Yurralumla - Governors General Residence - Yarralumla - Sir Murray Tyrrell's ghost story

The Australian Government bought "Yarralumla," a homestead built by the Campbell family in 1891 for use as a permanent Government House.


Yurralumla - Governors General Residence

The Australian Government bought "Yarralumla," a homestead built by the Campbell family in 1891 for use as a permanent Government House,

Sir Murray Tyrrell, who was private secretary to a succession of Governors General from 1947 -1973 shared his encounter with a ghost at Yurralumla with the Canberra News of 27 August 1970 who then carried his recounting in a feature article.

Sir Murray apparently told how in February 1963, the residence was busy preparing for an important visit from the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Predictably a visit from Royalty, especially the Queen means security is greatly increased.

Sir Murray had left his office and was heading towards his cottage in the grounds when a flustered official approached him and asked if he had seen a strange person entering the front door of Government House. Sir Murray said he had not, but the official was very insistent that someone had entered the premises.

Sir Murray decided to check and entered the front door himself, finding that there was a strange figure slowly climbing the stairs from the foyer to the first floor. Sir Murray shouted but the figure took no notice. The private secretary took off after the intruder, bounding up the stairs in pursuit, but when he reached the first floor landing the figure had vanished. He searched every room in the vicinity but could find no trace of the figure. Mystified and alarmed., Sir Murray summoned one of the security guards who were patrolling the grounds with guard dogs, hastily explained what he saw and sent the guard up to the first floor to investigate. The security guard and dog started to climb the stairs when suddenly about half way, the dog would go no further. The security guard tried coaxing the trained guard dog, but it refused to move. It stood staring, teeth bared and snarled at the guard when it tried to coax it again up the stairs, this was very strange behavior for the normally faithful and fearless dog. Whatever it was up in the first floor was not deemed a security risk for the queen at least and the whole account continued to baffle Sir Murray Tyrrell and he has never found a rational explanation for them.

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