Spooky Night-time Adventure at Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village

by Sam, posted in Australia, The Walk a Lot Diaries

The thrill of uncovering hidden, eerie places is something special for me. I decided to take a step further. My ever-thirsty ghost-hunting curiosity urged me to visit the Tailem Town Pioneer Village. This visit was to be part of my 3 weeks solo trip to South Australia. I did what I do best: I went there, with some kind of plan, checking beforehand whether it was haunted.

What I discovered was an unforgettable blend of fascinating, weathered historical buildings, meshed with some mystery, and supernatural intrigue.

Daytime: A Haunted Introduction

The day wander around Tailem Town Pioneer Village gave a fascinating glimpse into South Australia’s early history. The village, an open-air museum showcasing more than 100 buildings, spanning from 1860 to the 1960’s , transports you back in time.

I felt like a fearless explorer walking through the deserted village (it was a school day, so only a handful of people around) , the hushed corners of the village and the weathered structures hinted at stories long untold….

There were reports of strange happenings at the old village. I have experienced some of my own, but here’s the thing ….. for being the “Most Haunted Village in South Australia” , there’s very little information to be found about its spooky residents.

I caught a glimpse of a board near the entrance, as I walked in:

“GHOST TOURS AVAILABLE”

They were, and are hosted by Adelaide Haunted Horizons.

I recognised the name from one of the paranormal investigation videos on YouTube – that was about Adelaide’s Old Gaol, also on my must-see list.

Curiosity got the best of me. I went online and booked 3 ghost tours – The Old Gaol, Z-Ward, and Old Tailem Town – that was tour #3. I’d be back on Friday Night, 8pm.

FRIDAY Evening Arrived….

I arrived at the village just as the sun was setting. I shared the car drive with Sandy, with whom I’ve become friends during the Adelaide Gaol ghost tour (and who kindly took the below picture). We met with Alison and the rest of the group, and started the tour.

The bad news? No filming or recording allowed. The ghost stories in this place are from Alison and her team’s personal experiences. That’s why there’s no night video from me this time.

After dark, the transformation was immediate. The once charming streets lined with historical (semi derelict) buildings now appeared much more ominous with darkness falling over them. The tall trees loomed like silent sentinels, and the air grew thick with suspense. The warmth of the day evaporated, replaced by a bone-chilling cold that only added to the eerie feeling.

Walking through the village at night felt like entering a different world altogether. The creaky old buildings, illuminated only by the moonlight and our torches, took on an unsettling presence. Each step echoed louder in the silence of the evening. The paths that already looked eerie during the day now felt spookier.
The more we explored and learnt about some of the buildings and Alison and her team’s first hand stories about Old Tailem’s ghostly residents, the more it all seemed to make sense.

The old Bells Emporium, with its dusty shelves and frightening mannequins, that crept me out during my day trip, had an oddly heavy energy. It felt as though we weren’t alone.

The night vision camera, with 90 mins worth of battery, suddenly turned itself off, and we were engulfed by complete darkness.

Alison told us about a spooky occurrence that happened on camera, and that is available to watch on Adelaide’s Haunted Horizons YouTube channel (I’ve added a link in my video description if you want to check that out… )

The stories about the ghostly encounters in the Hotel were outright frightening. To be fair, I think that the eeriness of the place added to it..

I kept looking down the hallway, vigilant, as I was expecting anything to show up. I remember seeing the bath featuring in a paranormal investigation on YouTube, it sent shivers down my spine.

At the church, some of the other people heard strange whispers coming from right behind us, with no one to be seen.

One of the ghostly stories recounted occurred in the sacristy. This is where I felt dizzy on my previous trip. I didn’t know.

We ventured to the old railway station, which looked more like an abandoned scene from a vintage horror movie.

I was surprised that there were no stories or encounters in the hospital, the place where I had the most unnerving experience. Maybe it was just my imagination playing tricks, or maybe there’s something there, that still has to make itself know?

These lingering souls, whether real or imaginary, make Old Tailem Town a place where history and the paranormal blur. For anyone interested in exploring the supernatural, Old Tailem Town Pioneer Village at night is an experience like no other. Tailem Town offers the chance to step back in time—and perhaps connect with the souls of the past.

I highly recommend it to anyone with a sense of adventure and a love for ghosties… just like me!

Thank you for reading.

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