Ghostly tales of Wisemans FerryGhostly tales of Wisemans FerryGhostly tales of Wisemans FerryGhostly tales of Wisemans Ferry

Villagers will tell you – if you get them in the right mood

once the most famous haunted house in Australia.

witching hour of midnight echoes to a woman's piteous moans and the ter

convict irons…

The man:The man:The man:The man: Here this ex-smuggler ruled his manacled convict servants

with a rod of iron, and amassed wealth which enabled him, even in

those primitive days of the colony, to live in the comfort and ease of an

English country gentleman. He had in his service 300 assig

men and women, and he was known to the little community over which

he held sway as "Governor" Wiseman. For nearly 30 years he was lord of

the manor on the banks of the picturesque Hawkesbury, an autocrat with

wide powers over his estate, and

on horseback from Sydney to the Maitland district

The “The “The “The “

of the young convict whose ghost periodically visits the old house

to beg a tic

and thirties it was the custom to grant a ticket

convict serving seven years' sentence if on the expiration of

four years of sentence the convict held a good conduct report.

sweetheart in Sydney, begged Wiseman to give him a permit.

"Governor" refused and instead put him under a cruel taskmaster, who had him chained to

the roadmaking gang. He attempted to escape by swimming the river, but his leg

hampered him and he was drowned. For years the ghost of the young boy was supposed to

come to the house and the clank, clank of his chains sent a shiver down the spine of

travellers who claim to have heard it.

A Swagman’s tale:A Swagman’s tale:A Swagman’s tale:A Swagman’s tale: A swagman who was on his way to Sydney put in at the old house for a

night's camp. Telling of his adventures afterwards he

said that he was awakened shortly after midnight

by the most unearthly noises. The screa

woman as if she were being choked was followed by

the slamming of a door. Footsteps echoed along the

stone corridor, and a shadowy form seemed to flit past

him. All was quiet for a while and the troubled

swagman turned over and tried to sleep. He c

The clanking of leg-irons accomp

Ghostly tales of Wisemans FerryGhostly tales of Wisemans FerryGhostly tales of Wisemans FerryGhostly tales of Wisemans Ferry

if you get them in the right mood – that the Wisemans

once the most famous haunted house in Australia. It is haunted by ghosts, and at the

witching hour of midnight echoes to a woman's piteous moans and the terrifying clank of

smuggler ruled his manacled convict servants

with a rod of iron, and amassed wealth which enabled him, even in

those primitive days of the colony, to live in the comfort and ease of an

English country gentleman. He had in his service 300 assigned convicts,

men and women, and he was known to the little community over which

he held sway as "Governor" Wiseman. For nearly 30 years he was lord of

the manor on the banks of the picturesque Hawkesbury, an autocrat with

wide powers over his estate, and a generous host to the few travelers who braved the journey

on horseback from Sydney to the Maitland district

The “The “The “The “GovernorGovernorGovernorGovernor:”:”:”:” One of the most picturesque legends is the story

of the young convict whose ghost periodically visits the old house

to beg a ticket-of leave of "Governor" Wiseman. In the twenties

and thirties it was the custom to grant a ticket

convict serving seven years' sentence if on the expiration of

four years of sentence the convict held a good conduct report.

The story goes that a young convict, anxious to see his

sweetheart in Sydney, begged Wiseman to give him a permit.

"Governor" refused and instead put him under a cruel taskmaster, who had him chained to

gang. He attempted to escape by swimming the river, but his leg

hampered him and he was drowned. For years the ghost of the young boy was supposed to

come to the house and the clank, clank of his chains sent a shiver down the spine of

claim to have heard it.

A swagman who was on his way to Sydney put in at the old house for a

night's camp. Telling of his adventures afterwards he

said that he was awakened shortly after midnight

by the most unearthly noises. The screams of a

woman as if she were being choked was followed by

the slamming of a door. Footsteps echoed along the

stone corridor, and a shadowy form seemed to flit past

All was quiet for a while and the troubled

swagman turned over and tried to sleep. He could not.

ompanied by the slow

Ghostly tales of Wisemans FerryGhostly tales of Wisemans FerryGhostly tales of Wisemans FerryGhostly tales of Wisemans Ferry…………

Wisemans Inn was

and at the

rifying clank of

who braved the journey

One of the most picturesque legends is the story

of the young convict whose ghost periodically visits the old house

of leave of "Governor" Wiseman. In the twenties

and thirties it was the custom to grant a ticket-of leave to a

convict serving seven years' sentence if on the expiration of

four years of sentence the convict held a good conduct report.

hat a young convict, anxious to see his

sweetheart in Sydney, begged Wiseman to give him a permit. This

"Governor" refused and instead put him under a cruel taskmaster, who had him chained to

gang. He attempted to escape by swimming the river, but his leg-irons

hampered him and he was drowned. For years the ghost of the young boy was supposed to

come to the house and the clank, clank of his chains sent a shiver down the spine of

A swagman who was on his way to Sydney put in at the old house for a

halting steps of a man drove away all attempts at sleep. He sat bolt upright and hearing the

clank of metal approaching his room, grabbed his Matilda and fled out of the door.

Drovers Diary:Drovers Diary:Drovers Diary:Drovers Diary: Thirty years ago a big drover put up at the hotel. He went to sleep in the

small room which forms part of what was in Wiseman's day the great reception room on the

first floor. But when morning came he had disappeared. Afterwards he told how, on waking

from a heavy sleep, he felt that someone was near him. There was a slight rattle, and in

the patch of moonlight that came through the window he saw a pale lady cross the next

room, the door of which was open. He promptly leapt out of bed and,

jumping over the balcony, slid down the post to

the ground, and fled.

Tales of Treasure:Tales of Treasure:Tales of Treasure:Tales of Treasure: Once, it is asserted, a shadowy

female form was seen to rise from the location of

the old vault in the garden after midnight, and

move across the flat and into the old house. It was

supposed to be the spirit of Wiseman's first wife, and

various theories are current as to why she should

haunt her old home. Perhaps she wished to draw

attention to a treasure she left behind, for some years

ago a box of sovereigns was found under the floo

bedroom.

The famous staircase:The famous staircase:The famous staircase:The famous staircase: The narrow, dark stairway which winds to the left room from the hall

is admirably suited to legends of tragedy and mystery. It is up these stairs that the ghostly

convict is supposed to drag his feet with horrible clanks of legirons, and a small room at the

top of them is associated with his appearances. It is also said that on these stairs at the

stroke of midnight, pools of blood can be seen, believed to be that of his first wife Jane

halting steps of a man drove away all attempts at sleep. He sat bolt upright and hearing the

clank of metal approaching his room, grabbed his Matilda and fled out of the door.

Thirty years ago a big drover put up at the hotel. He went to sleep in the

small room which forms part of what was in Wiseman's day the great reception room on the

first floor. But when morning came he had disappeared. Afterwards he told how, on waking

m a heavy sleep, he felt that someone was near him. There was a slight rattle, and in

the patch of moonlight that came through the window he saw a pale lady cross the next

room, the door of which was open. He promptly leapt out of bed and,

balcony, slid down the post to

Once, it is asserted, a shadowy

female form was seen to rise from the location of

the old vault in the garden after midnight, and

move across the flat and into the old house. It was

supposed to be the spirit of Wiseman's first wife, and

various theories are current as to why she should

haunt her old home. Perhaps she wished to draw

attention to a treasure she left behind, for some years

ago a box of sovereigns was found under the floor of what had been Mrs. Wiseman's

The narrow, dark stairway which winds to the left room from the hall

is admirably suited to legends of tragedy and mystery. It is up these stairs that the ghostly

his feet with horrible clanks of legirons, and a small room at the

ssociated with his appearances. It is also said that on these stairs at the

stroke of midnight, pools of blood can be seen, believed to be that of his first wife Jane

halting steps of a man drove away all attempts at sleep. He sat bolt upright and hearing the

clank of metal approaching his room, grabbed his Matilda and fled out of the door.

Thirty years ago a big drover put up at the hotel. He went to sleep in the

small room which forms part of what was in Wiseman's day the great reception room on the

first floor. But when morning came he had disappeared. Afterwards he told how, on waking

m a heavy sleep, he felt that someone was near him. There was a slight rattle, and in

the patch of moonlight that came through the window he saw a pale lady cross the next

r of what had been Mrs. Wiseman's

The narrow, dark stairway which winds to the left room from the hall

is admirably suited to legends of tragedy and mystery. It is up these stairs that the ghostly

his feet with horrible clanks of legirons, and a small room at the

ssociated with his appearances. It is also said that on these stairs at the

stroke of midnight, pools of blood can be seen, believed to be that of his first wife Jane…