Horror writers may soon be descending upon Mount Victoria, after the little town at the top of the Mountains took out first place in Writing NSW’s competition to name the perfect setting for a ghost story.
Local resident and aspiring writer Bo Henley won for her submission which included a reference to Henry Lawson’s poem, Ghost of the Second Bridge, referring to the ghost of Caroline Collits (also known as the woman in black) seen on Victoria Pass.
Ms Henley also pointed out the ghosts that flit in and around the railway station.
”It’s a tiny town with dimly lit streets, a causeway (road) that disappears into the night, and two red eyes that appear on certain nights at the end of platform two,” she wrote.
Later, Ms Henley told the Gazette about the tragic tale of Ms Collits, who was savagely murdered by her lover on Victoria Pass in 1842.
“For many years after, horses became restless near the pass, and her ghost would often be seen there,” she said.
“Her ghost hasn’t been seen in recent times, possibly due to road realignments and the fact that we don’t travel by horse and carriage, but the pass itself hasn’t changed.”
Ms Henley said there were also three ghosts seen around the railway station.
“The first is a gentleman in a long coat, perhaps similar to the old railway uniform, who stands at the end of platform one, then disappears.
“Another is a man with a boater hat, who resides on platform two then walks through the walls and into the museum.”
Another [ghost] is a man with a boater hat, who resides on platform two then walks through the walls and into the museum
- Bo Henley
The third ghost is a nurse on the upper floor of the museum, moving from room to room to check on her patients.
And there’s more, said Ms Henley.
“There is an area on platform one where people won’t go at night - it’s not well lit, and the sense of unease is palpable.”
There are also two red “eyes” that appear at the end of platform two on some nights.
Ms Henley said she doesn’t spook easily and prefers logic – she runs a school physics laboratory – but she was intrigued by the stories.
”I think some can be explained by science but others are mysterious and that’s the fun.”
