George Grover was a convict that was given the chance to take charge of a convict road gang, George was a tough task master and enjoyed making his fellow convicts suffer from the labouring, and he was to over see the restoration of the Richmond Bridge. George was not liked at all by convict workers and he knew that, but his position gave him a higher rank that a mortal convict. The more power George received the more the workers hated him, so much in fact that during a morning of arguments and conflict, George was struck on the head by a pickaxe (by a fellow convict) George was killed instantly, his body was pushed over the edge of bridge and into the Coal River.

George’s spirit is restless and angry

The frightening encounters one will have when they meet George will remain will one for a long time, George is a very nerving character and those who have been fortunate in seeing his restless soul will vouch for that.

Mostly people don’t see him but his presence is always felt on the bridge, there is a heavy sense of being watched or stalked, goosebumps and hair rise and some will feel a sudden icy blast blow through them… unlike any wind felt before.

George’s sightings have been documented in a few publications about Tasmanian Ghosts and his name pops up in certain historical information.

All publications have the same reason for George’s return… revenge, he is searching for the ones that murdered him, but unfortunately its modern tourists and town folk that suffer his wraith, and to George all those who walk across his bridge are targets and have something to do with his death.

Ghostly Encounters

George ghost is described as a black silhouette, his clothing is noticeable, but unfortunately his face is sometimes obscured by the darkness. Sometimes is face is bathed in a bluish light, his clothes are of convict description, those who have been lucky enough to encounter him, have two reactions… pure shock and disbelief. What ever the case may be count yourself lucky to have encountered Richmond’s most notorious ghost, as its something you’ll never forget.

George’s ghost is mainly seen in three locations around the bridge, mostly he is spotted standing in the area he would oversee the convicts from, the other is on the west side of bridge near the trees, the other is right behind you as you walk across the bridge…. George is rarely sighted by groups and the best way to spot George is walk across the bridge alone. George also appears more regular on foggy cold nights (George enjoys scaring the crap out of unsuspected walkers.

George also stalks people across the bridge, his following footsteps have been heard by many lone folk crossing the bridge, then fade away once across. Though I was once told that if you look back when you hear the footsteps, you will see George walking behind you and his pace is quick, there are tons of urban myths about George, one I remember from school camp, was that if you saw George’s ghost following you, he will follow you to your home and haunt you for days…. We know this not to be true as no one has had George follow them any further that the bridge.

George also has a large black dog (Labrador) that is a protector for lonely women who cross the bridge…alone, the dog disappears once person is off the bridge, is the dog protecting ladies from George? Who knows…? Maybe there’s other spirits that lurk on the bridge… besides George? Why not one late foggy night cross the bridge, maybe George is waiting?

Our investigation we conducted in Richmond in 06 was successful, as we captured a black shape standing in Grover’s spot, no one was there and to prove that no one was there, we have video footage to back our story up, you can actually here the camera clicking away and mike is being filmed while taking the photos. This is one of the best apparitions we have ever captured.

Copyright Team Strigois Unnatural 2010