was drawn by American cartoonist Gene Byrnes (March 18, 1889 – July 26, 1974). In the US, and in some Australian reprints the comic was known as 'Reg'lar Fellas'. It has also been published under the name ' The Children's Corner'.It is only called ' The Bunyip Boys' in The Bunyip newspaper, published in Gawler, South Australia.
December 4, 2023
A Paranormal Investigation at Kapunda Museum
Built in 1866, the main building of the Kapunda Museum servedthe Kapunda Baptist community until 1948. From 1949 until the mid-1960s the building was utilised as a technical school. It was then sold to the KapundaCouncil. The council donated the building to the Kapunda Historical Societywhich reopened the building as the Kapunda Museum in 1971. In the years thatfollowed the nearby building that once housed the Kapunda Herald newspaper was incorporatedinto the museum and renamed Bagot’s Fortune.
The museum hostsKapunda’s mining, religious and business history, and is considered one of thefinest folk museums in Australia. I have my own personal connection to thecollection with my grandmother, Audrey Tiller (nee Tremaine) donated numerousitems from her properties around Kapunda, including her bedroom suite, my father’sschoolbooks, and my great grandfathers, H.J.B. Tremaine’s crystal radio set.Other items in the museum include photos of my relatives from the Hazel, Cole, Rowett,Datson and Adams families.
In the Hawke Gallery, one can see foundry products from anera long gone, including a cross-compound steam engine. The museum contains a collection covering every facet of Kapunda's history including anextensive display of machinery, agricultural equipment, an old local Kapunda Ambulance, and a collection of old record players, including wax cylinders.
Karen and I were invited by Chris and Deano of Spirit CrewSouth Australia to investigate with them at the museum on September 29, 2023.We started in the main building on the ground floor. Karen and I also tried tocontact my grandmother in the room set up as her bedroom, but there were no discernibleresponses. Eventually, we head into the basement. The basement wasquiet. At one point in the evening, we noted what sounded like footstepswalking through the room above us, when everyone present was accounted for and in eyesight of each other in the basement. However, this could easily be disregardedas temperature changes in the late evening affect the woodwork in thebuilding.
At the roadside end of the basement,there is a small schoolroom display consisting of some desks, mannequins, anda blackboard. It was in this room that movement was noticed. First was a chainmoving of its own volition. Ghosts? Possibly, but there is also the chance oneof us knocked it and did not notice, or that building movement, or airflowcaused the movement.
While investigating this schoolroomdisplay movement was noticed near the mannequins. It seemed as though a darkshadow moved from the right to the left wall behind the mannequins. We triedour best to communicate but received nothing. We then tried to recreate the movementbut were unsuccessful. We do not have a reasonable explanation as to what causedthe shadowy movement in the schoolroom display – further investigation isrequired.
It has previouslybeen reported that the museum is haunted. Many years ago, local Reggie Rawady(R.I.P) told me he once experienced the ghost in the old newspaper office. He didn’telaborate much on the ghost, only that it was in the rear of the building wherea movie plays (a movie featured Reggie!)
This building is also infamous for thesuicide of former newspaper editor, Leonard Samuel Curtis. In 1911, 52-year-oldCurtis was found dead in his office by his apprentice, Albert Patterson. Curtishad swallowed a large quantity of Lysol and then shot himself in the neck fourtimes with a revolver. No note was left… Curtis’s ghost is sometimes reportedto be seen peeking out the window of the building.
If you get the chance to visit Kapunda, do consider spendingsome time in the museum. There are some amazing displays, including an operatingtable from the Kapunda hospital and out the back, and an old hearse!
Watch our investigation here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lv2F...
A huge thank you to Chris and Deano for inviting us toinvestigate – check out their pages on Facebook:
Spirit Crew South Australia: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084997001604
Smithfield Paranormal: https://www.facebook.com/SmithfieldParanormal
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1_Bxn_uJ1MM_xc_iOz39zw
Researched and written byAllen Tiller © 2023
Ghostly Gawler - History Month Presentation 2021
Ghostly Gawler
As part of the South Australia History Festival, paranormal historian Allen Tiller presented a talk on ghosts, hauntings and other paranormal events in the Town of Gawler for the Gawler History Team.
