Exploring the paranormalin Ballan, Bacchus Marsh

MYSTERIES Lost in History is running its first in a series of public paranormal explorations at the Border Inn in Bacchus Marsh and at the Ballan Court House this month.

The new series of special guided events invites believers and skeptics alike to explore the paranormal at various historic venues in the Moorabool Shire.

Bacchus Marsh resident Amanda Powell said it was her own and her husband’s shared passion for history and fascination with the mystery of the paranormal that prompted them to establish the unique events-based business, Mysteries Lost in History.

Following some prior private events to first test for the presence of any activity, they are now getting set to host their very first public exploration of the paranormal at the historic Bacchus Marsh Border Inn Hotel on 7 October, with an exploration at the old Ballan Court House set to follow on 10 October and further dates scheduled in the future.

“The main thing is we are factual not theatrical,” said Ms Powell, who is a member of both the Bacchus Marsh and District, and Ballan historical societies.

Ms Powell said keeping history alive is very much central to the unique offerings during which participants learn about the backgrounds of the venues and how to use a range of paranormal exploration equipment – which they then get to put to the test themselves.

“It’s purely based on let’s see what’s there,” she said.

“It’s about solving mysteries or learning about new mysteries.

“We both enjoy history and we thought we’d incorporate the history of the area with exploring buildings which could potentially have some paranormal activity.

“The area is really becoming urbanised and we want to make sure the history of the area doesn’t become lost.

“Before we have an event we get a group of people and do an investigation to see if we can establish any activity, and we have detected some.

“I’ve always been interested in the unknown. There are so many experiences that happen that you can’t explain. For me, I think there’s got to be something else.

“We encourage anybody who’s interested and open-minded in trying to find out what it is, and we also look at trying to debunk things.”