tiabunna's photos with the keyword: bushrangers

A view of parkland alongside the Clyde River, where the coastal steamers from Sydney used to berth, before the road network was developed. The large tree stump to the right is the "Bushranger tree" where it is believed the bushranging Clarke brothers were chained in 1867, awaiting the steamer taking them to their trial in Sydney (see also image in PiP for more detail). As the departure of the Clarkes marked the end of bushranging in NSW, I'd think that's a good reason for HFF! Best wishes for the weekend, everyone. FWIW, this is leading to the existing bridge across the river, shortly to be replaced. Explored.

This large stump of an old tree is known as the "Bushranger tree". It is believed to be the remains of the tree to which the Clarke brothers, notorious bushrangers, were chained in 1867 while awaiting the coastal steamer to Sydney. When they reached Sydney they were tried for the attempted murder of one of the police who arrested them, by shooting at him and wounding him in the leg. They were found guilty and subsequently executed. An accomplice was subsequently charged with and convicted of the murder of the Special Constables. And that was the end of the era of bushrangers in NSW. One useful result from this period was that the government apparently recognised that the problems of lawlessness in rural areas arose, at least in part, because of a lack of public education (the Clarke brothers were totally illiterate). As a result they began introducing public education across the entire State, as necessary with part-time schools where teachers had to meet the needs of several tiny schools.

With the wisdom of hindsight, the Special Constables (bounty hunters) should have seen the warning signs. Finally, they literally walked into an ambush in January 1867. After interviewing several people on rural properties they walked in from the top left of the scene in the first PiP. Several people, hiding in the trees to the right, promptly shot two of them (second PiP). The remaining two retreated down hill, but were stopped and shot in the right of the main image (also third PiP). Their deaths were discovered the following day. Given the (at best) frosty relationship between the Specials and the regular police, I find it slightly ironic that, after 150 years, the NSW police have now claimed the Special Constables as their own (fourth PiP).

I'm afraid that you'll have to search for the fences, gentle viewers. Viewing large may help. HFF, everyone. Back in January 1867 the Special Constables came this way and stayed overnight at a property called 'Jinden' . The next day, heavily armed, they went seeking the Clarke bushranger gang and walked in the general direction of the ridge in the background. This link from The Seekers seems appropriate. Explored.

Back to my bushranger series. This is a view into the Araluen Valley, the richest of the NSW alluvial goldfields of the 1860s. The only road out led up this steep range, where Clarke's Lookout gained its name from the Clarke brothers and their gang of bushrangers. This was a favourite place for them to watch and wait to ambush coaches coming up from the valley. :-) Best viewed large. HFF and have a great weekend, everyone. Explored.

In the early 1800s, small portions of land were made available for sale or tenancy to free settlers or to emancipated convicts. One of those was John Clarke, a convict transported in 1828 for seven years and allocated to work for the owner of one of the large properties in the area. This view of the open land beyond the trees shows the general area where the Clarke family were tenants of a cottage (no longer there) on a small portion of land. Brick Kiln Creek, currently dry because of the drought, normally flows through the wooded foreground area. Explored.

Nerrigundah gained a place in history on the night of 9 April 1866, when Tom Clarke and his gang of bushrangers rode into town, leaving their horses at about the position of the letterboxes in my previous images. Then they took over the building central to this image (at that time a store and gold dealership) and a hotel (no longer there) to the right of the image, proceeding to rob the local community. The Sergeant in charge of the police station was away on patrol, leaving only a new recruit and Constable Miles O'Grady who was confined to bed with a fever. Staggering from his bed, Constable O'Grady said "I will do my duty" as he and the recruit went to confront the bushrangers, two of whom were keeping guard at the hotel. Constable O'Grady fired, killing one bushranger, while the recruit missed. With their single shot pistols needing reloading, the police then began a retreat, but the other bushrangers came from the hotel and one shot Constable O'Grady. The bushrangers then left for the mountains inland. More images in PiPs. This memorial to Constable O'Grady (foreground) is believed to be the only memorial in Australia to an individual policeman. I think this is an appropriate musical link. HFF, everyone. Explored.