A week after the Euroa robbery, Joe was reported to have been seen playing billiards at the hotel by a young man who was ‘well acquainted’ with him. It was stated by the man that Joe was ‘in close conversation with one of the Lloyd family’ and that ‘when he saw he was noticed, he … Continue reading Billiards at the Royal Mail
One of the men supplying the gang with food during the month of November was ‘strong sympathiser’ Ben Gould, a hawker Ned had befriended during his younger years. It was noted by the police that Gould was ‘buying up large quantities of sausage and supplying it to the outlaws.’ Constable Johnston believed that Gould was … Continue reading Provisions from Ben Gould
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
During the day on the 30th October in 1878, a selector named Gideon Mragery who resided near the Murray, noticed four horsemen close to the river while he was setting up fishing lines. Curious as to the identity of the four men, Margery walked down to where they were. ‘He had some talk with them. … Continue reading Bread and Wine
Before daylight on the 30th of October in 1878, desperate for provisions, Joe, Ned, Dan and Steve rode to the home of a man named Neil Christian and struck him up. Christian later reported the matter to the police on the 2nd of November, and the incident was reported in the Ballarat Courier. ‘Kelly and … Continue reading The Sticking up at Bungowannah
‘There were various signals by which the gang communicated with their friends. Sometimes a couple of stones placed in a peculiar position would be the signal, and sometimes an eccentric horse track. Thus, one of the gang would ride in a circle near a sympathiser's hut, and then jump a fence, and again ride circuitously, … Continue reading Outlaw Signals
“Some strange disclosures have come to light regarding the movements of Byrne. Some months previous to this last outbreak, it appears he had been seen frequently in Beechworth, where he was in the habit of going to see a girl. He was positively engaged to her, but was mistaken, except by those who were in … Continue reading Strange Disclosures
According to Superintendent Nicolson, during “the months of April and May, the outlaws were in the vicinity of the Greta ranges, and were reduced to great straits. Their horses were worn out, and most of them were abandoned. They were on foot, and used to conceal themselves during the day on the ranges in various … Continue reading Great Straits
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
Out in the ranges of Strathbogie,We do fiercely roam,The caves we seek, our hiding place,Are a wild and barren home.Two thousand pounds are on my head,The bloodhounds on my track.I’ll make them pay and rue the dayTheir mothers gave them birth.I’ll shoot them down like prowling dingo, hawk or carrion crow,Or any other miscreant that … Continue reading The Ranges of Strathbogie
An Outlaw’s Journal 