Travel: Bushranger Graves

Author and historian Greg Powell reveals where their ghosts may be heard

The majority of bushrangers were justteenagers or in their early to mid-twenties when they met their end at the hands of police or civilians who fought back. Many bushrangers were successful in their criminal careers while others died before they had a chance to build a reputation. Captain Thunderbolt was at large for nearly seven years while William Fletcher lasted only one day.

Today we can search for their last resting places and perhaps conjure up in our minds the events of the lawless past.

 

Two Fates

Frederick Ward, known as Captain Thunderbolt, has a well-known grave in Uralla Cemetery NSW. He was shot dead by Constable Alex Walker in nearby Kentucky Creek in 1870.

William Fletcher had been a member of Tom Clarke’s gang for one day. During their raid on the gold mining town of Nerrigundah on the NSW South Coast in 1866, he was shot dead in a main street night shootout with Constable Miles O’Grady.

Fletcher was buried in unconsecrated ground outside the back gate of Nerrigundah Cemetery, and a small plaque marks the spot.

 

Kelly Gang

Our most notorious bushranger, Ned Kelly is as elusive in death as he was in life. After his hanging in Old Melbourne Gaol in 1880, his headless remains were buried nearby. All remains were later removed to Pentridge Gaol. When that goal closed, the scant remains of the bushranger were identified and removed to Greta Cemetery, Victoria.

Travellers today can see a recent headstone at the entrance to Greta Cemetery but Ned’s actual final resting place is unmarked. Fellow gang members Dan Kelly and Steve Hart also lie in unmarked graves here. Ned’s loyal companion in crime, Joe Byrne, has a marked grave near the back fence of Benalla Cemetery.

 

Captain Moonlite

Captain Moonlite, Andrew George Scott, was captured after a gun battle with police at Wantabadgery near Gundagai NSW in 1879. A policeman and two bushrangers were killed in the battle. Scott was hanged inside Darlinghurst Gaol in Sydney and buried in Rookwood Cemetery. His request to be buried with his mate who died in the battle was denied.

In 1995 the people of Gundagai succeeded in having the remains moved to Gundagai Cemetery. Country towns know the tourism value of having a bushranger’s skeleton in the closet.

 

Ben Hall
Ben Hall is buried in a very much visited grave in Forbes Cemetery, NSW. He was shot dead by police, westward from Forbes in 1865, after a very successful career in crime. Other bushrangers are buried nearby. Ben Hall’s partner in crime, Johnny Gilbert was shot dead by police at Binalong near Yass, soon after Ben’s demise. His roadside grave can be seen along the Harden Road from Binalong.

 

Daniel Morgan

Also shot dead in 1865 was Daniel Morgan who had caused havoc and murder in the Riverina area. When he crossed into Victoria, the police pounced. His body was buried in Wangaratta Cemetery. The site is marked in the main road corner.

 

The Governor Brothers

In 1900, two Aboriginal brothers, Jimmy and Joe Governor went on the run, in north-east NSW after committing murders in the Central West and Hunter regions. Jimmy was captured and executed at Darlinghurst while Joe was shot dead by farmers near Singleton. His grave marker can be seen outside the fence at Whittingham Cemetery south of Singleton.

 

The Blue Camp Gang

A little-known gang led by Robert Cotterell or Blue Cap, raided homesteads in the NSW Riverina. After fleeing from one such raid, a young gang member was thrown from his horse into the Urangeline Creek. William Hammond drowned in the flooded creek and was buried at the site. His grave, on private property, has been marked by property owners.

 

Martin Cash

The notorious Tasmanian bushranger, Martin Cash, died in 1877. He lived to a ripe old law-abiding age of 67, following a life of crime with many gaol terms. His well-kept grave is located in Hobart’s Cornelian Bay Cemetery in A Sector of the Catholic section.

 

Joseph Bolitho

In Western Australia, the life of Joseph Bolitho Johns, reads like an incredible film script. His many crimes and amazing gaol escapes propelled him into western folklore. He eventually died in 1900 from senile dementia. His grave is located in Fremantle Cemetery a short distance along the road from the main Carrington St. entrance gate. Visit Fremantle for more.

 

The Kenniff Brothers

In 1902 in Queensland’s wild Carnarvon Ranges, a police officer and local property manager were murdered, and their bodies incinerated at the remote site. Two brothers, long-time bushrangers and cattle thieves, Patrick and James Kenniff, were tried for the murders. Patrick was hanged in Boggo Road Gaol and James served a long goal term.

Patrick is buried in South Brisbane Cemetery near the green work shed in the shady gully. He is the only executed prisoner to have a headstone. James died in 1940 and is buried in Charters Towers Lynd Highway Cemetery.

Travellers can contemplate our wild past whilst visiting these now peaceful sites. Perhaps the need to find out more about the bushrangers, their pursuers and their victims will arise.

Gregory Powell is the author of Bushranger Tracks and Bushranger Tracks-Beyond the Legends.

WORDS AND PHOTOS GREGORY POWELL

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