This document explores the myths, legends, and mysterious phenomena of the Goldfields region in Australia, focusing on several recurring themes: Numerous reports of large, exotic cats (such as black panthers and pumas) have been recorded in Victoria, with over 4,500 sightings documented by the Australian Rare Fauna Research Association since 1984.Notable individuals, like John Higgins and Paul Clacher, have provided detailed accounts and physical evidence (e.g., large footprints) supporting the existence of these animals. Theories about their origins include escaped zoo or circus animals, mascots released by American servicemen after WWII, or even the survival of the supposedly extinct Thylacoleo (Marsupial Lion). The Goldfields are reputed to be home to many ghosts, with frequent reports from locations such as Camp Hill Primary School, Castlemaine's Theatre Royal, and especially the historic Fortuna Villa.Accounts from both military personnel and civilians describe unexplained voices, apparitions, and other paranormal events within these historic buildings. Specific stories include encounters with apparitions, mysterious voices, and doors opening on their own, often witnessed by credible sources like army sergeants and captains. The document also references other unexplained phenomena in the region, such as UFO sightings and missing people, contributing to the area's reputation for mystery and intrigue.Fortuna Article - "Steeped in Mystery" Dec 01 2007 by Sarah Harris This item contains the following: 11217.33a Colour Photo of Fortuna, once home to the Lansell family, Fortuna Villa is now occupied by the Department of Imagery and Geospatial Organistion mapping unit, and apparently, some apparitions 11217.33b Colour Photo of Russel Henthorn with his camera and gear he used for a UFO photo in 1983 11217.33c Part of Page 4 - Article "Steeped in Mystery" non-fictionbendigo, fortuna, george lansell, russell henthorn

The CD-Rom includes a range of electronic correspondence sent 'Big Cats Victoria and Simon Townsend and JohnTurner. Their website states: Big Cats Victoria Southern Australia, including south western West Australia, has a history of reports of ‘panther’ like predators dating back to the later half of the 19th century. The animals were usually described as being of black or tan colouration and with the proportions of a medium sized big-cat such as a Leopard or Puma. The records can be found in newspaper, radio and television archives, Government reports, a very few books and on the internet. The historical material is based on anecdotal reportage and has contributed to the mythification of the subject. Some Government agencies at both State and Local levels (in New South Wales), have collected records of sightings or investigated stock deaths purported to be associated with so called ‘panther’ kills. They remain understandably non committal due to the lack of a specimen of such a predator of undeniable authenticity. While other types of unknown predator have been reported in various parts of Australia they are not the concern of this website. For purposes of economy we, John Turner and Simon Townsend, confine our investigations to western Victoria and south eastern South Australia. (http://bigcatsvic.com.au/) A CD-ROM of multiple emails and image attachments relating to assorted sightings, footprints, killings, etc from big cats in the Otways of Victoria. The electronic mail was sent to 'Big Cats Victoria' Images include: This item is part of the Australian Animal Folklore Collectionaustralian animal folklore collection, ja sharp, simon townsend, neville bayley, st kilda, peter stefanis, toolangi, puma, tom daniel, footprint, pawprint, cryptozoology, rex gilroy, lancefield tiger, anglesea, berringa, matthew charles, jutin fitzclarence, harry carlin, patty smith, johannes beach, nerida, stirling ranges, daryl hardy, brook kelly, carl rose, ashley hall, jonathan smith, sally ballieu, lorraine balck, wayne bower, ian riordon, aleda turna, john turner, dave moyle, ben rayner, stewart leach, colin boord, sheryl mahoney, beech forest, otways, tooborac, geoff black, panther, brad blake, priscilla prescott, beau kapitiany, ramsay hosn, clare jones, darren guthrie, tallarook, josh fairway, linda wescon, lithgow, john turner, southern grampians

The Myths and Monsters conference was something of a landmark in Australian mystery animal research. It was the first cryptozoological conference held in Australia, and the first time Australia's leading researchers had been able to present their findings and meet with others working in the same field. 82 page proceedings of the Myths and Monsters Conference printed onto white paper. The following topics were presented: * A brief History of Australian Cryptozoology (Paul Cropper) * Would the Real Orang-Utan Please Stand Up and be Counted? In search of unidentified relic hominoids in Southeast Asia (Helmut Loofs-Wissowa) * Strange Creatures on the Antipodean UFO trail (Bill Chalker) * The Bunyip (Gary Opit) * Sightings of Some Anomolous Sea Creatures (Malcolm Smith) * Investigating Cryptic Hominids (Yowies) in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales (MIchael Hallett & David McBean) * "High Strangeness" in Yowie Reports (Tony Healy) * The Mystery of the Australian Big Cat: A Brief Summary (Peter Chapple) * Quest for the Thylacine (Peter Chapple) [Australian Animal Folklore Collection]Signed on cover "Simon Townsend"australian animal folklore collection, paul cropper, ruby lang, helmut loofs wissowa, bill chalker, gary opit, malcolm smith, michael hallett, david mcbean, tony healy, peter chapple, bunyip, blue montains, yowie, thylacine, big cat, puma, panther, ufo, goolma, woodenbong, narrabeen lakes, cecil mcgann, dorothy middleton, lee kelly, brown bittern, bay monster, simon moir, footprints, blue mountains cryptid, prehistoric bipedal primates, gigantopithecus, meganthropus, homo rudolfensis, homo habilis, homo erectus, homo ergaster, hominid, bigfoot, psychic phenomena, black panther, lake monster, blue labyrinth, australian rare fauna research association, marsupial lion, thylocoleo carnifex, australian big cat, tasmanian devil, sarcophilus harrisi, eric guiler, yellingbo, thylacinus cynocephalus, tantanoola tiger, rilla martin, mundrabilla, predatory animal, mythical, myth, folklore

The folder or correspondence is the result of a Freedom of Informaition request made to the Department of Primary Industries in 2011. The folder was collected for research being conducted by David Waldron. John Higgins, managing editor of the Maryborough Advertiser was interested in sightings of what some suggested to be a puma or mountain lion in Central Victoria. A number of A4 printouts relating to large cat sightings in the Maryborough (Vic) area, many reported by the Marlborough Advertiser. The large cat referred to is often referred to as a Puma or Mountain Lion. (.7) Profile of Central Victorian Cat Australian Animal Folklore Collectionaustralian animal folklore collection, cat, ferral cat, puma, mountain lion, maryborough, maryborough victoria, ds saunders, bryan walters, bernie mall, peter chapple. graham george, australian cougar, felid, pamela parker, alan foskett, daisy hill, panther, john dix, ray elliott, dennis wiley, police sightings, graham hunt, brian douglas, stuart mill, graeme grant, a. venes, avoca, julie hobbs, greg gallagher, taltarni, moonambel, fred beach, majorca, michael rayner, chateau remy, john robb, wayne irvine, brian anderson, peter davies, talbot, joyce davies, tom davies, len farthing, barry rinaldi, edward stone, brian stone, judith tranter, alan poole, shane long, jim smith, lloyd forge, carisbrook, murray henderson, doug grose, john higgins, footprint cast, australian dasyurids, felis concolor, lioness, lion, shane long, wareek, koo-jar hill, american troops, betley cat, daisy hill cat, phelan road cat, amherst cat, john higgin, angus reynolds, betley tiger, tim clark, walters cougar catcher, identification chart, david towler, bob carr, rare fauna research society, lancefield cat, bernie mace, robert pattison, bryan de lacy, romsey, murray henderson, brian collinson, neil grummett, grummett, kenneth lamont, lamont, foskett, hobbs, rinaldi, poole, forge, henderson, grant, elliott, anderson, stone, irvine, douglas, stewart, long, mythical, myth, folklore, australian mythical animals collection, david waldron, land protection, d.s. saunders, judith henke, ravenswood, wedderburn, feral cat, laanecoorie, shellbourne, barru rinaldi, lan poole, dorothy smith, amherst cemetery, graham grant, maryborough advertiser, central victorian cat, st arnaud, kyneton, shane one wareek, lack of fossil evidence, koo-jat hill, cougar hill, plaster casts, lummis, goldsborough, ian lummis, hamilton, swan hill, wodonga