George Coppin,
the lady in white and other mysterious souls
Entrepreneur, philanthropist and parliamentarian, the Hon. Known as the Father of Sorrento, he built the Continental Hotel in 1875 (the only 4-storey limestone building in the Southern Hemisphere) and established this town as a popular seaside resort. And some people – at least those who believe in ghosts - say that Mr Coppin has never
really left Sorrento. According to Jenny Tomkins of Sorrento Ghost Tours, who has lived on the Mornington Peninsula for 24 years, locals say the ghost of Mr Coppin still resides at the imposing Continental Hotel.
“He moves around, he’ll shut the door if someone is in the pantry and people have been tapped on the shoulder when no one is in the room. He has also turned on the food processor and there is a clock in room 28 that keeps falling down,” Jenny says. When Jenny decided to combine her love of history, teaching and walking by starting Sorrento Ghost Tours, she spent six months researching the topic by speaking with local residents, shop owners, psychics and the Historical Society.
‘Cold spots’ indicate a ghostly presence
She also bought an EMF (electromagnetic field) meter, a device used by many paranormal enthusiasts to detect the presence of ghosts, and went to the Koonya Hotel where legend says that a man fell from a since-removed staircase and died. Publican James (surname?) also told her of ‘cold spots’ in the corridors where the temperatures could be around 10 degrees lower than the surrounding air, indicating the presence of ghosts.
“We went to the location of the old staircase, and the EMF meter hit its maximum register,” Jenny says. On a Sorrento Ghost Tour, participants visit around a dozen historic sites, at least eight of which are believed to have ghostly occupants. One is the Three Palms Restaurant, also run by James (surname), which was once a family home from whence a girl had been abducted and never found. Chefs feel they’re being followed
“This ghost leaves people with an uneasy feeling,” Jenny says. “No one likes being left alone here late at night, and some chefs have reported they feel someone rushing past them. They see shadows, they feel they are being followed, and one shaken chef reported that someone had unlocked the back door.”
The EMF meter reacted wildly the first time Jenny walked along the footpath outside the restaurant. Photographs taken here revealed a misty shadow and a number of orbs which are widely believed to be concentrated energy created by paranormal activity. Another stop on the tour is the Athenaeum, built by George Coppin around 1870. The cinema here was built about 90 years ago, and is watched over by a lady in white who has been seen by a number of people. An usher once observed an elderly lady dressed in white with stark white eyes sitting at the back during a children’s movie. But when the usher spoke to the cashier, no seniors had bought tickets to this movie. When the pair crept back into the cinema the woman was gone.
“A few months ago an 18-year-old boy came to see a movie with his girlfriend, and was waiting for her to come out of the ladies’ room. Instead, he saw a woman in white walk straight through the disabled toilet door. The boy was so shocked he left without seeing the movie,” Jenny says. Sorrento Ghost Tour details
Sorrento Ghost Tours runs first Saturday of the month. See www.sorrentoghosttours.com for tour dates. Tours departs between 7pm and 8pm (depending on the season) from the Sorrento Rotunda and run for 2 hours
Cost $30.00 per person
Concession $25.00
Children (under 15) $20.00
No children under the age of 10. Family (2 adults and up to 2 children) $80
Private tours up to 20 people $350.00
Children's birthday parties - 1 hour $150.00 up to 10 children. 2 parents free. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Tour operates regardless of the weather.
