On an unknown day in September 1875, Joe rose from his slumber in Aaron’s hut at Sheepstation Creek and saddled his mare for another day of ‘roaming about the Woolshed.’ With his pipe clenched between his teeth and the reins threaded loosely through his fingers, Joe rode on, following the banks of Stoney Creek until … Continue reading Joe Byrne and the Discarded Saddle
On the morning of the 13th of September 1873, the temptation to take Anton Wick’s horse, which hasn’t been ridden for two months, is too great for Joe and he catches the black gelding and takes him up to Kennedy’s yard. Saddling and bridling the horse with either his, or Kennedy’s tack, Joe mounts and … Continue reading The Black Gelding
After the Euroa and Jerilderie bank robberies, the Byrne family had something they had not had before, money. This money was spent paying off long standing debts, new clothing, and purchasing general household items. On one occasion, when Enoch Downes the school inspector, made a visit to the Byrne selection, he paid particular notice to … Continue reading Money for Drapery
In March 1873, a visitor to Beechworth wrote to the editor of the Ovens and Murray Advertiser to express his annoyance at the lack of appropriate signage in the Woolshed. According to the disgruntled gentleman, the Woolshed was full of signage advertising shops in Beechworth, but no actual sign indicating which road one should take … Continue reading A Disgruntled Traveler
On the 31st of May in 1876, Joe and Aaron spent their first day locked within the granite walls of Beechworth Gaol. They had been given a six month sentence for stealing and butchering the El Dorado School cow, which was to be served with hard labour. Upon his arrival into Beechworth Gaol, Joe was … Continue reading Two Prisoners
Early in the hours of the 28th October 1878, having ridden across the rain drenched Oxley Flats from Greta, Joe knocked at the door of Moon’s Pioneer Hotel, while the other three waited across the road on horseback, and purchased a bottle of brandy. Briefly warmed by the liquor, they rode across the bridge toward … Continue reading A Bottle of Brandy from Moon’s Pioneer Hotel
Ellen was born in Sebastopol in 1857, to parents James and Ellen Salisbury. Her father had arrived in Australia from Norfolk, England, and had taken up the occupation of carrier, after trying his hand at mining. Tragically, her mother died in 1866 and James was left to raise the family on his own, which brought … Continue reading Ellen Salisbury
‘Detective Ward indeed made things very warm for the gang in the Beechworth district, and the gang vowed vengeance against him. Ward was continually receiving letters from them in Joe Byrne’s handwriting threatening his life. On one occasion he was informed in this way that if they could lay their hands on him they would … Continue reading Detective Ward
In July 1879, Aaron bought a couple of horses from Edward Barry, Belle’s father, for £6. Unbeknownst to him and Belle, however, these horses had been stolen by Barry and the authorities had been attempting to track their whereabouts for some time, with Barry having since gone to Wagga Wagga.Later, in early March 1880, Aaron … Continue reading Two Chestnut Mares
‘Sherritt was an extraordinary man. He could stand anything-endure any hardship. He thought nothing of sleeping out in the wet and cold and letting beetles and things run all over him. One day constable Dixon was in the hut and said to Sherritt, “Didn’t you say you could lick any man in the police force?” … Continue reading An Extraordinary Man
