Perhaps you do not believe in ghosts. But, then, neither does the Rev. Archibald Hamilton Ross, a retired Presbyterian clergyman, until he moved into Coriyule house, at Drysdale, one of Victoria's "haunted houses."
At Coriyule there is no escaping the ghost'' that plays tinkling, melodic tunes on the old piano, the cheerful
ghost, or the mournful one that moans from room to room of this 169-year old residence.
Even Mr. Ross who admits that he cannot escape them without deserting the house. And he has grown so fond of it in his twenty-four years of ownership that he would not
dream of leaving.
Coriyule has the right atmosphere for the supernatural. It occupies a prominence overlooking 'Port Phillip
Bay, and was constructed of basalt. Only the' freestone parts are to-day showing signs of weather-wear. It
stands solidly upon a fortress-like basement, apertured for the guns settlers used to beat off attacks by the
natives.
A lovely feature of this strange old place is the windows, headed in diamond shape. The house was built for Miss Drysdale, who gave her name to the local township. A remarkable woman, the sister of a treasurer of Edinburgh, she was middle-aged before she migrated from Scotland.
Three years after Coriyule was built, Miss Drysdale died. Her body was buried beneath a poplar tree on a hilltop within sight of the homestead and a favourite horse was buried nearby. The horse remains, but a later owner of Coriyule had Miss Drysdale's remains removed to a neighbouring cemetery.
Dr. John Dunmore Lang, a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, noted the domestic character of Miss Drysdale's establishment. He said: "I could not help thinking that the very horses and cattle seemed to consider themselves more at home here than elsewhere?
However, Coriyule has not given peace to all its inhabitants. The wife of one manager of the property was scared right off the homestead one squally night when she heard what she thought to be a piano tinkling in the front room. Then a cheerful whistle joined in the fantastic tune. She fled from the house.
From this incident the house became well known locally as the "Haunted House,"
Does the restless spirit of Miss Drysdale still haunt the historic building?
Perhaps not happy of having her grave moved from site of her beloved house?
I as always let you decide?
Kanacki