Author Topic: The Tote Hotel Ghost Collingwood: VIC  (Read 1244 times)

Offline KANACKI

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The Tote Hotel Ghost Collingwood: VIC
« on: August 14, 2019, 11:15:31 PM »
Upon the settlement of Collingwood from the 1830s to the 1850s, a dairy farm occupied the area for many years. The first building to occupy the site was a wooden shanty operated by storekeepers Messrs. Howitt and Hale during the 1850s.

Daniel Healey, then an uncertificated insolvent, purchased the land in 1867 for £400 and fraudently transferred the deed by trust to his wife and child, operating the site as a grain store before building a hotel.

Sometime during 1870 Daniel Healey was the publican operating the hotel 'Healeys', with his wife Bridget Healey. It was not profitable to begin with as Daniel Healey faced a second insolvency for debts amounting to £212 7s in April 1871.

In 1876, 'The Ivanhoe' hotel was established on the site. In his youth, their son, famous bookmaker Mr. Mick Healey would help run the hotel before obtaining his bookmaker license in 1884. New licensing laws in 1886 saw licensee Bridget Healey before the local courts for having a door open to the bar or unlocked during prohibited hours. Daniel Healey died 14 August 1894 at age 58.

From 1893 to 1905, it has been alleged the venue was used as an illegal betting shop by childhood friend of Mr. Mick Healey, John Wren, though this seems unlikely, considering the Tea Shop likely used as a cover for this gambling was 200m across the road, backing onto Sackville Street. It is around this time that the rumoured tunnels leading from the Tote's cellar to buildings opposite, are suspected to have been constructed.

Bridget Healey died 8 February 1906 and the hotel ownership transferred to her daughters. In 1911, the present structure was built and continued to operate as 'The Ivanhoe' but was now leased and not operated by the Healey family. It was not always run appropriately with daughter Margaret Walsh attempting to eject holder Eleanor Hunt on a 10 year lease for not conforming to the licensing act.Mr. Mick Healey died May 1940 and in June, after being in the possession of the Healey family for more than 70 years, the hotel was purchased by Mr. Stanley Bell, of the Eureka Hotel, Richmond. At purchase he stated the intent to make extensive alterations to the building.

In 1950, the venue was famously fictionalised in Frank Hardy's 1950 novel Power Without Glory.

In 1980, the venue began operating as 'The Tote' and quickly established itself as a centre of contemporary live music. But it appears one of the pubs occupants was not alive in physical seance as the the tote hotel was beloved to be haunted?

To be continued .....

Kanacki

Offline KANACKI

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Re: The Tote Hotel Ghost Collingwood: VIC
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2019, 11:20:43 PM »
Some people claim a ghost inhabits the Tote? The ghost is said to be neither friendly nor unfriendly and supposedly inhabits the landing of the stairs (beneath the large 'Cobra Woman' banner) and is apparently always seen making its way upstairs.

The ghost is often speculated to be a lost patron looking for the amenities, or a faded rock god whose demise no-one noticed, but the most popular story involves Squizzy Taylor the Melbourne gangster, a rowdy New Year's Eve patron and an uncooperative publican?

The original publicans Daniel Healey passed on residence 1894, and Bridget Healey passed on residence 1906. On the day of 30 April 1905 a domestic servant named Ellen M'Carthy became the mother of an infant which she put in a box beneath her bed. When seen by another person the child was dead. No violence was involved and charges of concealment of birth were discharged.

But are any of the alleged people mentioned above actually the ghost who haunts the Tote?

To be continued ......

Kanacki

Offline KANACKI

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Re: The Tote Hotel Ghost Collingwood: VIC
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2019, 11:31:50 PM »
But perhaps there is another identity of this alleged ghost?

in the following newspaper Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Saturday 14 September 1895, page 8 there is report of a death at the Tote.

SUDDEN DEATH.

About 7 o'clock last night, William Ryan 56 years of age, who was engaged as a knock about hand at the Ivanhoe Hotel, Collingwood, fell down in a fit. He was taken at once to the Melbourne Hospital, but was found to be dead when he reached there. The deceased, who was a single man, resided with his sister at Hawks street, West Melbourne. An inquest will be held.

It should be note the Tote Hotel was called the Ivanhoe Hotel in 1895.

Was William Ryan the ghost who still haunts the Tote?

A mystery indeed.....

Kanacki

Offline KANACKI

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Re: The Tote Hotel Ghost Collingwood: VIC
« Reply #3 on: August 17, 2019, 05:34:01 PM »
Perhaps William Ryan is still dutifully doing his job, even in death?

Kanacki

 


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