MEGAscene • Issue 10 - 2017
SA PARANORMAL
By Allen Tiller OLD MOUNT GAMBIER GAOL
South Australia is such a vast and interesting State with so many haunted locations that it’s hard to choose just one place for every issue, but for this month’s issue of MEGAscene, I thought we might look at the south of our state, and visit the Old Mount Gambier Gaol. The Mount Gambier Gaol operated from 1866 until 1995. In that time three men, Carl Jung (1871), William Page (1875) and William Nugent (1881) were executed. There were five suicides in the gaol and at least 4 people lost their lives inside the prison through natural causes. The first execution in Mount Gambier Gaol happened on November 10th, 1871. Carl Jung, a shoemaker and wine merchant who had gone into debt because of poor sales. In June that year, bailiff, Thomas Garroway was sent to seize Jung’s property.
Old Mount Gambier Gaol at night
for him to return.
Jung was tried and found guilty, but not before a petition by local business people had been presented to earn him a stay of execution. Unfortunately for Jung, the law had spoken, and on November 10, 1871, Jung was hung inside the Gaol. He held a bouquet of flowers, The two men came to an agreement, and Jung that he asked to be given to his wife upon his was to follow the Bailiff in to Mount Gambier death. the following day. When morning broke and Jung joined Galloway to leave, the bailiff 19-year-old Mary Buchan was dating William seized Jung’s horse and cart, and some farm Walker. Walker, keen on marrying the young animals to help settle his outstanding debts. lady, proposed marriage, which Mary accepted. Garroway then set off for Mount Gambier, expecting Jung to follow. Jung was outraged that the Bailiff had seized his property, but set off after him as agreed.
Over coming months, Walker would delay the marriage many times, angering Mary’s parents, who began to demand the wedding be called off.
July 11th, 1875, Mary Buchan did not turn up to Church as per unusual. Her worried Mother contacted police and reported her missing. Walker was questioned about her whereabouts, and told police he had saddled Jung then turned the gun on himself, but up her horse himself, and seen her off as she was unsuccessful with his suicide attempt, rode out to Casterton in Victoria to find her and instead, fled into the wild scrub lands. Father. Eventually hunger got the better of him, and he made his way back to his home, only to be A telegram sent from a small town along the arrested by police, who were patiently waiting way confirmed that Mary had been seen riding Jung’s rage burned hot inside him, he rode up alongside the bailiff with his shotgun raised, and gave him both barrels at close range, killing him.
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