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
Telegram from December 1878 informing of Joe’s recent purchase of opium in the Woolshed, it reads: “Detective Eason reports information obtained to Joe Byrne bought opium to which he is addicted last week at Woolshed and requests services of Fook Sing (Chinese detective) for a day or so.” Telegram from the Public Records Office Victoria.
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
One morning while looking for some cows that had strayed, Anne Sherritt passed an unoccupied hut, ‘about six or seven miles from Beechworth’ and saw Joe getting on Music. She asked him what he was doing there and Joe replied that he was “looking for Hare, to shoot him.” After further conversation with Joe, Anne … Continue reading A Search for Stray Cows
On the night of the 3rd of December 1879, Joe and Aaron visited Ye Fang’s store in Sebastopol, where they purchased a bottle of gin, tobacco and opium.During Jack’s evidence at the Royal Commission in 1881 he stated, “I saw the Chinaman at the Chinese store, Ye Fang, I was in there one day. I … Continue reading Tobacco and Gin
Constable Alexander’s description of the Byrne house: ‘The hut is composed of slabs, with a bark roof, and has two small windows in front. It is situated at the foot of the range in a clearing of considerable extent, so that it presents a conspicuous object from any point of view. About 20 yards from … Continue reading The Byrne House
In late January 1876, Joe and Aaron bring a roan coloured calf into Camp Street to be slaughtered by Sherritt butcher James Warner. The calf isn’t branded and Aaron tells the butcher he would like the hide back for the purpose of making whips. As it is a hot day and Warner being without pigs, … Continue reading A Roan Coloured Calf
“It is now known for a certainty that Byrne often slept on the premises of a man who lives within two miles of Beechworth. This man, on hearing of the destruction of the gang and the death of Byrne, absolutely shed tears." The man may have been Dick Murphy, a Sebastopol local who was a … Continue reading A Hut in the Woolshed
While Anne Jane Sherritt was riding back to Sheepstation Creek on the night of the 24th May in 1880, she called in at the Byrne house. While she was there Joe and Dan came to the house, with “each of them leading a horse and riding another”. She further described that “Mrs Byrne came out” … Continue reading The Kelly Gang in Sebastopol
On a wintry night in early June 1880, Joe crept along the old mining race at Sebastopol and visited his mother, Margret. Here, he collected some clean clothes and filled his belly with warm stew. Joe’s visit was reported by his brother Paddy to Jack Sherritt, while the pair were drinking together. According to Jack, … Continue reading A Visit Home
An Outlaw’s Journal 