We visited Oakabella after hearing and reading claims of its haunted nature and there was especially one statement in a book that caught our attention and gave us grave concerns regarding the current owner, Loretta Wright. Among interesting "touristy" information that wets the appetite of ghost hunters, between the lines we found Loretta's distress, claim of Oakabella's "evil" nature and her statement of being the "custodian" of the homestead. Our experience suggests that anyone who has claimed acquiring new psychic skills, feeling of evil, being the center of poltergeist activity and knowing that she can not leave the place needs help or at least a concerned visit. But my dear fellow hunters and Christian self claimed exorcists, before you show up at her doorstep preaching, prodding, splashing around holy water and waiving a cross or suspecting of Loretta being possessed or in a fragile state or trying to "rescue" her from the "gates of paranormal transit"....wait a minute and read our story. We sincerely hope that with our visit we can give an account that is truly reflecting the nature of Oakabella and the task and responsibility that the owners chose to accept.
This place is the most classic example of a spiritual portal, a place that is built on native sacred ground and one can say that a "magnet" of spiritual energy. At your arrival pay attention to the "male and female aspects" of the landscape around Oakabella that made this place a chosen meeting place and sacred site to the local people long before the homestead was built. Maybe we also only touch some of the ghost stories regarding the pioneering families that owned and occupied it and the people living and working for them. Oakabella and the surrounding area was also a site of confrontations between aboriginal people and pioneers through the years. Was it bone pointing? Was it the lack of native "Custodians" or "gatekeepers" that kept the spirits and the elementals of this landscape (just meters from the homestead) at bay with rituals and communication that now let the "little people of the hills" (as the local aboriginals call their elementals around Oakabella) roam rampant around the place? Was it always like this and should have been avoided? Why the local people don't visit it at night? Maybe we could never answer these questions. But the fact is that noone can be forced to chose between staying clear of spirits or acting as their chosen custodian and that role can only be assumed by a very strong and spiritual individual. That there are elementals, spirits, poltergeist, ghosts of both pioneers and aboriginals are very active at Oakabella. We would like to sincerely thank Loretta for her out most honesty, her hospitality and praise both Alan and Loretta for the way they are keeping a balance between the native and pioneering heritage of the homestead . Oakabella should be visited as a spiritual place and while there treated with respect.
There is one more thing: when Loretta reminds you that you should NOT TAKE ANYTHING from the homestead or the surrounding area, believe us, she means more than just being concerned about property or souvenir hunters but includes pocketing rocks and pebbles or anything else that is part of the landscape. Superstition? Well...we can go on and tell you stories about skeptics who do not respect spiritual places and stories about how they become believers, or go on forever about jinxed shipwrecks and cursed items but space is limited, perhaps another time. Oakabella holds a thousand stories and if you want to find out pay a visit one day and say hi to Loretta from us. Camping is available around the grounds of the place by arrangement only. Phone (08) 9925 1033 Fax (08) 9925 1036
Toodyay
Oh.. the serene beauty of the Avon Valley.... Rolling hills, rich soil, historic charm...
At our first visit we found folklore of haunted Tavern rooms, three ghostly old ladies of a bed and breakfast getaway, mysteries of dead children, murdered barmaid, a town rich in psychic women, open minded locals and lots of history. It is a place to return.
We would like to sincerely thank to "Gipsy" Mike and his family for opening their home for us, Dave the publican for assisting us, Sue in the Museum for her friendly approach and information, Charmaine of the Visitor Centre for being herself, the owner of Deepdale for allowing us to visit the swimming hole at night,Carina from Ipswich View for taking care of us and the cook (whomever he or she might be) at the Fremasons' Hotel for that duck.
At our first visit we found folklore of haunted Tavern rooms, three ghostly old ladies of a bed and breakfast getaway, mysteries of dead children, murdered barmaid, a town rich in psychic women, open minded locals and lots of history. It is a place to return.
We would like to sincerely thank to "Gipsy" Mike and his family for opening their home for us, Dave the publican for assisting us, Sue in the Museum for her friendly approach and information, Charmaine of the Visitor Centre for being herself, the owner of Deepdale for allowing us to visit the swimming hole at night,Carina from Ipswich View for taking care of us and the cook (whomever he or she might be) at the Fremasons' Hotel for that duck.
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