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Paranormal and Supernatural => Australian Hauntings Portal => Topic started by: artbyss on January 03, 2012, 08:32:03 PM

Title: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: artbyss on January 03, 2012, 08:32:03 PM
Hi all... I am new to this site so I am not sure of the correct etiquette. I just wanted to share an experience I had at the heritage home "Vine Lodge" at Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria (not far from Ararat). I would really love any feedback... I can't get this out of my mind and I have been careful who I share this with (as in friends and family) because I am sure they will just think I am weird... anyways...

I stayed at the heritage property (middle of December) and was told by staff in the wine tasting that "Colin Preece" (who was a long standing manager of the winery) walked the halls (so to speak) but nothing more. We joked about it for most of the night. My partner and I decided to take the bedroom opposite Colin's room because my partner was a bit of a scaredy cat.

I had a very restless night falling in and out of sleep. I awoke and had to look twice and saw a woman standing in front of the full length mirror (I had left my bedside lamp on which was quite bright - because I was feeling spooky). I thought I wasn't focusing properly but when I did all I could think was OMG its a woman! She wasn't tall, she was slim, she wasn't transparent, she was in what I would call an old fashioned dress, she didn't take any notice of me, she was side profile just looking in the mirror. I was quite shaken, kind of yelled to my partner, closed my eyes tightly and turned toward him. He woke, said what? I didn't tell him but then said calmly "do you want some water?" because I couldn't tell him.

In the morning I got up and looked for any photos on the walls (none!). My partner then asked me "what the hell happened last night?" he said I called /yelled to him - he awoke and looked at me and said I had the look of sheer terror on my face - then I sat upright and asked if he wanted water. Which he thought was weird. I finally told him what I had seen. He thought it was probably a dream, but I said it didn't feel like a dream - not even one of those ones that feel real. But I didn't know.

I told the other people who had stayed the night also, I described the clothing and that I thought she was staring in the mirror etc. Of course they were bemused.
 
One of the staff came to tell us that they had a wedding etc. and when would we be leaving. My partner asked "hey, is there a woman ghost here? My partner (me) had a weird experience." (I had gone in the house at this stage and didn't hear this conversation). She replied with "yes there is a woman that goes into the front bedroom and stands in front of the mirror playing with her hair" to which everyone didn't know what to say.

Then I came out and my partner said "listen to this" and the woman told me the same thing. The only difference was that she claimed she wore a white dress but I said it was regular colours, more neutral taupe kind of tones but not white (actually I was disappointed when she said a white dress and thought it seemed too cliché).

I can't get it out of my mind. I keep thinking I must have imagined it, but it seemed so real. Quite frankly, I feel quite embarrassed or that people will think I am mad.

Anyway, I have been googling and can't really find anything on the house only "the Drives" cellar tunnels on the property (the woman that worked there had said they had had paranormal investigators and psychics etc. that had been and stayed there). I feel like it was so real. I only saw her side profile but maybe that would be enough to recognise a photo or perhaps I just imagined it all I don't know.

I was a bit dubious about further contacting winery staff's as their feedback may be hearsay or exaggerated (like Chinese whispers) so I was hoping to find out whether other people had stayed there and seen anything unusual. Have any of you heard anything about this place?

Just one other thing (sorry this is long)... my partner and I were ridiculously hot that night in our room... even though the others said it was quite a cool night... I just thought I would mention it because I have read some of the other posts and there has been mention of temperatures.

thanks for your time :o))
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: Christine on January 03, 2012, 08:57:29 PM
Hi and welcome to the forum. Thanks for sharing your experience at Seppelts with us. We have investigated there a couple of times and both the house and and the vineyard and tunnels were very active. We devoted a whole chapter to it in our book.
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: artbyss on January 03, 2012, 10:44:42 PM
Thank you Christine. I will definitely buy the book! I am fascinated since I stayed there. I have heaps of questions about heaps of things... probably the same as most people. I am a logical person but not a complete sceptic. There have been a few interesting/unusual things happen throughout my life - as I am sure most people have - but we tend to ignore them or "debunk" them (if that is the correct terminology) even though in the back of our mind we are thinking "now that's odd?". Perhaps I am sensitive to things, I am not sure, but I have probably been more open to and intrigued by the paranormal for the past year or so.

I have been enjoyed reading some of the forums so far.  :D
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: artbyss on January 03, 2012, 10:46:00 PM
***goodness.... I mean "I have enjoyed reading through some of the forums"... should always read before hitting the post button!!!  ::)
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: violet on January 04, 2012, 01:54:26 PM
Fascinating experience, thanks for sharing it artbyss.

Perhaps the white dress cliche was imposed by the other observers... The Ghostly Taupe Lady may not have sounded as convincing hehehe.
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: Colleen on January 04, 2012, 02:03:30 PM
Welcome Artbyss.
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: artbyss on January 04, 2012, 03:13:15 PM
yes Violet... the white dress does sound more convincing!

Thank you for the welcome...  :D
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: Christine on January 04, 2012, 08:24:22 PM
I also think it is worth mentioning that different people can see ghosts differently.

Sometimes I will see one in full colour and CE will see the same one as a shape or in grey etc and vice versa.
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: artbyss on January 04, 2012, 09:34:16 PM
Do you think that once you have actually seen something that perhaps it is the beginning of more things to come? or is that only if you are open to it?

I was kind of half joking at the time that "if anything is to happen or if there are any spirits in the house they will be drawn to me" I have always had small things happen around me, whether it be kind of premonitions and dreams etc or feelings. There have even been smells (not bad ones) but familiar ones for no reason. Any friend or family member that has been ill or elderly always feel close to me or some how get comfort from me when it is their time to pass. I can't explain it but I have always felt it. Until now I have been spooked by things but now not so much.

Anyway, if ever I am going to say anything about these feelings it may as well be in this forum. I don't bother to mention to anyone else.

 :D
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: catseyes on January 04, 2012, 09:45:56 PM
Mostly I see things in sepia.
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: artbyss on January 04, 2012, 09:49:44 PM
that is kind of how it looked to me... when I said "old fashioned"... it was in sepia tones
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: catseyes on January 04, 2012, 09:51:35 PM
Yep, like one of those 1800's photos.
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: Christine on January 05, 2012, 12:36:26 AM
Once you see a couple of things you can become open to seeing more and therefore see more.
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: Colleen on January 05, 2012, 09:16:17 AM
I can always tell if something has happened to a family member, no matter how far away I am.  I also seem to know in advance if
something is about to happen which will affect me or someone near me.    I would never in the past take any notice of the thought and it would happen, but now I am more attuned to it, I don't know if that is the right word to use, and push the thought to the back of my
mind and try to stop that 'thing' from happening.
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: artbyss on January 05, 2012, 09:41:51 AM
I have a similar experience Colleen... but I just put my thoughts down to some kind of psychological weirdness of the mind :) like an OCD thing... LOL  Along the same lines as superstition - if that makes sense? However, it does make you wonder when things DO happen after you have had a feeling or thought.
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: Colleen on January 05, 2012, 09:53:08 AM
Yes, exactly Artbyss, but I try to become more open to it now.  It's amazing.
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: GaryTheDemon on January 18, 2012, 11:02:09 PM
Just paid a visit to the Seppelt winery and did the tour of the drives.  Only three of us plus the guide.

Nothing showed up in the photos - didn't even get any feelings on the walk through.   Some magnificent pictures and a thoroughly wonderful tour though.

Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: Christine on January 19, 2012, 07:48:52 PM
Really...you picked up nothing? That surprises me.

It is an amazing place though. Did you get to walk around the house at all?
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: catseyes on January 19, 2012, 08:00:55 PM
The first time C and I did a walk through there we both picked up on several spirit people wandering around down there.  Creepy place, but then I hate holes in the ground at the best of times.
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: GaryTheDemon on January 21, 2012, 11:29:18 PM
I think I scare (or bore) things off ...
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: GaryTheDemon on January 21, 2012, 11:29:37 PM
But only did the drives - not the house...
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: MadMatty on January 30, 2012, 07:23:21 PM
LOL.  That might be a talent in itself!  :-)

I think I scare (or bore) things off ...

Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: Lo-Cal on March 29, 2012, 02:37:56 PM
Hi guys,

I've been waiting all morning for my membership to be approved as I was so excited to read Artbyss' experience at Seppelt Winery - my friend found this website on Google and were so excited!
A friend of mine recently had her wedding there - Feb 24 - and the bridal party stayed in the homestead.
Nothing was really noticed at the time, there was way too many people running through the house all weekend (bridal party of 12 including Groom and Bride) however we have found some photos that we cannot explain - I do a lot of spiritual work and cannot seem to get my head around these. I also agree with the underground drives Gary - I didn't feel much action down there, but I find I usually shut off when someone is telling me that there are spirits/etc - I don't like being told there are, I'd rather let my mind feel it out.
Artbyss - I know exactly the room and the mirror you refer to!
I will attach the photos for your viewing, maybe someone could explain them, as we certainly cant - and there has been no alterations made to these pictures  :)
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: Lo-Cal on March 29, 2012, 02:38:47 PM
Sorry - the photos are too large to post, so I'll try and squish them down somehow!
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: Christine on March 29, 2012, 04:37:40 PM
You need to make them about 600x800, that should let them be small enough to post.
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: artbyss on September 20, 2012, 11:00:55 PM
Hi there...

Were the images ever able to be uploaded???? I am soooooooo very excited... I haven't been in here in forever and just thought no one else must have had any experience so I thought maybe it was all in my imagination!!!

I would love love love to see photos... I can still see this woman in my mind...

Thank you
SS
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: Christine on September 20, 2012, 11:40:36 PM
I don't think the poster ever uploaded the images, they certainly didn't post the links.
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: artbyss on September 20, 2012, 11:51:29 PM
I hope they reply.... I couldn't believe the luck! I didn't know about the Drives until after I was searching for info on Vine Lodge... it would be great just to see if there are anything in the images... OMG!!! I am so excited... they might just prove I didn't imagine it.
 :D
Title: Re: Vine Lodge - Seppelt Winery, Great Western, Victoria Australia
Post by: Christine on September 21, 2012, 04:06:08 PM
We have a whole chapter on Seppelts in our book.
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