Ghost at the Royal Derwent Hospital - New Norfolk, Tasmania. 

In 1991, the Canberra Times (newspaper) reported on a haunting in the Royal Derwent Hospital in New Norfolk, Tasmania. Staff at the hospital, which is part of the Willow Court Asylum complex, reported hearing music from an unknown source, and doors and windows opening and closing of their own volition.

 One staff member reported being physically assaulted by an apparition that threw him through a doorway on three separate occasions. 

I have transcribed the newspaper story below, which can be found on Trove here:

'Tas hospital staff report seeing ghost', The Canberra Times. (25 July 1991), p. 5., 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122373029

Tas Hospital staff report seeing ghost

HOBART: Professional counsellors have been called in to help frightened hospital workers who say they are being terrorised by a ghost at Tasmania's major psychiatric hospital.

One male nurse told management he had been grabbed by "an apparition" and thrown into a doorway on three separate occasions last week while on duty in Ward 5 of the Royal Derwent Hospital at New Norfolk, 30km north of Hobart. He has since been moved from duties in the ward and was undergoing counselling.

Other workers reported hearing strange music, doors banging and windows opening of their own accord.

Disability and community support services manager Mark Francis confirmed yesterday that six employees had reported seeing an apparition in the ward.

He said they worked for the nearby Willow Court Centre, which cared for moderate to severely intellectually handicapped patients. The centre, built in the 1830s to rehabilitate convicts, is using the Royal Derwent's Ward 5 on a short-term basis.

Mr Francis said he was told on Tuesday of the poltergeist after staff gave a report to the general manager of Willow Court last Friday.

He said 25 patients were kept in the ward but there had been no change in their behaviour to indicate they may have been disturbed by any paranormal activity.

Mr Francis said his department was adopting a "wait and see" attitude and would assess reports from counsellors after they interviewed staff.

 

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2024