Frank Gardiner–Ben Hall gang

The Frank Gardiner–Ben Hall Gang was an informal group of bushrangers who roamed the central west of New South Wales, Australia in the 1860s. The gang was responsible for the largest gold robbery in Australia’s history at Eugowra Rocks. The gang had its origins in 1861; its demise came with the execution of John Dunn in 1866.

Known members and fate

Gang activities

John Peisley was born at Bathurst in 1835. While a teenager, he became a notorious horse thief in the area. He was convicted and sentenced to serve time on Cockatoo Island near Sydney, where he met Frank Gardiner. In December 1860, Peisley gained his ticket of leave, on the condition that he remain in the Hunter River Valley area. He absconded to the Abercrombie Ranges, where his parents once lived, and became a lone highway robber, "sticking up" travellers in the area south and west of Bathurst.

Gardiner was granted a ticket of leave in December 1859 on the condition of staying in the Carcoar district, and he soon joined up with Peisley. Johnny Gilbert joined them soon afterwards, and the gang started stealing cattle and horses. Gardiner's ticket of leave was revoked when a warrant for his arrest for cattle stealing was issued.

Gardiner had a partnership with William Fogg in a butcher shop at Spring Creek. Gardiner supplied Fogg with stolen cattle, and Fogg would slaughter the cattle and sell the meat.

1861

1862

In 1862, John Gilbert was first named as an accomplice of Gardiner when they and two others held up a storekeeper. Just over a month later, John Gilbert was involved in another robbery, this time with Gardiner and Ben Hall. From then on John Gilbert was identified as being involved in several hold-ups between Lambing Flat and Lachlan.

the location of the robbery at Eugowra Rocks

1863

1864

1865

Death of Ben Hall
As Hales and King approached the hut, the dogs started barking. Bushrangers ran out the back of the hut firing their guns, and kept up the fire as they got through a bush fence that led to the creek. They positioned themselves behind a large tree. Gilbert fired his revolving rifle at Hales and Bright, but it misfired. Meanwhile, King and Hall took up positions. Dunn and Gilbert started firing their revolvers at Hall and King and ran down to the creek. Hales and Bright immediately fired at the bushrangers; Gilbert was shot and died instantly.
Hales ordered his men to follow and to chase Dunn. The three constables chased Dunn for about a mile and a half; they were exhausted and had to give up the pursuit. Dunn stole a horse from nearby Bogolong station and wasn't heard from again for seven months.

See also

References

  1. "Capture of Frank Gardiner the Highwayman". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 Mar 1864. Retrieved 24 Jan 2013.
  2. "The Empire.". Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875) (Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia). 31 May 1867. p. 4. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Career of Dunn the Bushranger". Bruce Herald, Volume III, Issue 98, Page 5. 15 February 1866. Retrieved 25 Dec 2010.
  4. http://www.tablelandsway.com.au/experience-trails/bushrangers-of-upper-lachlan/
  5. "Execution of Dunn". The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser. 22 March 1866. Retrieved 24 Jan 2013.

External links

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