16th June 2012
We spend the night with The Spirit Level and the guys from Ghosts of Oz to investigate and film this promo for the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.
Published in SOul Searchers Paranormal Magazine 21/10/2012
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre (CPAC) by Nic Hume
It was a day like any other, coffee in hand, trawling the internet for spooky happenings when I got a message from my Australian Paranormal Phenomenon Investigators (APPI) co-founder, Peta Banks, which read – ‘Found this from an old security guard of Casula Powerhouse – “I used to lock and alarm that place back when I did mobile security patrols. Nothing worse than being there by yourself after midnight, about to set the alarm when you can clearly hear footsteps upstairs. However, alarm sensor panel says place is empty. Go back to base and tell the story and the other guys reckon I got off easy. They all tell stories of hearing screaming from upstairs and even seeing moving objects. The place gives you the creeps just driving down to it.” Let’s do it. – Peet’. APPI is constantly on the lookout for interesting locations to investigate and this was definitely one of them.
Liverpool Powerhouse was built in 1951, later renamed Casula Powerhouse. It was used to supplement electricity supply and shortages. It ceased operation in 1976 and was purchased in 1978 by Liverpool Council for $75,000. It sat derelict until capital works began in 1987, turning it into an arts centre. Over the years, further works have been carried out to make it the centre you see today…yet its history haunts its grounds.
The signs to get in and investigate this venue couldn’t be any clearer, so I phoned CPAC and had a very interesting conversation with the Business Manager. He told me of a man who was crushed to death whilst undertaking his duties as powerhouse employee. The location of this man’s tragic death is still visible today. The Business Manager went into detail of the numerous reports from staff, artists and visitors of sightings of apparitions, disembodied whisperings, doors banging when the building is supposedly empty and the sound of work boots stomping along the metal runways. Even the Business Manager had his own experiences which he shared. After countless hours of research, a long run of meetings and negotiating we had an investigation date.
Eleven investigators had unprecedented access to the centre on 1st October 2011. Out of that eleven, ten people experienced the phenomena of seeing either a streak or ball of white light with the naked eye at various times during the night. Throughout the investigation we had static cameras set up in vital points of the centre and the only anomaly in hours of footage was one single streak of white light. We have tried all ways possible to debunk this light, but can’t. The investigation night was a success with a large array of experience and evidence.
When presenting CPAC with the investigation outcome we included, at their request, a ghost tour proposal. They were impressed with what they saw and immediately set up a night to run a trial tour with all staff and their partners. This was a great night and the staff loved to hear the history and ghostly happenings. What made it an even better night was that the staff felt comfortable enough to approach us to let us know of their spooky experiences. With each tour we seem to be able to add more experiences our script as many of our guest’s report of their hauntingly great time at CPAC.
It was a day like any other, coffee in hand, trawling the internet for spooky happenings when I got a message from my Australian Paranormal Phenomenon Investigators (APPI) co-founder, Peta Banks, which read – ‘Found this from an old security guard of Casula Powerhouse – “I used to lock and alarm that place back when I did mobile security patrols. Nothing worse than being there by yourself after midnight, about to set the alarm when you can clearly hear footsteps upstairs. However, alarm sensor panel says place is empty. Go back to base and tell the story and the other guys reckon I got off easy. They all tell stories of hearing screaming from upstairs and even seeing moving objects. The place gives you the creeps just driving down to it.” Let’s do it. – Peet’. APPI is constantly on the lookout for interesting locations to investigate and this was definitely one of them.
Liverpool Powerhouse was built in 1951, later renamed Casula Powerhouse. It was used to supplement electricity supply and shortages. It ceased operation in 1976 and was purchased in 1978 by Liverpool Council for $75,000. It sat derelict until capital works began in 1987, turning it into an arts centre. Over the years, further works have been carried out to make it the centre you see today…yet its history haunts its grounds.
The signs to get in and investigate this venue couldn’t be any clearer, so I phoned CPAC and had a very interesting conversation with the Business Manager. He told me of a man who was crushed to death whilst undertaking his duties as powerhouse employee. The location of this man’s tragic death is still visible today. The Business Manager went into detail of the numerous reports from staff, artists and visitors of sightings of apparitions, disembodied whisperings, doors banging when the building is supposedly empty and the sound of work boots stomping along the metal runways. Even the Business Manager had his own experiences which he shared. After countless hours of research, a long run of meetings and negotiating we had an investigation date.
Eleven investigators had unprecedented access to the centre on 1st October 2011. Out of that eleven, ten people experienced the phenomena of seeing either a streak or ball of white light with the naked eye at various times during the night. Throughout the investigation we had static cameras set up in vital points of the centre and the only anomaly in hours of footage was one single streak of white light. We have tried all ways possible to debunk this light, but can’t. The investigation night was a success with a large array of experience and evidence.
When presenting CPAC with the investigation outcome we included, at their request, a ghost tour proposal. They were impressed with what they saw and immediately set up a night to run a trial tour with all staff and their partners. This was a great night and the staff loved to hear the history and ghostly happenings. What made it an even better night was that the staff felt comfortable enough to approach us to let us know of their spooky experiences. With each tour we seem to be able to add more experiences our script as many of our guest’s report of their hauntingly great time at CPAC.