Groover's Ghost of Richmond Bridge - Tasmania, Australia

In the village of Richmond in Tasmania, Australia, a bridge traverses the Coal River along the B31 or what was formerly known as 'convict trail' which served as a main transport route of work gangs from the penal colony of Port Arthur to the growing Hobart Town.  The bridge is said to be haunted by a former convict overseer and and a dog.

Richmond Bridge in Tasmania, Australia is said to be haunted by the ghost of George 'Simeon' Groover and a spectral dog

George 'Simeon' Groover started out his life in Tasmania as one of it's convict residents.  He was sent there for stealing and served out his term, then managed to get a job as a convict overseer around 1829.  He was also given the dubious job of flogging the prisoners when they got out of line. It was said that he became very brutally good at it, torturing many prisoners in his time as overseer.

Built in 1925 by convict labor, what was then known as Bigge's Bridge served as an easy way to traverse the river at Richmond.  One day in 1832, this bridge was the scene of a tragic end for George Groover.  The gang of convicts he was overseeing, took advantage of Groover's drunken state and took out their vengeance on him right there at the bridge and then threw him over the side into the river.

Haunted Richmond Bridge still stands today as one of the oldest bridges of its kind still in use in Australia

Over the years many passing over the bridge have witnessed the specter of a man pacing back and forth across the bridge.  It is believed that this is the ghost of George Groover.  Strangely enough, a phantom black dog has also appeared on the bridge.  Many claim that it appears and then just as suddenly, disappears without a trace. Groover's Dog as it has come to be known, usually manifests itself in the evenings and presents itself only to women and children.  There has also been sightings of a man in a straw hat appearing to be wearing convict attire, strolling across the bridge on occasion.  This is believed to be a prisoner that grew weary of the brutal conditions and threw himself over the side of the bridge while crossing one day.

Richmond Bridge still stands today as one of the oldest bridges of its kind still in use in Australia.  So if you are ever traveling on the B31, keep an eye out for phantoms of the past as you are passing over the haunted bridge at Richmond.