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Writer's pictureAvalon Karatau

Day 20: "Ghosts, Gold, and Gags at Hepburn Springs!"


Well, folks, Day 20 of our Whoop Whoop Walk About tour took a spine-chilling turn as we delved into the haunted heart of Hepburn Springs and the notorious Victorian Goldfields.

If you thought this was just about hot springs and relaxation, think again! It turns out the area is also a hotbed of ghostly goings-on. So buckle up, because this tale is as twisted as a gum tree in a cyclone!

First stop, Hepburn Springs, where our guide (yours truly) spun a yarn or two about the gold rush days—a time when the place was crawling with fortune seekers, bushrangers, and the occasional poltergeist. “Ghost stories abound on the goldfields,” I said with a grin. “It was a place where the Aboriginal people were displaced, and where crime and violence ran rampant. People kicked the bucket in all sorts of nasty ways—typhoid, diphtheria, and, of course, childbirth. If we don’t engage with the trauma of the past, it can emerge as ghost stories.” Spooky stuff, right?



But the real chills began as we headed to the Goldfields Gothic Festival in Maldon. This event is a dark and delightful celebration of all things eerie, with ghost tours, lantern-lit walks, and even a talk by a pleasure mentor! (Not sure what that has to do with ghosts, but hey, it’s all part of the fun!) We joined a ghost-hunting crew from Twisted History as they led us through Maldon’s Main Street. With nothing but a lantern and a bag of nerves, we encountered the spirits of nefarious characters who once roamed these parts. I swear, the hairs on my arms stood up straighter than a kangaroo on high alert!

Next, we took a detour to Kyneton, where the legendary Dolly Adamson—Kyneton’s very own ghost whisperer—led us down Piper Street. Armed with electronic gizmos that beeped and buzzed like a didgeridoo gone haywire, Dolly had us all jumping at shadows. “It’s an exceptionally haunted part of Victoria,” she said, and I couldn’t agree more, especially when the EMR meter spiked near an old pub. Was it a ghost, or just my lunch coming back to haunt me? The jury’s still out.

Our haunted adventure continued at the Blackwood Hotel, a weathered old pub from 1859 surrounded by dark, towering forest. We sat down for a pub meal (no ghost chow, thankfully) and heard about the spectral shenanigans that still take place there. Guests have reported footsteps, clinking glasses, and even a door opening and closing by itself. I reckon the spirits were just looking for a cold one!

Finally, we wrapped up our ghostly escapade at The Convent on Wombat Hill in Daylesford, where psychic Christine Ferris shared tales of nuns who may not have moved on to the big chapel in the sky. “They think Earth is purgatory,” Christine said, and as the sun set over the eerie convent, I could almost hear the ghostly whispers of “Hail Mary.”



But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. The day ended on a lighter note at the Glenlyon General Store and Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville, where the spirits seem to be more into pulling pranks than pulling us into the afterlife. As one local said, “Everybody is having too good a time.” And that’s exactly how we wrapped up our haunted Whoop Whoop Walk About tour—laughing, spooked, and ready for whatever Day 21 has in store!

Call to Action:

Ready to face the phantoms and feel the fear? Join us on the next Whoop Whoop Walk About tour and experience the spookier side of the Goldfields!

📞 Call: 0402606481📧 Email: craigmuirlakehouse@gmail.com🌐 Website: www.craigmuirlakehouse.com

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