An update on my new book by author and illustrator Aidan Phelan. The front cover of Ah Nam, designed by Aidan Phelan. Author Georgina Stones’ new book Ah Nam, which tells the story of an incident in the early life of outlaw Joe Byrne, is slated for a February 2022 release. The book, which features illustrations … Continue reading Coming Soon: Ah Nam
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
I first met her along the Woolshed Road, when the light of the day had just turned to dusk. She was sitting in the dirt of the road, the wagon she was riding in having lost a piece of iron from the harness. The blue of her eyes and golden hue of her hair are … Continue reading My Elly
On the 21st of January 1876, Joe and Aaron took a roan-coloured heifer calf to be slaughtered by butcher James Warner in Camp Street, Beechworth. No brands were distinguishable on the hide and Aaron asked Warner if he may have the hide back after the calf was slaughtered, for the purpose of making whips. As … Continue reading The Roan Calf
One night, Paddy Byrne told Jack Sherritt, “Joe has been home and got some clothes, and cleared out; is not he a bloody smart fellow?” The next morning, according to Jack, “I met two of the cave party—Alexander and Armstrong—and I told them about Byrne being home last night, and they seemed like as if … Continue reading The Cunning of Aaron Sherritt
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 10th of July 1879, two children coming home from Reid’s Creek School met two of the Kelly gang, on the road halfway between the school and the Sherritt selection. The two gang members offered the children some bread, which the youngsters took and ate appreciatively. As Joe was usually spotted alone around the … Continue reading Breaking Bread
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
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
An Outlaw’s Journal 