Warwick is a rural town situated on Queensland’s Southern Downs, renowned for historic buildings. But the physical presence and grandeur of these historic buildings is one thing – it’s not until you enter these grand old dames that the stories of the past emerge and their presence can really be felt. Some call this presence paranormal.
Glengallan Homestead is one such building. Uninhabited for more than half its lifetime, it remains frozen in time. “People come back to the Heritage Centre after going through the house and tell us stories of how they felt a chill or how they saw someone at a window,” explains Donna Fraser, Chair, Glengallan Homestead Trust.
Glengallan Homestead General Manager, Jonno Colfs recalls his first-time being in the homestead alone, “I definitely felt something, a little bit spooked, a little bit eerie. I scooted out in quite a hurry. I try not to look at the windows as I walk across the lawn to the house as the last thing I want to see is movement in a window. It’s probably 100% my imagination and reading too many Stephen King novels.”
Walking through Warwick’s CBD, you’ll also spot the Criterion Hotel. Valerie Prentice, one of the owners, explains, “I call myself the Spiritual Guardian of the Criterion Hotel, a custodian of the hotel. Back in 1917, Warwick was going to be the financial capital of the Outback, and Mrs Allman, a widow with three sons, invested a substantial amount of money rebuilding the hotel to be one of the most imposing and finest hotels in Queensland.”
“Her presence can mainly be experienced in the kitchen and the Allman Room. People would walk past and see a strong stout woman in a Victorian dress walking to the mirror,” said Valarie. “I imagine she is quite a formidable woman.”
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