Ipswich Cemetery Tour
*the statue that weeps blood red tears
Ipswich is an area with an abundance of its own legends. Luckily for me, I was able to make time to spend a few hours to wander amongst the Cemetery there that held many stories of its own. For this tour I joined ‘Brisbane Ghost Tours’ and took a journey through the many markers, monuments and tombstones one night away in Ipswich. When it wasn’t eventful it still had its own amazing air of mystery and I left satisfied that I had learnt a little more and that a journey back to this place, a little far from somewhere, would be again worth my while... if I could just find that time again in the future.
In lead up our tour, I was told by my dear friend Rachel that she had stopped by earlier in the day and driven around the perimeter. As she scoped the place out she did so with a black crow keeping good pace with her. By her driver side window it accompanied her as she drove along the boundaries. Oh what an ominous start! It sure set the scene and tone for the night quite nicely.
Our tour was led along by Jack Sim who told us local legends about the more significant final resting places of the ones we stopped by. Even though I did not hear and see any apparitions or get touched up by the unseen (like a previous tour I had taken) I was still incredibly curious and drawn to this place. I suddenly wanted to be someone who had stayed here through the night in the mostly darkness and creep myself out until dawn. I wanted to be almost alone and listen for sounds or even just let my imagination creep. Most of all I wanted a story to take back with me, unbelievable that I perhaps would even doubt myself, for years to come.
*James Ryan... or Dan Kelly?
Jack told us about stories there was no answer for and offered us possible explanations for others. The experience wasn’t an attempt to scare us. It was factual and our experience was kept very real and we were able to consider what may just be possible in this place. Because of this, when someone saw or experienced something we did not believe we were in some kind of psychological frenzy. We questioned everything and Jack told things as they were.
At one place we stopped, as Jack spoke, we stood at the back and listed to his story about the person buried there. Meanwhile our EMF caught my curiosity as it flashed readings for some of the time while pointed away from our crowd. We had stopped at the final resting place of James Ryan, a man who may have actually been Dan Kelly. Not only was the story a bit of a beauty but we were also standing in the paupers area of the cemetery amidst many unmarked graves. Later before leaving, another woman had asked me what my experience at that place had been as she noticed Rachel and I had been distracted. I explained this to her and in return she informed her children had told her that they had heard voices behind them that they could not pinpoint or explain. I was pretty pleased with this.
As we ventured through the remainder of the grounds and although EMF remained pretty ordinary and my attention shifted to the stories and legends others had told of their experiences in this place instead. I imagined what this area had been like in a previous century as we neared a cleared area where all the markers had been moved to be together so that cemetery maintenance at the time was up to standards. We were explained that when this part had become dense and overgrown in scrub it had become quite unkempt. Markers and graves had been damaged and the surviving markers were moved. Unfortunately, without consideration to their original location data was not taken at the time and this resulted in a large area of unmarked historic graves. Oh how I would have preferred to have wandered and tangled myself in the growth of how bad it must have been to resort to such a decision! It sounds so creepy and inappropriate and I know such an environment has my appeal but I know things are much safer this way.
*The moved markers. Legend has it that the souls are now wandering and lost, unsure where their own bodies now lie. Do you see some odd figures in this picture?
After leaving, I decided to try out an urban legend which would take only moments of my time. There is said to be a specific corner by the cemetery at which, if you drive by with you car you may hear a very definite thud which can be both curious and confusing. I did check this out myself and was fortunate to hear the thud. Not long after I had realised that I had misplaced my phone and I very soon forgot the eeriness of it and went straight to panic of it's loss. After looking for my phone and then giving up on finding it, I wondered if maybe I had placed it on the car and the thud was the beginning of its last breath. My phone was indeed found and returned not too many days later, reportedly where I thought I last left it but could not find it. It was not found at the location of the thud. With both my fully functioning phone returned to my possession and my curiosity again peaked I was delighted that the thud I had experienced was again very mysterious.
At the time of loss though, without my phone, which I had relied upon for directions, I unfortunately had to postpone my quick stop in at Goodna Cemetery while I was in the area. Although I am sure I was just worried and that I could have found Goodna Cemetery, but after long deliberation I had instead opted for tracking the right path home. Although a long way from home, I am happy with the idea that I have an excuse to visit again some day, hopefully soon.
Jack Sim has published a book about Ipswich (Haunted Ipswich). It looks it’s definitely worth a read and it’s on my list of things to do. The area just sounds so interesting and full of stories. The cemetery is just a small slice and I just want to know more. Until I can return again or explore the area further I guess I will just savour what I’ve learnt and the experience I have had and of course my excuse to return.
You can read more about Ipswich on the link below. Maybe it sounds interesting to you too? Maybe, maybe not? You will need to decide for yourself.
Happy hunting. -Mz