Shadowy figures, disembodied footsteps and a tap on the shoulder by an unseen person have all been reported at Sydney’s Parliament House.
Those who have looked into the buildings past mostly agree that the activity stems from when the building was a hospital, the morgue still located underground.
Those who have looked into the buildings past mostly agree that the activity stems from when the building was a hospital, the morgue still located underground.
Strange Things Afoot in Parliament...
Rendition of a shadow person. In 2009, The Daily Telegraph ran a story concerning the paranormal goings on taking place at Parliament House in Sydney, Australia. A Parliament Education Officer stated there would be an official bulletin that would "explore the strange phenomena that have been reported throughout Parliament for many years".
Staff have experienced a hand placed on their shoulder, but upon turning around, nobody is there, and a shadowy figure has been seen walking the halls. MP's and staff alike know of the ghosts, but what could be haunting this, one of Sydney’s oldest buildings?
We do have a newspaper article from the 'Barrier Miner, Broken Hill' concerning a death within Parliament House, on the 18th of March 1924:
SUDDEN DEATH YESTERDAY OF PARLIAMENTARY OFFICIAL
Sydney, Wednesday.
Mr. Wahlberg, assistant to Mr.Quinn, acting librarian at Parliament House, dropped dead late yesterday afternoon at Parliament House. Mr. Wahlberg had been connected with the Parliamentary library for about 40 year's.
So we know of a long serving staff member of Parliament house who 'dropped dead' within the building, but what if we look back even further?
Staff have experienced a hand placed on their shoulder, but upon turning around, nobody is there, and a shadowy figure has been seen walking the halls. MP's and staff alike know of the ghosts, but what could be haunting this, one of Sydney’s oldest buildings?
We do have a newspaper article from the 'Barrier Miner, Broken Hill' concerning a death within Parliament House, on the 18th of March 1924:
SUDDEN DEATH YESTERDAY OF PARLIAMENTARY OFFICIAL
Sydney, Wednesday.
Mr. Wahlberg, assistant to Mr.Quinn, acting librarian at Parliament House, dropped dead late yesterday afternoon at Parliament House. Mr. Wahlberg had been connected with the Parliamentary library for about 40 year's.
So we know of a long serving staff member of Parliament house who 'dropped dead' within the building, but what if we look back even further?
The Rum Hospital
The Rum Hospital. In 1810 Governor Macquarie arrived in the New South Wales Colony and discovered that the Sydney Cove Hospital was no more than a set of tents and temporary buildings. One of Macquarie's first moves as governor was to establish a new hospital. He set aside a large portion of Government land to accommodate the new buildings, but ran into a few problems. Although plans were drawn up, the British Government were refusing to finance the expensive construction.
Macquarie turned to a private contract with three people to provide the funding, one of whom was to be the hospitals first surgeon. Part of the contract also saw the investors granted a monopoly on Rum imports, and it is this fact that saw the hospital named 'The Rum Hospital'. It was completed and took its first convict patients in 1816.
Macquarie turned to a private contract with three people to provide the funding, one of whom was to be the hospitals first surgeon. Part of the contract also saw the investors granted a monopoly on Rum imports, and it is this fact that saw the hospital named 'The Rum Hospital'. It was completed and took its first convict patients in 1816.
Circa 1900. Even through the selling of rum the hospital did not turn out to be very profitable for the financiers. The construction was 'shoddy' and repairs were constantly having to be made. Reports say that part of the hospital collapsed and had to be rebuilt in 1820, only four years after it had finished construction!
Sydney did not have a population large enough to support such a massive hospital; Macquarie had overestimated the population growth. With large sections of it being under used, it was not long before parts were utilised for none medical purposes. Part of the hospital was appropriated by the Supreme Court, with the north wing turned into court chambers and a courtroom.
In 1829 the states legislative councils took up house in a majority of the North wing of the hospital, sharing it with surgeons. In 1852 the council took over the entirety of the building.
Sydney did not have a population large enough to support such a massive hospital; Macquarie had overestimated the population growth. With large sections of it being under used, it was not long before parts were utilised for none medical purposes. Part of the hospital was appropriated by the Supreme Court, with the north wing turned into court chambers and a courtroom.
In 1829 the states legislative councils took up house in a majority of the North wing of the hospital, sharing it with surgeons. In 1852 the council took over the entirety of the building.
Do Things Stir Underground?
Parliament of New South Wales today. Sydney Hospital still stands around Parliament House. The North Wing has had partial restorations, taking it back to the way it looked in 1892. The two counsel chambers have been restored as has the old surgeon’s quarters.
One part that has not been touched is the old hospital morgue located under Parliament House. It remains there, underneath the theaterette, untouched, bricked up and preserved. Maybe the undoubtedly many deaths that occurred in the hospital are cause for the shadowy figures seen walking parliaments halls.
Crying babies, a woman in a rocking chair and dark shadowy figures are other experiences people have reported.
How reliable can these stories be?
Well being as it is parliament house, a place full of politicians... well, lets just say you be the judge!
One part that has not been touched is the old hospital morgue located under Parliament House. It remains there, underneath the theaterette, untouched, bricked up and preserved. Maybe the undoubtedly many deaths that occurred in the hospital are cause for the shadowy figures seen walking parliaments halls.
Crying babies, a woman in a rocking chair and dark shadowy figures are other experiences people have reported.
How reliable can these stories be?
Well being as it is parliament house, a place full of politicians... well, lets just say you be the judge!
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Ashley Hall 2013
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