'Haunted' Narellan Mansion in line for hotel resurrection

A Narellan mansion long-considered one of the most ‘haunted’ properties in the Sydney area could be set for a facelift, with developers recently revealing plans to turn the building and surrounding grounds into a hotel and residential space.

Studley Park House, built in 1889, has lived a storied existence as a rural retreat, a grammar school and a wartime defence facility, but it’s also renowned for a somewhat dark history, with a number of deaths - particularly of young males - taking place on the grounds over the centuries and regular mentions of paranormal occurrences.

According to records, developers called in to work on the property had found a hangman's noose hanging from the steeple, while there have also been reports of unexplained lights, people standing in windows and other ghostly apparitions.

As well as regular ghost tours in recent years, the house was even featured on long-forgotten Channel 10 paranormal investigation show ‘Scream Test’.

If successful, the development would see the now-dilapidated house restored and adapted into a hotel, surrounded by residential units within the grounds as part of the Camden Golf Club, which surrounds the wider estate grounds. If approved, the residential buildings are expected to contain nearly 150 brand new units.

Community response to the proposal has been mixed. While some have been happy to joke about whether or not the ghosts would approve of the desired changes, some members of the community have labelled the plans an affront to one of the region's most historically significant areas, while others have praised the intent to do something with the long-disused space.

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