On June 17, 1826, Frederick Fisher, a convict-turned-successful farmer, vanished from his Campbelltown property. His neighbour George Worrall claimed Fisher had sailed back to England, but there was a problem. Fisher was still a convict, bound to the colony. Returning to England would mean hanging.

Three months later, Worrall sat in gaol, arrested on suspicion of murder. But without a body, he couldn't be charged.

Then, in October 1826, a farmer named John Farley reported seeing Frederick Fisher's ghost. The apparition sat on a fence rail, blood streaming from its head, pointing toward a creek. Following that direction, authorities found Fisher's body, skull crushed, buried in a shallow grave exactly where the ghost had pointed.

It's Australia's most famous ghost story. A tale of supernatural justice. An apparition refusing to let murder go unpunished.

This episode explores one of Australia's most enduring mysteries. We'll examine the meticulously documented murder trial, the brilliant tracking skills of Namut Gilbert and the dark possibilities surrounding John Farley's role in the case.

Content warning: This episode discusses murder and contains descriptions of violence.

Sources:

• Supreme Criminal Court transcripts, February 2, 1827
• Chief Justice Forbes' original court notes (examined by Andrew Lang, 1903)
• The Sydney Gazette, September-November 1826
• The Australian, November 1, 1826
• The Monitor, November 3, 1826
• Riley, James. "The Sprite of the Creek!" Hill's Life in New South Wales, August 1832

Title Music: by Jesse Frank from Pixabay

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