MEGAscene • Issue 9 - 2017
SA PARANORMAL
By Allen Tiller The Cornwall Hotel – Moonta Built in 1862, The Cornwall Hotel was originally known as ‘The Globe Hotel’ and was a popular drinking and overnight accommodation spot in the busy mining town of Moonta. In the late 1870’s, the hotel saw an increase in patronage, which led to the hotel having extensive alterations and additions under the ownership of JK Dawson in 1881. The hotel was almost destroyed on March 23 1889, with only the kitchen left standing after a fire broke out in the front bar. No deaths occurred due to the fire and the hotel was rebuilt by its owners, the SA Brewing Company. Notable deaths in the hotel include a former ostler (a man paid to look after horses in the rear stables). Thomas Senior died in his bed in 1888. It is thought that after he had fed the horses he may have overstrained himself. He returned to his room to lay down after complaining about severe chest pains, and died only a couple of hours later.
The Cornwall Hotel in Moonta
There really is no good reason why the former publican would haunt the hotel, other than that his love for the place may have brought him back. He did not die on site, in fact, he and his wife both died in their Hindmarsh home a few years apart from each other. This may in fact, be someone naming a ghost, when truly it isn’t that person at all… Although Mr Walkley might, or might not, be the resident spirit, there is some odd goings on in the hotel. After a recent talk to staff I discovered the smell of tobacco smoke (not paranormal in itself) is a common complaint, as are cold spots, taps turning on and off by themselves, dirty footprints appearing on clean floors (when no-one has been in the room) and doors opening and closing.
In 1928, Leslie Ferguson, the 28-year-old son of the publicans, passed away in the hotel. Ferguson had served in World War One, and became ill upon returning to South Australia to his wife and children. He stayed with his parents in the hope that the sea air would help relieve his ailment, but unfortunately passed away in his bed from chronic illness caused One staff member had the eeriest of all during his time at war. encounters at the hotel when they walked into the kitchen to discover a man sitting on the The haunting of the hotel is often blamed counter. The man, dressed in very old styled on former publican George Walkley who took clothing was smoking a rolled-up cigarette, over as publican in 1926 after a long run as looked at the staff member, hopped up, and the publican of the Joiners Arms Hotel in walked out the door. He walked across a Hindmarsh. The Walkleys owned the hotel into freshly washed floor, and left no footprints! the 1940’s before retiring back to Hindmarsh in Adelaide. 46