Bundy's spooky claim to fame

Bundaberg Historical Museum vice-president Errol Larsen was playing the 1989 Chicago Lakeside organ when all of a sudden...!

Rob Barich

Poll

Do you believe in ghosts?

This poll ended on 31 December 2011.

Yes - the truth is definitely out there.

74%

Undecided.

14%

No - don't be silly. There's no such thing.

10%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

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• The world’s most spooky stays

SOMETHING spooky is stalking Bundaberg.

So says the Queensland Paranormal Society, which placed the Bundaberg Historical Museum in the top 10 most haunted sites in Queensland.

Society founder Amanda Richardson said her team found the museum to be “very active” with psychic energy on a recent visit.

“Our psychic saw a little girl from the 1900s sitting on an old hospital cart,” she said.

“There was also a lot of energy hanging around some writing equipment.”

Mrs Richardson said the team was not surprised with their paranormal findings.

“Bundaberg is a very haunted place,” she said.

“It is a very old town with a lot of history.”

However, while some volunteers at the museum believe it haunted, other are not convinced.

While former museum co-ordinator and secretary Chris Spence had not had a ghostly encounter in her 11 years with the organisation, she had heard many stories from other volunteers.

“One night we were having a meeting outside and everything was closed up, and one of our members swore she had seen someone walk past and into the kitchen,” Ms Spence said.

“We thought maybe a visitor had been locked in but we went and checked but we couldn’t find anyone.”

A few other members were sure there was a ghost haunting the museum when items were moved around overnight.

“A few of the volunteers thought something strange was happening when items in the dining room kept getting moved,” she said.

Treasurer Estelle Hanson said that she had wondered if she was not alone in the museum building on several occasions.

“There are times when I’m here by myself and I hear funny noises coming from out the back,” she said.

“I can never see anything so I’m not sure what it is. It does get a bit scary sometimes.”

But vice-president Errol Larsen said he was positive nothing was haunting the museum.

“The building is only 21 years old and I don’t think ghosts would follow the items. I think they stay where they died,” he said.

However, Mrs Richardson said this was not the case.

“These energies stick to different objects,” she said.

Other haunted sites in the Bundaberg region are believed to include the Avondale Homestead Tavern and the Childers Grand Hotel.

According to Mrs Richardson, the Bundaberg Brewed Drinks factory and the Bundaberg Rum Distillery are also haunted.