There’s something incredibly grounding about reconnecting with nature, especially when I find myself walking through the crisp mountain air. The soundtrack of nature is always playing—echoes of frogs croaking and birds calling to one another—and it’s a reminder of how peaceful the world can be.
One of my favorite places to experience this is right in my own backyard: Springbrook National Park. I try to visit every few months, as it’s just a stone’s throw away and offers a sense of tranquility I can’t quite find elsewhere.
During a recent visit, I spent some time marveling at the ancient Antarctic beech trees (Nothofagus moorei). These incredible relics from the Gondwana super-continent are found in cool temperate rainforests at higher elevations, like those near the Best of All Lookout.
Some of these trees are thought to be around 3,000 years old, standing as silent witnesses to the passage of time.
I often think of these trees as sentinels, watching over the forest and holding the memories of a time when the land was part of the great Gondwana. They stand, rooted deeply in history, as if guarding the secrets of past ages.
Being in the presence of these ancient wonders is something beyond words—it's a soothing balm for the soul. The beauty, the stillness, the history—it's all woven together in a way that’s hard to explain until you experience it for yourself.
While Springbrook is known for its natural beauty, it also has a mysterious and somewhat eerie reputation, particularly when it comes to local legends and ghost stories. Some of the deaths that have occurred in the area—many of them in the form of tragic accidents or unexplained events—have contributed to the area's haunted lore.
One of the most notable aspects of Springbrook’s paranormal reputation is the presence of ghost stories associated with the surrounding forests and remote areas. There are reports of sightings of apparitions, strange sounds, and unexplainable phenomena. Some visitors and locals claim to have felt an uncanny presence while hiking through the rainforests, or to have experienced feelings of dread or unease in certain locations. These stories have made Springbrook a popular spot for paranormal enthusiasts and ghost hunters.
Additionally, the Springbrook Road is notorious for a number of tragic accidents, particularly as a result of its winding, narrow nature. These roads, combined with the area's misty and foggy conditions, have contributed to a sense of foreboding among locals. The Numinbah Valley, a neighboring area, is another hotspot for stories involving eerie sightings and ghostly encounters. Local legends speak of a ghostly figure that haunts the area, adding to the region's mystique.
Springbrook, Queensland, is a scenic and historically rich area located in the Gold Coast Hinterland, about 30 km west of the city of the Gold Coast. The area is known for its lush rainforests, spectacular waterfalls, and rich cultural heritage, making it a popular destination for nature lovers, history enthusiasts, and those interested in the paranormal.
Geography and Natural Beauty
Springbrook is situated within the Springbrook National Park, part of the larger World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. The area’s landscape is marked by towering cliffs, waterfalls, and dense rainforests. Some of the park’s highlights include Purling Brook Falls, Goomoolahra Falls, and the Natural Bridge—an iconic rock formation that has been shaped over thousands of years by erosion. These natural wonders make Springbrook a stunning location for hikers and those interested in the outdoors.
The park is home to a wide range of flora and fauna, including rare and endangered species, and is a haven for wildlife, such as the southeastern Queensland yellow-bellied glider, and a diverse range of birdlife. The area’s climate, which varies from subtropical to temperate, allows for the growth of lush, diverse plant species.
Springbrook National Park (2025) Photographs by B J Thompson
Indigenous History
Springbrook is situated within the traditional lands of the Githabul people, one of the Indigenous groups of southeastern Queensland. The Githabul people have a deep connection to the land, and their history and culture are embedded in the landscape. The mountain ranges and forests around Springbrook are dotted with sacred sites, and the land is rich in cultural significance.
The Githabul people lived in harmony with the land for thousands of years, utilizing the area's natural resources for food, shelter, and medicinal purposes. After European colonization, their way of life was significantly disrupted, but their cultural connection to the land continues to be an important aspect of the Springbrook area's heritage.
European Settlement
The European settlement of Springbrook began in the late 19th century, though the region remained relatively isolated for many years due to its rugged terrain. In the 1880s, timber-getting and farming in the area started to take hold, particularly as settlers sought land for dairying and agriculture. The Springbrook plateau, with its fertile soils, was ideal for small farming operations.
A key figure in the area's history was John D. H. Mudge, who is credited with being one of the early settlers. In the early 20th century, the plateau was increasingly developed for farming, though it remained a small, tight-knit community. Access to the area remained limited until the construction of roads in the mid-1900s.
Development and Tourism
Springbrook’s development as a tourist destination began in the 20th century, particularly in the 1960s, when the creation of national parks and improvements to roads helped make the area more accessible to visitors. Today, Springbrook is a key destination in the Gold Coast Hinterland for eco-tourism, attracting people who want to experience its natural beauty, take in the spectacular views, and explore the lush rainforests.
The area is now a blend of residential properties and natural reserves. Many of the properties are homes to people who’ve moved to the area for its tranquility, beauty, and proximity to the Gold Coast. However, the community is still relatively small compared to other Gold Coast suburbs.
Springbrook National Park (2025) Photographs by B J Thompson
Let's delve into the eerie and mysterious stories that have been woven into the fabric of local folklore for generations. These paranormal tales, whispered among residents and passed down over time, speak of unexplained phenomena, ghostly apparitions, and supernatural encounters that continue to captivate and intrigue. Whether rooted in history, personal experiences, or long-standing legends, these accounts add an air of mystery to the region, keeping the stories alive for those who dare to listen.
The Phantom Hitchhiker of Springbrook Road
One of the most persistent and eerie stories that have emerged from Springbrook is that of the vanishing hitchhiker. The tale is a variation of the classic "ghostly hitchhiker" myth that has been reported in various parts of the world, but in this case, it’s tied to the winding Springbrook Road, which leads up to the mountain and the national park.
The Encounter:
The story goes that a driver traveling the road late at night picked up a young woman dressed in white who appeared out of nowhere, standing at a lonely stretch of the road. She appeared lost and asked for a ride to a nearby town. The driver, feeling sympathetic, offered her a lift. They talked briefly during the ride, and the driver, noticing how quiet the road was, asked her where she was heading.
As they continued to drive, the woman became more distant, and when the driver turned to speak to her again, she had vanished. The driver was shocked and immediately stopped the car, looking around in confusion. The hitchhiker was nowhere to be seen. The driver reported that the strange thing about the encounter was that there was no way she could have gotten out of the car without him noticing, given the winding, narrow road.
When the driver later asked locals about the woman, he was told she had died years ago in a tragic accident on that very road. Some versions of the story say she was a young woman who had tragically died in a car crash while traveling home, while others suggest she was the victim of an early Springbrook landslide.
Telegraph, Wednesday 2 February 1938, page 11
Bushwalker looking at a roadside well in Springbrook in 1938.
The Ghost of the Natural Bridge
The Natural Bridge is a famous and stunning feature in Springbrook National Park. The site is known for its glowing glow-worm caves and its picturesque waterfall. However, it also has a dark reputation in local lore for being a haunted location.
The Encounter:
Many visitors have reported strange feelings and paranormal occurrences around the Natural Bridge area. One commonly told story is of a couple who visited the site at night to see the glow-worms. As they wandered near the waterfall, they began to hear strange sounds—footsteps, whispers, and even the feeling of being watched.
The couple, who were initially in high spirits, began to feel increasingly uneasy. It wasn’t until they left the area that they learned about a woman who had drowned in the waterfall many years ago. Local legend says that the woman was walking near the falls when she slipped, and her body was never recovered.
People who have stayed after dark report hearing the sound of splashing water, even when no one is near the falls. Some have even claimed to see a shadowy figure near the water, sometimes appearing as a woman in a long white gown, walking as though she is searching for something—or someone.
The Spirit of the Old Railway Line
Though the Springbrook area itself didn’t have an extensive railway system, there were smaller lines and infrastructure that once served the region, particularly the area around the Gold Coast hinterland. Several ghost stories have emerged from these railway remnants and abandoned tracks, which are considered haunted by some.
The Encounter:
A particularly unsettling story involves an early morning commuter who was walking along an old, unused railway track near Springbrook. As the sun began to rise, the man claimed to have heard the distinct sound of a train whistle in the distance. Thinking it was a passing train, he stepped off the tracks to let it pass.
But the train never came.
Instead, the sound continued, growing louder and closer. It wasn’t long before the man saw something strange: a pale light in the distance, moving quickly along the tracks. As it drew closer, he realized it was no train—it was an eerie glow of light, like a lantern, floating in mid-air.
Suddenly, the light vanished, leaving the man standing alone in an empty, silent forest. The experience left him shaken, and locals later suggested the light was the spirit of a former railway worker who had been killed in an accident near the tracks.
Tramway locomotive with cut logs on the Cedar Creek Bridge. (n.d.).
Burbank, A. H. (n.d.). Visitors at Numinbah Plateau, Queensland, where a tree is being felled, 1906.
Daily Standard, Wednesday 18 July 1934, page 7
The Unexplained Lights of Springbrook
A more recent phenomenon that has intrigued both locals and paranormal investigators is the appearance of mysterious lights in the skies above Springbrook. These lights, often seen late at night or during early morning hours, appear to hover above the mountain range, sometimes moving erratically or changing color.
The Encounter:
Several tourists have reported seeing strange lights while visiting the Springbrook Plateau or the nearby Best of All Lookout. The lights are often described as orbs or distant headlights, but what sets them apart from regular lights is their tendency to move independently and unpredictably.
Some witnesses have speculated that the lights are some form of paranormal phenomenon, potentially connected to the ancient land’s spiritual significance. Others have linked them to unidentified flying objects (UFOs), given their sudden movements and strange qualities.
A particularly chilling story involved a couple who were camping in the area near the lookout. Around midnight, they reported seeing multiple bright, glowing orbs hovering near the treeline, moving in and out of view behind the thick fog. The couple’s dog, who had been calm up until that point, suddenly began barking frantically and cowering inside the tent. The lights eventually disappeared, and the couple decided to leave the site, unnerved by the strange encounter.
View from Springbrook towards the sea in 1938.
Evening News, Monday 22 April 1929, page 9.
Whispers in the Mist
The mists of Springbrook are legendary. As the fog rolls in over the mountain, it can obscure everything around you, making the world feel small and isolated. In the quiet stillness, it’s easy for visitors to imagine they’re not alone.
The Encounter:
One particularly eerie experience occurred to a group of hikers who ventured into Springbrook during a misty evening. As they trekked deeper into the dense forest, they began to hear faint whispers, like voices carried on the wind. At first, they thought it was just the rustling of the trees or the wind, but as the whispers grew louder, they became convinced someone was following them.
The group decided to quicken their pace, but the whispers seemed to follow them, now more distinct and in a language none of them could understand. They finally reached a clearing, where the mist parted for a moment, revealing an old, twisted tree. At that point, the whispers ceased abruptly.
As they left the area, the group later learned that ancient Indigenous burial grounds were located not far from where they had heard the whispers. Some suggested that the sounds they experienced were the spirits of the ancestors who once lived in the region, watching over the land.
The Lake House at 999 Springbrook Road
One of the more haunting tales from the Springbrook area is that of the Lake House located at 999 Springbrook Road. This house, once a grand but now abandoned property, has long been the subject of local legends and ghost stories.
The Story:
The Lake House is described as a large, old home that has seen better days. The property is tucked away in a secluded area near a lake and is surrounded by dense forest. According to the story, the house was once owned by a wealthy family who lived there in the early 1900s. The family enjoyed a peaceful, idyllic life on the property, but their happiness was tragically short-lived.
It is said that a young woman, one of the children of the family, mysteriously disappeared. Local legends suggest that she either drowned in the lake or was the victim of foul play, though no one knows for certain. Her disappearance is said to have cast a dark shadow over the house, which seemed to never recover from the tragedy.
Paranormal Encounters:
Visitors and locals alike have reported strange, unsettling occurrences at the Lake House. Among the most common experiences are disembodied voices, including the sounds of screaming or weeping, especially around the lake and the overgrown garden that once surrounded the house. Some say that they have heard a woman’s voice calling out, as if still searching for the missing daughter.
Other reports include cold spots within the house and the eerie feeling of being watched. The windows, often said to be fogged up or dirty, sometimes reveal shadowy figures inside, but when someone approaches, the figures vanish. The house is completely abandoned now, and no one dares to approach after dark.
Several paranormal investigators have visited the site, and it’s said that electronic voice phenomena (EVP) have been captured, with some voices allegedly saying, “Come back” or “Help me.” These EVP recordings suggest that the spirit of the missing woman, or perhaps the spirit of the family, may still linger in the area, trapped between the physical world and the afterlife.
The Lake House Today:
Today, the house stands in a state of decay, a mere shell of its former self. The surrounding forest and the overgrown paths leading to the lake have contributed to its sense of abandonment and mystery. While some brave individuals still venture to the property in search of paranormal encounters, others prefer to avoid it, believing the house is cursed or haunted by the spirits of those who lived—and tragically died—there.
The Lake House is a chilling reminder of the dark secrets hidden within the Springbrook area and serves as a lasting piece of the region’s paranormal history. The tragic story of the missing woman and the eerie phenomena surrounding the house have ensured that it remains a focal point for ghost hunters and anyone fascinated by the supernatural.
Springbrook National Park (2025) Photograph by B J Thompson
Gold Coast Bulletin 2018 showing what the site looked like.
The Yowie Sighting Near Springbrook National Park
One of the most well-known reports comes from a local who was camping near Springbrook National Park. The encounter was said to have taken place when the area was less developed and the forest much more remote. The camper, staying at an isolated campsite near Purling Brook Falls, described hearing unusual, loud vocalizations late in the evening. At first, they thought it was the calls of large animals, but the sounds seemed too deep and unnaturally human-like.
As the camper ventured deeper into the forest to investigate, they reported seeing large, dark figures moving among the trees, just beyond the reach of their flashlight. The creatures were described as being around 7-8 feet tall, with broad shoulders, and covered in long, dark hair. The camper quickly retreated to their tent, but the unsettling presence lingered around their campsite for the rest of the night, with strange footsteps and rustling noises coming from the surrounding forest.
Though the camper didn't get a clear visual of the Yowie, they left the area the next morning, convinced they had encountered something extraordinary. Locals later suggested that the strange sounds and figures might have been the Yowie—an elusive cryptid known for its sightings in areas with thick forests and remote locations, such as the hinterlands around Springbrook.
Common Features of Yowie Sightings in Springbrook Area:
Large Footprints: Many of the Yowie sightings in Springbrook and surrounding areas involve reports of large footprints—often described as up to 20 inches long.
Unusual Vocalizations: Witnesses often report hearing deep howls or grunts from the forest, which sound human-like but are much deeper and more guttural.
Elusive Sightings: The Yowie is known for being elusive. Those who report sightings often claim to have only glimpsed large, shadowy figures moving through the trees, rather than getting a clear visual.
Strange Noises and Movements: Many Yowie encounters include reports of unexplained rustling or thumping sounds in the underbrush, indicating something large is moving through the area.
My Personal Experiences at Springbrook: A Night at Natural Bridge
Nestled within the dense rainforest of Springbrook National Park, Natural Bridge is a place of stunning beauty and eerie mystery. My visit one July night was meant to be a peaceful solo photography trip—an opportunity to capture the enchanting glow worms and the natural wonder of the cave. However, what I experienced that night left me questioning the unseen forces that may linger in the darkness.
A Descent into the Unknown
It was a midweek evening, around 11 PM, when I arrived at the entrance. The air was crisp, and an eerie stillness surrounded me as I began my descent down the winding path toward the cave and waterfall. With only my torchlight guiding the way, I could hear the distant sound of rushing water, growing louder as I approached. Suddenly, a thick fog began rolling in, blanketing the track and adding an unsettling atmosphere to my solitary walk.
Upon reaching the cave, I stepped into absolute darkness. The only light came from the faint, bioluminescent glow of the worms scattered across the rock formations like a galaxy of tiny blue stars. It was breathtaking—reminiscent of scenes from the movie Fern Gully. The air inside the cave was cool, damp, and filled with the quiet flutter of microbats swooping through the shadows above me.
An Uneasy Return
After spending some time photographing the glow worms and taking in the beauty of the site, I made my way back toward the car park. That’s when things took an unexpected turn.
As I began the steep ascent back up the mountain, I suddenly heard voices echoing in the distance. They seemed to be coming from the direction of the car park. Yet, I hadn’t seen another soul for at least an hour. The sensation of being watched crept over me—a deep, primal awareness of unseen eyes lurking in the dense forest beyond the trail. I quickened my pace.
Reaching a wooden bridge along the track, I decided to stop for one last long-exposure shot of the glow worms clinging to the trees nearby. As I set up my camera, I heard it—distinct footsteps crossing the bridge behind me. Spinning around, I shone my flashlight toward the sound, expecting to see someone. There was nothing. No movement. No sign of life. Just silence and the ever-present glow of the worms.
I swallowed my unease and pressed on. The further I climbed, the louder another sound grew—thud, thud, thud. The rhythmic pounding of footsteps, as if someone was running along the path behind me. My pulse quickened. My instincts screamed at me to move faster. As I neared the top of the trail, the sound was right behind me—then, without warning, it vanished.
The voices I had heard earlier were gone. The silence was overwhelming. I stood there for a moment, heart pounding, scanning the darkness. Was it an animal? A residual energy repeating an old memory? Or was it something unseen, something watching, following, waiting?
I don’t have the answer. But one thing is certain—I never returned to Natural Bridge alone again.
The Cave with glow-worms, Springbrook National Park (2025) Photograph by B J Thompson
Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park (2025) Photograph by B J Thompson
My Personal Experiences at Springbrook: A Haunting Encounter at 999 Springbrook Road
In 2021, I set out on a venture to explore one of the more elusive, lesser-known locations in Springbrook—999 Springbrook Road. This spot had intrigued me for a while, whispered about in local circles for its unsettling energy and strange occurrences. But nothing could have prepared me for what I encountered that day.
The Journey to Nowhere
The drive itself was the first sign that this would be no ordinary trip. As I navigated the winding, narrow roads leading up the mountain, a dense fog began to settle in, shrouding everything in a thick, gray mist. The trees loomed overhead like silent sentinels, their twisted branches clawing at the sky. I didn’t pass a single car for over 40 minutes. The further I drove, the heavier the atmosphere felt—as if the forest itself was closing in around me.
A creeping sense of unease gnawed at me with every turn of the wheel. I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone—or something—was watching, waiting just beyond the veil of fog. My chest felt tight, not just from the tension of the road, but from something deeper, more oppressive that I couldn’t quite explain.
The Stone Bridge and the Unseen Presence
When I finally arrived at the overgrown path leading to the old site, I was met with an immediate sense of foreboding. The forest was deathly silent, the kind of quiet that presses against your ears until it becomes deafening. The path was choked with tangled undergrowth, and the towering trees cast long, distorted shadows that seemed to move even when I stood still.
I made it as far as the stone bridge before I had to stop. The energy shifted drastically the moment I stepped onto it. My chest grew even tighter, and the oppressive weight of unseen eyes bore down on me from every direction. The forest felt alive—aware—as if it was observing me just as intently as I was trying to observe it.
The calls of the possums in the area echoed through the darkness, their high-pitched cries piercing the still night air. It wasn’t the usual soft rustling or gentle chattering one might expect from wildlife; instead, their sounds were sharp, almost human-like in their intensity. The eerie, wailing tones resonated through the trees, resembling distant screams that sent chills down my spine. In the silence of the forest, each call seemed to bounce off the dense canopy, creating an unsettling atmosphere that blurred the line between natural and supernatural. For a moment, it felt as if the forest itself was crying out, adding to the already oppressive sense of unease surrounding the area.
That’s when I sensed her......
A woman named Mary, along with what felt like the residual presence of her daughter. Mary seemed to be in her late 30s, dressed in flowing white garments reminiscent of the late 1800s. Her energy wasn’t malevolent, but it was heavy—grief-stricken, lingering in the atmosphere like a shadow that refused to fade. I couldn’t see her, but her presence was undeniable. It clung to the air around me, pressing against my skin like a cold mist.
Technology Fails and Final Warnings
Determined to document whatever I could, I pulled out my equipment. But, despite having tested everything beforehand, nothing worked. My EMF reader was completely unresponsive, my recorder wouldn’t turn on, and my torch—which had been perfectly fine moments earlier—began to flicker erratically at a specific spot on the bridge. No matter how many times I checked the batteries, the light continued to fade in and out, as if something was interfering with it.
Every instinct in my body screamed for me to leave. The energy wasn’t just uncomfortable—it felt like a warning. I stood there for a moment longer, trying to rationalize the sensations, but the overwhelming feeling of being watched, of being unwelcome, was too strong to ignore. I turned back, my pace quickening as I retraced my steps down the overgrown path.
Even as I drove away, that oppressive weight lingered, following me until I was far from the site.
The winding, foggy road that had unsettled me on the way in now felt like an escape route. But the memory of that day—the feeling of Mary’s sorrowful presence, the malfunctioning equipment, and the suffocating energy—has stayed with me ever since.
I’ve visited many haunted locations in my time, but 999 Springbrook Road remains one of the few places that I haven’t dared to revisit.
Overgrown paths of Springbrook National Park (2025) and Full Moon through spider webs Photographs by B J Thompson
Newspaper Articles and Research
During my research into the paranormal history of Springbrook, I stumbled upon a trove of newspaper articles that shed light on the area's mysterious past. These articles, ranging from the 1920s through to the 1990s, provide more than just stories—they offer an official, documented record of the strange and unsettling events that have occurred in this secluded corner of the world.
Each article paints a picture of a place steeped in mystery and tragedy, where sometimes the line between fact and folklore blurs, these written records contribute to a dark, ominous narrative that feeds the area's growing list of urban legends. The more I read, the more it became clear that Springbrook's haunted reputation isn’t just a result of local lore—it’s deeply intertwined with its documented history.
Unlike whispered tales passed down through generations, these newspaper clippings anchor the legends in historical fact, adding a chilling layer of authenticity to the eerie atmosphere that already surrounds the region.
These articles serve as both a window into the past and a reminder of the mysteries that still linger in the shadows of Springbrook. They add a tangible weight to the stories, making the paranormal legends not just tales of the imagination, but echoes of real events that continue to haunt the area to this day.
Telegraph, Saturday 6 November 1926, page 9
Tragedy at Springbrook
Vincent Augustine Cantrell, aged 29, a single man, was crushed to death beneath a tree at Springbrook yesterday. Cantrell was part of a crew working on telephone line construction.
The men had felled several trees in the morning and continued clearing in the afternoon to make way for a new line. Around 2 p.m., one of the largest trees was cut down. As Cantrell heard the tree begin to crack, he appeared to look upward to see where it would fall. Before he could move out of the way, the massive trunk came down on him, crushing him to death.
The deceased, originally from Stanthorpe, had been living with relatives on Brook Street, Highgate Hill, South Brisbane.
Evening News, Monday 22 April 1929, page 9
The Numinbah Ghost: A Mysterious Will-o'-the-Wisp
SYDNEY, Sunday
Ghostly activity has been reported in the remote areas of Hopkins Creek and Numinbah, near Murwillumbah. Superstitious locals are at a loss to explain the mysterious will-o'-the-wisp—a bright, flickering light that vanishes, only to reappear seconds later in a different spot.
This eerie light dances along the roads, across paddocks, and through the bush, unsettling the community. Many women and children are so frightened by the elusive spectre that they refuse to leave their homes after dark.
Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, Friday 17 May 1929, page 4
MYSTERIOUS LIGHT
A mysterious light, which comes in a bright flash and then suddenly dis-appears, to appear again a few seconds later, has been terrifying women and children in the lonely districts of Hop-kins' Creek and Numinbah, near Murwillumbah. The light has first appeared dancing about in the roads, paddocks and bush in quick succession. The superstitious regard it as a " ghost " light, and children are so afraid of risking an encounter with the elusive spectre of the night that they refuse to leave their homes.
Daily Standard, Wednesday 18 July 1934, page 7
Head Crushed to Pulp: Timber-Getter's Death at Springbrook
SOUTHPORT, Today
While clearing scrub at Springbrook yesterday afternoon, Reginald Gough, aged 30, was killed instantly. His workmates carried his body for a mile down the steep mountain in the dark.
Gough, a single man, was working alongside Colin Geary on the property of Messrs. E.J. Burke and P. Cummings. As they felled a tree, it crashed into a dead tree nearby, dislodging a large limb. The falling limb struck Gough on the head with tremendous force, crushing his skull almost to a pulp.
Border Star (Coolangatta, Qld. : 1929 - 1942), Thursday 16 April 1936, page 2
UNLUCKY FAMILY
Second Tragic Death SPRINGBROOK ACCIDENT
When the driver of a truck on the mountain road-ray connecting Springbrook with Mudgeeraba. in the Sôuthport district, swerved to avoid a calf lying on the road at 9 o'clock on Good Friday night the vehicle left the roadway and toppled over a steep embankment about two miles from Springbrook post office. The vehicles turned over several times before coming to rest on its wheels about 500ft. from where it left the roadway. As the truck careered down the hillside the three occupants were thrown out. • Joseph Armour (22), single, of Springbrook, driver of the truck, was found more than 100ft. from the top in an unconscious condition and suffered from terrible head injuries. He died shortly afterwards. The other two occupants, Alfred W. Scot (18) and Miss Ellen Hardy, escaped serious injury. A tragic feature of the fatality is that a brother of Joseph Armour died on March 24 last from injuries received when he was blown off the roof of a building he was repairing at Springbrook.
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Monday 26 June 1995, page 2
Waterfall death
BRISBANE: A man fell to his death over a waterfall in Queensland's Gold Coast hinterland yesterday. Police said the man fell over the Purlingbrook Falls at Springbrook shortly before 8am and was dead when found by rescuers.
Trove Articles
But beneath Springbrook’s lush canopies and cascading waterfalls lies a shadow that never quite fades. The whispers of the past echo through its dense rainforests, and as twilight descends, the line between the living and the spectral begins to blur. Whether it’s the ghostly hitchhiker on the winding road, the restless spirit near the Natural Bridge, or the phantom lights along forgotten railway tracks, Springbrook’s beauty is intertwined with an eerie presence that lingers just out of sight. So, if you find yourself wandering its trails after dark, remember—some footsteps in the forest may not be your own.
Springbrook National Park (2025) Photographs by B J Thompson
Sources
https://www.paranormalproject.com.au/www.paranormalproject.com.au/Investigations.html
https://warrendavel.blogspot.com/2012/09/999-springbrook-road.html
https://abandonedhistories.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-lake-house-999-springbrook-road.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/GoldCoast/comments/uynge4/people_of_the_gold_coast_anyone_have_any/
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/179580720?searchTerm=%22Springbrook%22%20death
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226624655?searchTerm=%22Springbrook%22%20death
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/133763072?searchTerm=%22Springbrook%22%20death
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201244268?searchTerm=Numinbah%20ghost
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/132932617?searchTerm=Numinbah%20ghost
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/236373115?searchTerm=%22Springbrook%20road%22%20death
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/186933160?searchTerm=%22Springbrook%22%20timber%20death
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