While Joe’s true identity was widely unknown during the weeks following the tragedy at Stringybark Creek, in early November 1878 the papers had received word that his name was ‘Bob Byrne’. One instance of this name being used was in The Herald’s reporting of the police raid on Margaret Byrne’s selection at Sebastopol on the … Continue reading Bob Byrne
Shortly after the tragedy at Stringybark Creek, James Wallace was traveling along the Oxley road with a few friends, when Joe passed them riding Music, headed in the direction of Sebastopol.During the Royal Commission, Wallace recounted the following:'I met Byrne one moonlight night on the Oxley road, going in the direction of Sebastopol from Greta. … Continue reading An Encounter on Oxley Road
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
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
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
As the gang were short of funds during the winter of 1879, Ned considered the possibility of robbing government premises which handled money. In response to this, Joe asked his brother Paddy to find out how much money was carried in the El Dorado Post Office. Paddy enlisted the help of Jack Sherritt and was … Continue reading The El Dorado Savings Bank
Q1 Anita Condon – I love reading your writing, research and posts. What made you start on this journey? A – Thank you Anita, I appreciate your support and I’m glad that the question you posed allows me explain how An Outlaw’s Journal came about. For a number of years, I had toyed with the … Continue reading Questions and Answers (June 2020)
“Dear Aaron I write these few stolen lines to you to let you know that I am still living…” On the 26th of June 1879, a desperate Joe Byrne pens a letter to his lifelong friend, Aaron Sherritt, asking him to join the gang, “a short life and a jolly one” Joe asserted. However, within the span of a year, on the night of June 26th 1880, Joe, accompanied by Dan Kelly, would shoot and kill Aaron at his hut in the Woolshed. “You will not blow now what you do with us anymore”, Joe declared, looking down on the blood soaked face of his once most trusted friend….
An Outlaw’s Journal 