The Jack Sim book, "Haunted Ipswich: Ghosts of the Heritage City", the Old Flour Mill is a prominent site of a haunting and is now included in the Ipswich Ghost Tour route.
The grand old building was built as a flour mill in 1902, where about 3000 bags of wheat were stored. The mill turned out 35-40 tonne of flour a week.
Since at least the 1940s there have been stories that it is haunted by a figure apparently covered in flour walking the lower level.
The story goes that a young man, "Hubert", worked in the flour mill and had been struck ill with Scarlet Fever. As he began to feel better he returned to work, however was seemingly "slacking off" as he had not returned to full strength again. Hubert was told to work harder and sweat more as this would help his recovery. Unfortunately, he soon collapsed and died on the bottom floor of the mill.
It is said that since then there have been numerous sightings of a shadowy figure in a long coat covered in flour. When the Mill was being used as a restaurant, the cutlery on tables in the hallway leading to the kitchen would often be disturbed. Hubert was seen often at functions especially when a particular waitress was working. Staff believe he had taken a bit of a shine to her.
The Flour Mill is an integral part of the Ipswich Ghost Tours and is definitely a must-see for ghost fanatics.
Tours can be book through
www.ghost-tours.com.au and are around $35 per adult.
