Fisher's ghost
Ghost of a murdered farmer who revealed his own grave.
Frederick Fisher, an English-born farmer in Campbelltown, New South Wales, vanished on 17 June 1826. His neighbor, George Worrall, claimed Fisher had returned to England, leaving him power of attorney, and later that Fisher had written to say he would not come back, giving Worrall his farm. Four months later, a local man named John Farley rushed into a hotel, agitated, saying he had seen Fisher’s ghost sitting on a bridge railing. The ghost pointed silently toward a paddock beyond a creek and disappeared. Farley’s story was initially dismissed, but suspicion grew, and police searched the paddock. They found Fisher’s remains buried by the creek. Worrall was arrested, confessed, and was hanged. Fisher was buried at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Campbelltown. Some suggest Farley invented the ghost story to hide how he really knew the body’s location, but this is unconfirmed. Joe Nickell noted the tale may have come from an anonymous 1832 poem, “The Sprite of the Creek!”, later identified as by James Riley, who republished it in 1846 under the pseudonym “Felix.” Contemporary police and court records do not mention the ghost. The creek where the body was found is called Fisher’s Ghost Creek, though it is now mostly a storm water drain. The legend has entered popular folklore.
Since 1956, the Festival of Fisher’s Ghost has been held in Campbelltown each November, organized by the city council. The ten-day event uses the legend to promote community togetherness and diverse creative activities. It features a parade on Queen Street, the Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, a fun run, street fair, carnival, craft exhibition, music, competitions, open days, children’s events, fireworks, and the Miss Princess Quest.
- born
- 28 August 1792 (London, England)
- died
- 17 June 1826 (presumed murdered, Campbelltown, New South Wales)
- field
- Folk tale / ghost legend
- nationality
- English-born Australian
- known_for
- Subject of the Fisher's Ghost legend; his ghost reportedly pointed to the location of his buried remains
Lore & Background
Frederick Fisher, an English-born Australian farmer, disappeared on 17 June 1826 in Campbelltown, New South Wales. His friend and neighbour George Worrall claimed Fisher had returned to England and had given him power of attorney, later asserting that Fisher had written to say he would not return and had given his farm to Worrall. Four months after the disappearance, a local man named John Farley told patrons of a hotel that he had seen Fisher's ghost sitting on a bridge rail, pointing silently to a paddock beyond a creek before vanishing. Though initially dismissed, the story prompted a police search of that paddock, where Fisher's remains were found buried by the creek. Worrall was arrested, confessed, and was hanged. Fisher was buried in the cemetery at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Campbelltown.
Reader's Guide
The legend of Fisher's ghost has endured as a foundational folk tale in Australian culture, particularly in Campbelltown, where the creek beside which the body was found is known as Fisher's Ghost Creek (now mostly a storm water drain). The story's persistence is notable despite contemporary police and court records not mentioning the ghost. Some have suggested Farley invented the ghost story to conceal his own source of knowledge about the body's location, but this cannot be confirmed. The tale may also have originated from an anonymous 1832 poem, 'The Sprite of the Creek!', later attributed to James Riley under the pseudonym 'Felix'. Since 1956, the Festival of Fisher's Ghost, organized by Campbelltown City Council, has used the legend to promote community togetherness and celebrate the city's history and diverse population. The annual ten-day festival in November includes a parade, art award, fun run, street fair, carnival, craft exhibition, music, competitions, children's events, fireworks, and the Miss Princess Quest. A 1924 Australian silent film titled 'Fisher's Ghost' retells the events.
Did You Know?
- Frederick Fisher was born on 28 August 1792 in London, England.
- The ghost was reportedly seen by John Farley sitting on the rail of a bridge, pointing silently to a paddock.
- George Worrall, who claimed Fisher had given him power of attorney, confessed to the murder and was hanged.
- The Festival of Fisher's Ghost has been celebrated annually in Campbelltown since 1956.
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