Floods, Droughts, Captain Starlight and a Plague of Cats. Things were looking up in Thargomindah in 1888. Bores were being drilled, camels were being mooted, and telephones were impending. A legendary bushranger passed through. And so did thousands of cats. January: Terrific Heat. In January 1888, Thargomindah experienced an intense heatwave. Daytime temperatures were recordedContinue reading “An Eventful Year for Thargomindah – 1888.”
Tag Archives: Bushrangers
Robbery Under Arms – 6 January 1869.
Mr W Selwyn King had received orders to return to Sydney from his posting at Kilkivan, near Gympie. It’s hard to imagine that he would be particularly reluctant to leave the remote town, but he had made good friends during his stay, and they toasted him at a farewell dinner at the Northumberland Hotel. TheContinue reading “Robbery Under Arms – 6 January 1869.”
The Snob – Part 2.
St Helena Island Hartigan arrived at Brisbane Gaol on 13 December 1867. The Brisbane Gaol authorities recorded him as 5 feet 5 ½ inches in height, of slender build, with a ruddy complexion, sandy hair and blue eyes. He could read and write, was unmarried, had no children and belonged to the Church of England.Continue reading “The Snob – Part 2.”
The Snob.
Part 1 – Edward Hartigan’s Early Years. In the years between Separation (1859) and Federation (1901), Queensland had its share of storied criminals. Some terrorised the roads for a few years but were captured and imprisoned– the Wild Scotchman was probably the most celebrated. There were infamous murderers who went to gaol or the gallowsContinue reading “The Snob.”
The Cunnamulla Bank Job.
It started out as a bank hold-up in a small western Queensland town. There was a shot fired, and an injury sustained. The robber’s getaway attempt descended into farce as a racehorse and a sheepdog became involved in a chase that ended up with the fugitive surrendering in a tree. In just two months, theContinue reading “The Cunnamulla Bank Job.”
The Image of the Bushranger
A young man poses for a formal photographic portrait. He appears to be in a drawing room, although it may be a mock-up in a photographer’s studio. He sits on a wicker chair, one arm resting on a table, near some books. The tablecloth has a floral design and a curtain can be seen behindContinue reading “The Image of the Bushranger”
February 5, 1867 – the hold up of the Banana Mail.
Was he a desperado who terrorised the country town of Gayndah with his mad highwayman antics, or just a nervous, hungry German chap who couldn’t get a job? And how did you spell his name? How desperate would you have to be to rob the mail at Banana? IT appears that another knight of the roadsContinue reading “February 5, 1867 – the hold up of the Banana Mail.”
A brief history of Queensland bushranging: the Wild Scotchman
In outback Queensland in the late 19th century, everyone had a Wild Scotchman story. How he escaped from police custody and pinned his fetters to a tree with a file. How he eluded recapture time and again. How he was shot by Sir Frederick Pottinger in New South Wales. How he sent Governor Sir GeorgeContinue reading “A brief history of Queensland bushranging: the Wild Scotchman”
A look back at bushranging from 1912.
Chronicles of Queensland in the early days: Some Early Bushrangers— Race Meeting on the Condamine— Knocking Down Big Cheques— A Hot Time— Sticking up the Mail— A Good Bit of Tracking — A Pigeon-toed Horse —Capture of the Criminals— Kirk and Grey— A “Green” Police Sergeant (BY “OLD CHUM”). No. 71 Many years ago, aContinue reading “A look back at bushranging from 1912.”
A Brief History of bushranging in Queensland. Part 3.
1865 – The year that everything changed. We cannot omit to notice a very happy result of the advantages likely to accrue from telegraphic communication, adverted to by a gentleman who charged himself with what may be deemed the representation of the moral and religious aspect of the question. This gentleman stated that he foresawContinue reading “A Brief History of bushranging in Queensland. Part 3.”
Moreton Bay and More 