The ghosts of the Elephant Bridge Hotel Victoria

[KANACKI]

What is it about haunted Pubs?

Its it fundamentally an institution that has survived cultural changes over course of nearly 2 centuries in Australia. How many stories and echos of past are retained in those walls of happiness and sadness. What stories could they tell?

 In Darlington, on the Hamilton Highway back road, about two and a half hours from Melbourne and about an hour from Warrnambool, there is little to see apart from the Elephant Bridge Hotel – and the sign proclaiming it to be the most haunted pub in Australia.

The heritage listed bluestone hotel has been in operation since the mid-1800s, and has garnered a tale or two in its time. The pub is said to be haunted by four ghosts, one of whom is a young woman, one a man in his thirties and another a child who drowned on the property.

The most famous ghost is purportedly that of Adeline Eliza Satchwell, the hotel's longest standing publican, who died in 1943. There have been numerous reports of all four ghosts, but most especially of the 'presence' of the former licensee, who apparently never knocked off even when she checked out, and who, to this day, seems reluctant after death to give up the place where she had spend so much of life living....

Once again this fine old historic Pub is defying the changing demographics and refusing to die just like old Adeline in spectral presence presiding a watchful eye over the grand old hotel.

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

I should say out of concern of losing there heritage institutions. If you are down that way please take the time to visit these grand old pubs to soak in the atmosphere and perhaps those of us inclined to experience things you may just might experience a ghostly apparition from our past.

Kanacki

[Christine]

Well next time I drive down that way I am going to stop in! Thanks. So many great posts this week. Thanks Kanacki!

[KANACKI]

my pleasure. I would love to hear you impressions of the place.

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

Headless has found some interesting information on the hotel.

Hi KANACKI

I’ve been looking into your Elephant Bridge Hotel story, page 19. I didn’t find anything about a young woman or a child who drowned on the property. However, there’s been reports of a man in his thirties being seen, also staff members have reported seeing a man on the pub roof who stabbed himself. I found something interesting.

Adeline Eliza Satchwell, known as Ada, was born at the Elephant Bridge Hotel on 9 February 1861 to John
Satchwell and Mary Ann Hudson. Her father, a hot-tempered man, had only recently taken up the license on the Hotel. When Adeline was just two months old, her father killed himself. He was thirty-four.

To be continued.......

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

The Published by Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal NSW Sat 18 May 1861 gave a report on the tragic incident.

EXTRAORDINARY CONDUCT AND SUICIDE

An inquest was held on the body of John Satchwell, of Elephant Bridge Hotel on Saturday last, when a verdict was returned that deceased committed suicide by means of a knife with which he cut his throat, and that at the time, he was labouring under a fit of temporary insanity. We learn the following particulars relative to the extraordinary conduct of the deceased, which led to the rash act.

On Tuesday last (the day of the Elephant Bridge races), he had a quarrel with his wife about some trivial matter, and again carried it out on the following Wednesday, when he confined her to a room, and attempted to set fire to her; she, however, escaped from the window by the assistance of a person outside, and made her way to a gentleman’s house in the neighbourhood.

Believing that his wife would take the coach for Geelong the following day, he saddled his horse and accompanied the coach for several miles, finding she did not appear he turned back, remarking to the coachman, Alick, that he would never see him (Satchwell) again alive, In the meantime a trooper appeared, and with the assistance of two or three special constables and half-a-dozen others, Satchwell was apprehended, handcuffed, placed in a cart.

To be continued......

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

On the road he complained of severe pain in one of his legs, which he said was caused by the violence of the men in trying to secure him, and requested that the trooper would oblige him with a little hot water to bathe it. On arriving at an hotel the trooper for this purpose, taking off the handcuffs and leaving him in charge of one of the specials, when out jumped the prisoner, seized and mounted the trooper's horse and in another moment was out of sight.

Satchwell having returned to the Bridge, demanded keys of the bar, and took a bottle of brandy, furnished himself with pistols and a knife, which he took great pains to sharpen, and declared that the first man that approached him should meet with instant death. Late that night, or early the following morning the trooper arrived, and learning from the inmates that his prisoner was there, and what might be the result if anyone dared to apprehend him, declared he would do so at all hazards.

To be continued......

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

After a diligent search for some time, Satchwell was found asleep in the attic. The Trooper spoke to Satchwell saying, ' Now that he had found him, he would take better care of him,' when Satchwell immediately sprang to his feet, and presented a pistol, saying he would fire at the trooper if he moved. The trooper reasoned with Satchwell, and desired him to descend the ladder, to which he replied that he would if the trooper went first.

To this the trooper consented, and having arrived on the landing, turned to keep a sharp look out for his prisoner, when he immediately saw that he had cut his throat, and had placed his hand to the wound from which blood was flowing copiously. Satchwell, however, descended the ladder and the stairs, and on arriving at the bottom fell forward, and some fifteen or twenty minutes afterwards expired.

To be continued......

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

Here is some more pictures of inside the hotel for those guests who cannot see the images i suggest singing up to the forum to get unique insight into haunted places in Australia and much more.

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

Here is some more pictures.

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

Does  John Satchwell still haunt the old coaching inn?

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

Regardless if he does or not the story is folklore in the area. Can a ghost of a desperate man who killed himself still haunted the old building?

Your guess is as good as mine?

However if passing be sure to drop in to soak up the atmosphere.

Kanacki