No tricks, just ghostly facts
SPOOKY: Ghost tour operator Troy Murphie with Maitland librarian Peter Woodley.
This is the time when stars are like eyes looking over the earth, and when trees are shadows guarding the secret goings on of another world.
For people on a ghost tour of Morpeth, this is the time when invisible hands reach out and mischief is caused by sources that cannot be seen.
Troy Murphie began leading ghost tours through the historic village only last month, but already he has tales of unusual occurrences to add to those of the residents and business people that were the basis for his tour.
At St James Church, a girl from Sydney felt someone – or something – touching her back while she was alone.
On Northumberland Street, a brilliant light only viewed through the view finder of a digital camera, danced in front of the trees as the group headed back to Swan Street.
And several people have photographs of apparently mundane scenes that later revealed orbs hauntingly captured in the lens.
Best known for his magic shows targeted at young children, Mr Murphie interviewed Morpeth locals and shopkeepers about their supernatural experiences and took their stories to Maitland City Library to try to piece together the life of the spirit.
He was painstaking in his goal to create a ghost tour that was based on facts and historical data, without tricks or acting.
But he found there was no need for embellishment.
Morpeth’s ghosts, long forgotten or ignored, found a new stage to connect with the living when Mr Murphie launched the Morpeth Ghost and History Tour.
“I did a tour guide course four or five years ago at TAFE, and they said the only way to get a job was on Contiki tours – I’m married with three kids and that wasn’t suitable, so I let it go,” he said.
“But while I was down doing shows in Tasmania in November 2007, we went on the Hobart Battery Point Ghost Tour.
“I thought, I could do this, and I know just the place to do it. "
"I interviewed the Morpeth shopkeepers about their ghost stories and I found I didn’t have to make anything up."
"What I give people is true history, and true stories; I haven’t used any corny tricks.”
The two-hour tour begins in Swan Street, turns into Green Street, goes behind Campbell’s Store and up to St James Church and Closebourne House before returning to the main street.
At Campbell’s Store, he tells of visions of a woman in a bone dress who haunts the top floor; of battery-operated music boxes that begin playing after they have been turned off; and iron gates that lock themselves.
Past bishops at St James wrote of a ghost walking around the grounds and disappearing through the rectory door.
And one particular building in Swan Street has a regular ghostly visitor that can be heard at the back door, followed by heavy footsteps going up the stairs.
Mr Murphie says the stories are more interesting than scary, particularly after they have been fleshed out using resources at Maitland City Library.
He believes a face seen in the window of a cottage on Green Street is that of a heartbroken mother, still looking for her lost son, who drowned in a well in 1868.
Maitland Mercury articles from the time tell of the death of Stephen Cantwell, whose body was pulled from the well after a passer by saw a boy’s hat floating on the surface.
Mr Murphie says the weather reports at the time told of torrential rain, and he envisages a mother keeping her children indoors and a fleeting second when she turned her head and a young boy saw his opportunity to escape the confines of a small cottage.
“If you take away the modern buildings, the window is in direct sight of the well,” he said.
“The ghost is his mother, looking out of the window for her son.”
Tours cost $25 for adults and bookings are essential. Contact Mr Murphie on 0401 539 313.