The tourist attraction dropping its ghostly status, because it is scaring people off

(ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt: Laura Meachim)

Via abc.net.au by Laura Meachim

Tales of lost souls and enraged spirits once intrigued guests at Oakabella Homestead, which previously boasted the title of Western Australia's most haunted building, but now it is trying to shake the label because it is scaring visitors away.

Built in 1851, the homestead was established over 10 years before its closest neighbouring town, Northampton 460km from Perth, in the picturesque Chapman Valley.

Its new business owners, Belinda Turner and Brian Snelson are turning a new leaf — because the "haunted" buildings are failing to attract visitors, particularly Chinese tourists.

Ms Turner said they were focusing on teaching people about the homestead's rich history and working with other community groups to offer things like stargazing, campfires and bush tucker.

"There are some articles we have read online and it is quite interesting to read the feedback," she said.

"Not everyone is into ghosts and that was definitely portrayed in the Facebook comments."

"People will not come here if they think it is haunted so that is why we are bringing it back to the history."


 
Chinese superstitions

The Midwest region is a popular place for Chinese tourists, with locations like the Port Gregory Pink Lakes and the Abrolhos Islands proving to be a major natural drawcard.

City of Greater Geraldton economic development officer Hanjie Davis grew up in Beijing and said haunted building and ghost stories were a major turn-off for Chinese people.

"I am Chinese and I have lived in Australia but if you tell me that this place is the most haunted estate then I would be scared," she said.

"If you have ghosts, my first impression is that I don't want to go there."

She said marketing the region to Chinese tourists meant getting to know the culture.

"A lot of people think they have so much to offer but without knowing and understanding Chinese culture it is very difficult to find what appeals to the Chinese people," she said.

While international tourist numbers have declined in WA over the past year, the Midwest has seen an increase in Chinese tourist numbers.

Ms Davis said local businesses and attractions needed to offer packages that provide a unique experience.

"They come here because in China, in the big cities they do not see the horizon, they cannot see the starry nights so for that, the Chinese will come."

Heritage and high tea

Ms Turner said they understood Chinese visitors wanted to experience an authentic, outback farm experience.

"The Chinese, we believe are more interested in learning about our country," she said.

"They want to know how the original people ate, how they cooked their food and we want to go down the line of showing them good old Aussie tradition."

The pair will still offer the occasional night tour of the old homestead for those brave enough to enter the buildings after dark.

But Mr Snelson said most of the time the homestead would host heritage tours, star gazing nights and daily traditional high teas.

"We ourselves are more passionate about the history side of things," he said.

"The spiritual ghost side of things is something we are a bit less believing in. We obviously do not have the sixth sense to pick up on those sort of things."

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