Discover Ipswich Magazine 2022

HERITAGE

tales, ghost hunters and history... Spooky Many of the historical sites surrounding the Ipswich CBD, home to new dining and cultural hubs, harbour some of the region’s spookiest ghost stories. Fortunately for those that love a spooky tale there’s tours you can do to explore that side of Ipswich’s history. Learn about some of the historic graves at the Ipswich Cemetery with Jack Sim’s Ipswich Cemetery Ghost Tours . Mr Sim has been researching the grim and macabre tales of the heritage city for years. One of the stories is about James Ryan, who was buried at the Ipswich Cemetery, and who claimed he was one of the members of the infamous Kelly gang. He had severe burns on his legs and back and initials branded into his flesh, and he claimed he had escaped a fire at the siege of Glenrowan with another member of the Kelly gang. His untimely death came when he was decapitated by a coal train coming into Ipswich. It was said that he would often walk along the railway lines. Mr Sim’s business, Historic Australia also run tours that explore the Ipswich CBD at night including the Old Flour Mill which has a resident ghost called Hubert that can be heard wandering the halls at night.

Woodlands of Marburg is over 100 years old and has a few ghost stories to tell. Haunted Mansion Tours run on weekends.

And they’ve launched a Goodna Cemetery tour , which is only for brave souls as it’s said to be one of the most haunted sites in the Ipswich region. Another way to explore the ghosts of Ipswich past is to join The Haunted Mansion tour at Woodlands of Marburg . The tour takes you around the grounds to learn the history of the mansion built in 1890, including its first owners the pioneering Smith family and how the estate later became a seminary. Listen for messages from the mansion’s former owners Tommy and Mary Smith who had 11 children when they lived there, as well as some of the priests that passed away while the property was a seminary. Visit chilling rooms that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up! The mansion is now a multi-use venue with accommodation, a restaurant and a cafe open on weekends, and is often used for weddings and functions. Finally, Sip ‘n’ Dip has partnered with paranormal investigators to bring an interactive Paint ‘n’ Paranormal tour to Ipswich. Your ticket includes dinner or nibbles, a drink and a learn

to paint class which includes all your materials. Your paint class could be learning to paint the historic venue that you’ll be investigating, a haunted forest or The Scream, Edvard Munch’s famous painting. After your guided art class, go on a paranormal investigation of the venue, complete with spirit boxes and Ouija boards. Some of the venues include the Marburg Pub , Wolston Farm House , Goodna Cemetery and Jets Leagues Club .

Jack Sim’s Ipswich Cemetery Ghost Tours.

Sip 'n' Dip are running Paint 'n' Paranormal classes that feature paranormal investigations.

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