Ghosts

The Redan Ghosts caused terror in the neighbourhood in 1899. This was part of a wider prank across the Ballarat community.

"A GHOST SCARE AT BALLARAT. A ghost scare is again on in Ballarat, where a number of females have been frightened by the pranks of stupid jokers. At Brown Hill a man with a loaded fowling piece, while playing the part of a phantom, was seized by one of his neighbours, and during the struggle the gun went off, harmlessly. In Ballarat East several Europeans und Chinese met an unearthly figure in Humphrey-street, which gave forth phosphorescent light, causing the Chinese to collapse in terror. At Redan a local ' push' is roaming after dark in white garments, to the great alarm of women and children."

Two weeks later, a couple of men were arrested in Alfredton on suspicion of being ghosts, but instead were gaoled for trespassing: "THE BALLARAT 'GHOST' SCARE. On Wednesday night the residents of Alfredton thought they had captured two of the 'ghosts' that have latterly been seen in Ballarat and the suburbs. Captain Sanley Low, A.D.C. to the Commandant, raised the alarm, as the intruders were in the grounds of his father-in-law, Sir Henry Cuthbert, but when the police arrived it was found that the supposed phantoms were two Indian hawkers in gorgeous attire. At the City Court the dusky pedlars were each fined 7/6 for trespassing on the grounds of the Solicitor-General, but they said they had no money to pay the penalties, and they were removed to gaol."