The story goes, Mr Rigby was sitting alone in the theatre stalls one evening pondering the shortfall of funds required to renovate the rundown theatre.

That’s when Joe seated himself down next to Mr Rigby and insisted on talking.

Mr Rigby told Joe that there was not enough money in the budget to cover the cost of refurbishing the orchestra pit.

The ghost turned, smiled and told him not to worry about it and that everything would turn out alright.

Not long after, Newcastle was struck by an earthquake. Miraculously the Civic Theatre was spared its destruction, except for one place – the orchestra pit. Insurance covered the cost of its replacement with a new and better pit.

HAUNTED: Miss Porter’s House, King Street

Miss Porter’s House in King Street, Newcastle West, is a heritage listed building. Built in the early 1900s it was the home of the Porter family.

Sisters Ella and Hazel, both spinsters, lived in the house their entire lives.Many visitors to the house, which was bequeathed to the National Trust, claim to have seen the ghosts of the sisters.

It is said the sisters still reside over the home, which the longest surviving sister, Hazel, requested remain untouched after her death. Everything in the home is just as the sisters left it, complete with their clothes, furniture and even teaspoons.

Visitors have reported seeing apparitions of the sisters dressed in slippers and a skirt. There have also been claims the furniture moves around in the house, seemingly all by itself.

HAUNTED: The Old Hunter Street Police Lock-up

The old Newcastle Police Station in Hunter Street operated from 1861 until 1982. And those who believe in ghostly entities say its lock-up is haunted by many, but its best known is the spirit child named Mary.

Mary walks the jail looking for her parents and a Sydney based team of paranormal investigators claim to have made contact with her and have even recorded her voice.

But Mary is not the only ghost of the lock-up.

Paranormal investigators claim to have photographed what they believe is a ghost (pictured above), possibly a police officer, during one of their overnight camp-outs in the lock-up in 2012.

HAUNTED: Newcastle Court House, Church Street

Newcastle Court House is one of the most ghostly places in town.

There have been many ghost sightings in the Church St building. Jurors have reported feeling as though there were being watched from the upstairs public gallery during trials, claiming that even though they try to concentrate on the trial before them, their attention is repeatedly drawn to the fourth row of seats on the left hand side.

Jurors have also reported hearing the rattling of doors, cold spots throughout the building and the constant feeling of being watched.

One juror described a ghost in a pillbox hat and gloves sitting in the gallery with her hands folded in her lap.

HAUNTED: The Royal Newcastle Hospital, Pacific Street

The Royal Newcastle Hospital operated for almost 190 years. Built by convicts in 1817 it has a rich history of ghost sightings.

Some of the sightings were of the ghosts of patients who died in the hospital – including one woman who continued to set off the buzzer in her hospital room after her death.

Nurses have reported seeing bright lights shining above the beds of recently deceased patients, full bodied aparitions in ward hallways, ghostly workmen walking into lifts and the unsettling appearance of ghost nurses.

There is even a story of a matron who still came to work, years after her death.

<3 Anna

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