Master’s students bring the spooky to Wellington Heritage Week
The tour was inspired by London’s ‘The London Dungeons’, an attraction that focuses on the macabre side of London’s history, which both Millie and Brittany have experienced and enjoyed.
“Our research showed there were no ghost tours in Wellington, and we thought we could offer something in this space. We had heard of Fear Factory previously, so we decided to pitch them the idea. Operations manager Karl Gebbie and the then marketing manager, Victoria Lenton, were super interested in the festival and bringing a new lens to local history and heritage.”
Since the Halloweird and Wonderful Ghost Tour is a walking tour, the team had to keep the ghostly locations within a reasonable walking distance of Fear Factory on Cuba Street. The next task was to engage with stakeholders and figure out which buildings would allow them access during the tour. This involved all four teammates—Millie, Amy Boswell-Hore, Alex Clarke-Ryk, and Brittany—sending emails off to various potential locations.
Picture: One of the locations on the tour was Inverlochy House, a Victorian mansion built in 1878 and one of Wellington’s oldest buildings. It has some fantastic stories of ghosts knocking things over and breaking mirrors, and fascinating social history as the McDonald family home, being split up into flats, and, after being saved from demolition in 1980, being turned into an art school.
“The process has been really fun!” says Millie. “It has given us an excuse to do some research into Wellington’s darker side. The only real challenge was trying to get some of the locations onboard. We are excited to shine a light on Wellington’s unknown histories and stories that give our city a unique flair.”
“Heritage can be fun, educational, entertaining, and even spooky! Hopefully, this event will spark people’s interest and encourage them to engage with local heritage in the future.”
The internship has provided both Mille and Brittany with real-world experience in heritage events, from start to finish.
“This experience has added so much value to my learning as I have been able to connect and engage with the community while tangibly implementing the theory I have learned in class,” says Millie. “Through the practical and hands-on nature of the internship, I have realised that I value working with communities and it is something that I would like to do more of in the future.”
“It’s been a fantastic experience being able to help an actual business create a heritage event. When there are stakeholders, like businesses, invested in your research and work, it helps to emphasize the importance of what you are doing. Plus, you also know that there will be a physical outcome to your work,” says Brittany.
Read more about Millie and Brittany's work as the Premium Experience Team
Check out videos from the event on the Wellington Heritage Week Instagram story highlights