The History
The site for the Quarantine Station was chosen because it was the first safe anchorage point inside the heads, provided an isolated area away from Sydney City and was supplied with natural fresh water by local springs. Any incoming vessel suspected of carrying infection diseases would stop there. The station operated from 1835 up until 1984. In 1835 when the Q Station was first opened over 200 passengers and crew were housed in eight tents, by 1838 over 300 additional people, mostly healthy, were crammed into an additional 36 tents under a sweltering Australian summer sun. It wasn’t until around 1839 before buildings began being erected.
In 1847, when immigration began to again increase, additional buildings were constructed including a hospital, kitchens and bathrooms. The station was now capable of housing 150 people however routinely accepted over 1000 people at a time. Due to declining economy and reduced immigration over the coming decade the station fell into disrepair and when Sydney suffered a smallpox outbreak upon which locals were quarantined there complaints of poor conditions and outdated practices resulting in a Royal Commission being conducted.
By 1873 the station had developed a class system for its tenants resulting in the first class passengers receiving better accommodations and care than those that could not afford such expensive travel arrangements. The Royal Commission had completed its inquest and as a result the facilties were drastically upgraded which help reduce the occurance of common infectious diseases.
In the early 1900’s the commonwealth government took over ownership of the site and conducted another massive upgrade of the site increasing its capacity to 1200 people, however this was again stretched during an influenza outbreak. In 1984 the site was officially shut down as a functioning quarantine station and handed over to the state government and preserved as part of Sydney Harbour National Park.
The Hauntings
Numerous hauntings have been reported on the site, from visitors having ominous feelings of being watched or followed, nurses or patients in the hospital wings grabbing people and vicious ghosts inside the shower block.
The site runs ghost tours regularly and the tours guides tell of all the gruesome history of the site.
Investigation Report
Paranormal Research Australia conducted a limited investigation of the site. Due to it being a commercialised venue sole access to the site could not be given and therefore there was considerable noise pollution making EVP work impossible. PRA do not generally conduct investigations using psychic or medium techniques and do not use feelings or vibes as proof in any of our investigation reports, saying that the team did not experience any emotional or physical episodes while on the site. No evidence was able to be collected during this visit.