History preservation the goal for Londonderry founder of Ghost Territory Tours

Londonderry resident Rob Wilson, founder and lead investigator of PACT (Paranormal and Cryptid Task-force), as well as managing director of Wilson Black Entertainment, hosted his first packed-out Ghost Territory tour over Halloween, and will now be offering the tours monthly at Wilberforce.

Mr Wilson has been a paranormal investigator for over six years, and in this time has explored many of Australia's and America's notoriously-haunted locations.

He said his interest in the paranormal blossomed when he spent two years gathering paranormal evidence for the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust on Cockatoo Island.

"This is where my love for Australian history grew and it was only natural that I started exploring my local Hawkesbury region; the third mainland settlement in Australia," Mr Wilson told the Gazette.

He said he started Ghost Territory tours this year because he is "very passionate" about heritage preservation - especially in the Hawkesbury region.

"I believe that ghost tours are the best way to harness what I've learnt about the paranormal to expose and educate casual groups about history, as well as injecting much needed funds into these precious locations," Mr Wilson said.

"Australian heritage needs constant exposure and protection so teaching the younger generations is vital to conserving history, to ensure the stories and locations can be appreciated, loved and preserved for many generations after."

Patrons of Mr Wilson's Ghost Territory tours at Rose Cottage can expect an immersing and entertaining experience lead by Mr Wilson, who teams his paranormal investigation experience with tour guiding know-how to give people "the best ghost tour experience possible".

"Patrons will become honorary members of my team PACT (Paranormal and Cryptid Task-force) for the night, and will be given name tags and a special ghost hunting kit to use at the event, ensuring that patrons will feel a part of every spooky moment," he said.

Mr Wilson said "the humble little cottage" at Wilberforce had "given so much already" through his investigations.

"Even though I have only investigated Rose Cottage twice I have already captured a few EVP's (Electronic Voice Phenomena) and also interactions via other electronic devices that seemed to be triggered after questions were asked," he said.

Mr Wilson is currently on-the-hunt for other Hawkesbury locations where he can host further ghost tours.

"I am looking for historic locations in the Hawkesbury region to hold my new and exciting brand of ghost tours, any heritage location big or small whether it churches, cottages, cemeteries, hospitals or halls," he said.

"It doesn't necessarily need to have ghost stories or known to be haunted, although that would be incredible, and the venue would need to be made available to my team and I to investigate the location prior to the beginning of any tour, as this is essential for logistics and connection."

Get in touch with Mr Wilson via the Ghost Territory Tours page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ghostterritorytours, if you think you have a suitable venue, or to keep an eye out for upcoming ghost tour dates at Rose Cottage.