1

BEN HALL RAID WEEKEND FESTIVAL

Information e-newsletter

Bathurst N.S.W. on 27th, 28th and 29th September, 2013 Issue 6 - August

FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR incorporate a family picnic and reunion down by the peaceful Macquarie River, especially on the The Raid took place at Bathurst on Sunday. Some may wish to put a family plaque on Saturday 3rd October, 1863, and the Ben Hall Raid Bathurst’s Pioneer Wall. Weekend Festival will mark the 150th Anniversary of the event. This is the sixth in the series of these e- I hope you are enjoying these monthly e-newsletters newsletters to be emailed to anyone interested. If of which there are just three more to go, including you would like earlier issues, just ask. this issue. I’m surprised by the number of people asking if these newsletters could be made into a The Ben Hall Raid Weekend Festival Committee of book. Maybe next year. I look forward to meeting the Bathurst District Historical Society has been some of those who have emailed or phoned. I trust meeting for almost fourteen months to bring plans that everyone will have a terrific weekend here in together for this event. The next issue will contain our fine city. an updated program for the three days. Alan McRae, FAIHA, President Bathurst District We are most grateful to Sergeant Kylie Riddell, the Historical Society

Mounted Police Event Co-ordinator, for making the ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo arrangements for the Mounted Police to visit THE £4,000 REWARD Bathurst to take part in the weekend events. The Colonial Government as A number of , colonial and historic time went by agreed to pay a reward for the Ben displays will be on show on the Saturday as well as Hall Gang. talks, numerous bus tours, a dinner and a number of activities that will take place during the three days. The re-enactment is on schedule. The countdown is now on with about 9 weeks before visitors start arriving in Bathurst for the weekend.

If you are planning to spend some extra time whilst in Bathurst make sure you visit some of the many attractions that this historic city and district has to offer.

Rick de Losa will have his superb display of historic orangeish, reddish and amber-yellow Meerschaum pipes. After the raid on Bathurst the following notification Tobacco was often appeared in a supplement of the Government stolen by the Hall Gazette, dated Wednesday, the 21st October, 1863:- gang to use them- selves or give away. “Colonial Secretary's Office, , 21st October, We know that 1863, £2500 REWARD, for the apprehension of Mickey Burke John Gilbert, John O'Meally, Benjamin Hall, Michael Burke and .” smoked a pipe and Captain Edward However, as bushranging was a hot topic amongst Montague Battye, Commander of the Western the public, many newspapers were venting their Mounted Police and Gold Escort, smoked a disbelief. The Brisbane Courier stated in part; - “In meerschaum pipe with its bowl depicting a man’s the meantime, the bushranging business engrosses arm holding a pistol though he lost it in 1861. most attention. Messrs. Gilbert, O'Meally, Vane,

We hope that some families will use the weekend to Hall, and Burke are complete masters of the Western districts, and set Captain M'Lerie and his 2 three hundred policemen on the spot of utter Wales he practiced as a pharmacist there. defiance. Our canting senior daily paper prates of In 1845 he located his pharmaceutical and druggist sympathy with crime, and of elevating scoundrels business along with his surgical and mechanical into heroes. Why, it is a useless police that does dental surgery in William Street, next to the Royal this, and enables a few smart scoundrels to make Hotel. His dental business was registered in London themselves objects of admiration to unprincipled and he was a member of the Pharmaceutical Society youth.” of Great Britain and New South Wales. He was to Days later the Government had a change of heart form a partnership with Mr. Henry Butterworth but and the following appeared in the Government prior to this the Scotsman had been an assistant to Gazette Colonial Secretary's Office, 26th October, Dr. Richard Machattie. Mr. Alexander lived above 1863. The following day it appeared in a number of the business. newspapers around the colonies such as The Sydney In 1856 the partners decided to commence Morning Herald the following day - Tuesday 27th manufacturing soda water in conjunction with their October, 1863. The reward had increased to £4,000 druggist business, though this was really Mr. for the gang of four and £100 for accomplices. Alexander’s project. The business was advertised as Reward sheets were also printed for distribution. a “Wholesale Druggist and Importer of genuine From the Government Gazette it stated, “FOUR drugs, chemicals, perfumery, toilet requisites and THOUSAND POUNDS REWARD - FOR THE sundries.” At one time Mr. Alexander advertised APPREHENSION OF JOHN GILBERT, JOHN that every drug used in dispensing was tested before O'MEALLY, BENJAMIN HALL AND JOHN VANE use and guaranteed in strict conformity with British AND ONE HUNDRED POUNDS REWARD FOR Pharmacopoeia and he had one of the largest and ACCOMPLICES. best stocks in the colony.

Whereas the above named persons are charged with the commission of numerous and serious offences, and have hitherto eluded the efforts to apprehend them. It is hereby notified that the Government will pay a reward of one thousand pounds for such information as will lead to the apprehension of each of the offenders named.

The Government will also pay a reward of one hundred pounds for such information as will lead to the conviction of any person or persons for harbouring, assisting, or maintaining either of the above named offenders.

All such information communicated by any person charged with the commission of an offence will entitle his case to favourable consideration by the Crown, and will in all cases be regarded by the police authorities as strictly confidential; and in the event of payment of any of the rewards above offered, the name of the recipient will not be disclosed.

The above rewards are offered in lieu of all other previously payable by Government for the apprehension or conviction of the offenders above Bathurst’s pioneering families would have similar named.” problems to today such as - dandruff, aches and sprains, dropsy, gout, jaundice, lumbago, measles, WILLIAM FORSTER abscesses, eczema, bee stings, boils, piles, Colonial Secretary's Office, 26th October, 1863 ringworm, scarlet fever, toothache, warts, blood ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo disorders and the list would go on. Firstly many J.L. ALEXANDER - DRUGGIST people would treat disorders with home remedies with items such as Goanna oil, hops, glycerine, Another business operating when Ben Hall’s gang Boar's (pig) grease, opium, laudanum, ointment of rode into Bathurst on 3rd October, 1863 was Mr. tobacco, cod liver oil, oil of almonds, Condi’s J.L. Alexander’s “The Bathurst Chemist”. James crystals, carbonate of soda, sulphur or cream of Lyon Alexander, M.P.S., was born in Scotland and tartar, olive oil, nutmeg, copper sulphate, camphor, before emigrating to the Colony of New South oil of aniseed, eucalyptus, kerosene and more, most 3 of which could be purchased from Alexander’s Battye and his wife, whom he had married in Chemist. Canada, sailed back to England before sailing to the colony of New South Wales, arriving on 29th Chemist shops in the 1860s were very different December, 1847. He had been appointed as aide-de- from today. Almost all prescriptions had to be made camp to his uncle, Major-General Edward Wynyard, from various ingredients which were commonly who had been appointed commander of the military crushed up in a brass or bronze mortar and pestle. forces of . Ingredients for the recipe would be painstakingly measured out on a set of balance scales, often hand- When payable gold was discovered near Bathurst in held in the early days. Several ceramic tiles would 1851, Governor Charles Fitzroy appointed Battye to be used for rolling out pill masses before making it undertake the reform of the Military Mounted into tablets or pills. Mr. Alexander would have Police so they could perform duties on the invariably measured out his liquids in conical or goldfields and undertake escorts of gold. When cylindrical measures made from glass which were Major-General Wynyard was ordered to sail for graduated in minims, ounces or in tablespoonfuls. England in 1852 Captain Edward Battye decided to retire from the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusileers and the The shelves would have displays of small ceramic Army and undertook to stay with the police. pots with all sorts of contents such as cold creams, ointments, bear’s grease, pomades, toothpaste, Captain Battye, along with nine troopers, rode up to salves as well as creams for shaving. Each would Bathurst arriving on 5th June, 1851. Arrangements have its own decorative lid to tempt the customers. had been made to accommodate the men at the Pharmacists had to make up creams and ointments Shepherd’s Home Inn on the corner of Piper and mixing the ingredients on an ointment slab and Rankin Streets. Mr. James Maher had built the inn mixed with a spatula. Their ‘Surgical and and was the first licensee, though Mr. Slee took Mechanical Dentistry Department’ could supply over afterwards, followed by Mr. Conroy. An artificial teeth set in gold, celluloid and vulcanite in application was made by Mr. Bulger but it was English or American designs at moderate prices. refused so one assumes that Mrs. Maher took the opportunity to fill her establishment and take on the Late in 1886 Mr. Alexander sold his business to Mr. troopers as lodgers. John McDonald. He later retired and departed for Sydney due to failing health where he died in Within a short time an Aboriginal tracker named August 1891. Billy Taylor was appointed, however he died in July

ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo 1861.

EDWARD MONTAGUE BATTYE Edward Battye was renowned for neglecting to pay the accounts for supplies provided to the police. Businesses had to tender to the New South Wales Government to supply food for the troopers and forage for the horses and were soon upset if payment didn’t follow. Battye’s administrative inability not only extended to not getting the paperwork to pay for daily expenses but also it held up the wages of his men.

Byrnes, Wise and Co was established by Messers H. Byrnes and G.F. Wise in Bathurst in 1851. The gentlemen’s general store sold items from crockery to farm machinery, gold pans to ironmongery (hardware), beer to groceries. At one stage they were selling ‘portable thrashing machines of two horse power from M. Wedlake and Company’ from Edward Montague Battye was born on 29th March, their premises in William Street. The business also 1817, at Rougham Hall in Suffolk, England. At the had the contract to supply horse feed for the age of eighteen Edward joined the Army and two trooper’s horses. As payment was not forthcoming years later, in 1837, became a page to Queen Mr. George F. Wise wrote on numerous occasions Adelaide. Before long he joined the 23rd Royal requesting Captain Battye to pay the Police account, Welsh Fusileers after receiving his commission, mainly for horse fodder, which at one time was in rising quickly to the rank of captain. He saw service excess of £180. as the aide-de-camp to Sir William Williams during By 1857 there were 26 troopers under Battye’s the 1837-38 Canadian rebellion and afterwards command though not all were stationed in Bathurst. raising and training local recruits. They were spread around in towns and villages such

as Carcoar, Blackheath, Diamond Swamp, Orange, 4 Hartley, Ben Bullen and Ballyrow. The Gold colonials at the time to give a sense of protection. Commissioners controlled the Mounted Gold Most were not even fired in anger. Almost everyone Police. In January 1859 Captain Battye was seeking had one or more firearms during these times. Pistols local men to serve in the Bathurst Mounted Police. such as this were often taken off the bushranger’s victims who were being held up and most of the On 9th April, 1861, Edward Battye learnt via the time were thrown away in the bush. These pieces N.S.W. Government Gazette that his command of sold for around 12 shillings in England and shipped the Western Mounted Police and Gold Escorts had to the Colony of New South Wales, sometimes been superseded. This he would have found selling for up to twenty times the price to the distressing, however it didn’t stop him writing to the prospectors, shepherds, settlers, farmers and others. Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal to thank his Those with money purchased better firearms. non-commissioned officers and troopers for their ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo services while under his command during the EARLY POLICE WERE THE MILITARY previous ten years. His letter prompted others in Bathurst and surrounds to write to the newspaper The current New South Wales Mounted Police Unit expressing their gratitude to this man. Several will be in Bathurst on Saturday 28th September to months later Captain Battye placed an take part in the re-enactment as well as undertake advertisement in the Bathurst Times newspaper normal Police patrols around the streets of Bathurst. seeking employment. Today’s Mounted Police Unit has ties with the first mounted Police in Bathurst. Battye’s job was taken over by English born, ex British East India Company ensign and ex In the 1890s new Police buildings were constructed magistrate, William Chatfield. The new on the corner of Durham and William Streets on the Superintendent of the Mounted Patrol in the old Ordinance Grounds at a cost of £3,000. These Western District soon discovered that his area Bathurst Police were part of the Western Police covered some 120,000 square miles. Chatfield had District with their uniform consisting of a blue coat, married in the Colony of New South Wales in 1841, buttoned to the neck with silver buttons and fawn before going back to India for several years and trousers. Bathurst’s first local law and order then returning to Sydney in 1844. personnel were members of the military regiment sent to Bathurst to look after the convicts which By early 1862 Battye had been reappointed to the Governor Macquarie left behind after he proclaimed ‘new’ police force as an inspector, taking up duties Bathurst in 1815. William Cox was appointed acting at Lambing Flat. As authorities appreciated his Commandant, however he had no authority to order policing skills but not his administrative paperwork soldiers around even though he was a magistrate. flaws, Battye was often transferred to new locations. In 1862 he became Inspector of Police at A brick lock-up or gaol was constructed on the Burrangong before going on to Cooma. He later Ordinance Ground in the early 1820s and is thought became a Superintendent of Police serving around to have been finished during Lt. William Lawson’s the country areas of the colony. Battye was involved time as the Commandant at Bathurst. He resigned in in the pursuit of the Ben Hall and the Clarke gangs. 1823. Major James Thomas Morrisset, known for Captain Battye retired from the Police Force in 1890 his competency as well as being a disciplinarian, after over forty years of service. He died on 12th followed. In January 1825 Lieutenant Fennell July, 1898. arrived to succeed Morrisset, however he died in ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo early July the following year. All these CRUDE PEPPER-BOX PISTOL commandants had authority as magistrates as well

James Parker was the gaoler listed in 1827 and was responsible for the lock-up.

Most would not have been interested in this circa 1850 English .38 calibre self-cocking six- Police mounted on their horses in Bathurst - 1900s barrel pepper-box revolver as they were not Bathurst’s Major-General William Stewart of effective enough except at close range. They were Mount Pleasant estate in late 1825 was responsible however carried and used by many of the other for the organisation of the first group of Mounted 5 Police, some thirty in all, in the Colony of New There seemed to be a good deal of comment on this South Wales. They were to become known as new appointment. Several weeks previously Mr. “Stewart’s Police”. Stewart was, for a short time, Jones, who held the position of Chief Constable Acting Governor in December 1825 after Governor with great credit for upwards of thirteen years, had Brisbane departed and until Governor Darling tendered his resignation. Although his successor had arrived from England. been gazetted for upwards of three weeks he had as yet not made an appearance in Bathurst. One local Members of various regiments often resigned to newspaper reporter thought: - “that it would have take positions with the Mounted Police or even been far more desirable that some person should commanding the Mounted Police. Lieutenant James have been appointed who had some local knowledge Brown, of the 57th Regiment, was sent to Bathurst of both persons and the surrounding Bathurst to command the local Mounted Police in mid country. It was pointed out that at Bathurst Assizes December 1827, with Lieutenant Maule taking over and Quarter Session it very frequently happened in March 1831. Most of these senior positions seem that the Chief Constable is referred to as to the to be changed over quite often, every year or two. character of individuals being brought up for trial. The first Superintendent of Police was Lieutenant Of this, of course, a total stranger can have no Thomas Evernden who had been appointed in knowledge and in this respect some inconvenience October 1828 after problems in the colony with will be experienced. In the present constabulary bushrangers. force there are some very old hands and intelligent Horse Patrols were formed at Bathurst after men who have been in the service for several years. Lieutenant Fennel detected a local scheme by a The reporter felt that surely one amongst those group of assigned men who were planning to might have been selected and recommended to fill commit murder and then flee the area in August the situation.” 1825. The men had already raided a local homestead and stolen food, muskets and other guns, as well as ammunition. Police Districts were formed the following year, one being based in Bathurst. Things seemed to go quiet after this until 1829 and 1830 when the Ribbon Gang incident involving and nine others was brought to trial. The men were hung locally at the location named Ribbon Gang Lane. It is near the old Technical College in William Street and can be seen by visitors to Bathurst during the Ben Hall Weekend The first publication of the ‘New South Wales Festival from 27th to 29th September. Police Gazette’ appeared in 1862 after the N.S.W. Police Force became a single entity after the passing The first Chief Constable gazetted for Bathurst was of the Police Regulation Act 1862. The new Mr. James Blackman, one of Governor Macquarie’s publication incorporated an earlier publication ten receivers of a grant of land at Kelso. Blackman known as the ‘New South Wales Reports of Crime’. took up his position in 1829 with Mr. Henry The first Police Gazette contained a list of all Blunden taking over in November 1831, followed serving police officers from the Inspector General by Mr. Isaac Watson in October 1832 before down to constables. The gazette was dispatched to Thomas Jones was appointed in 1835. In August all N.S.W. Police stations giving details of warrants 1847 Mr. William Rhodes, who had resigned from issued, crimes committed, prisoners who had his position as sergeant in the 58th Regiment, was escaped, criminals apprehended and wanted, court gazetted to replace Thomas Jones as Chief reports, missing persons, staff appointments and Constable in Bathurst. other items of interest to the police personnel.

In 1872 the Police Force began using photography (albumen photographs) to document criminals, recording information such as name, age, sex, religion, year of birth, complexion, physical description of offender, offense committed, where, when tried and sentence. ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo

CONSTABLE FREDRICK SUTTON

English born in 1837, Fredrick Sutton did not receive any special education and at the age of fourteen began work for a bricklayer, a trade he Mounted Police at Bathurst c. 1890s initially pursued. After arriving in the Colony of

6 New South Wales he joined the New South Wales placed in gaol by Dr. Palmer, Police Magistrate, Police on 4th July, 1862, as a constable. Some Senior Constable Sutton viewed Vane in the gaol thirteen months later, on 1st August, 1863, he yard more than once so that the policeman who had received his promotion to Senior Constable. Near been shot in the arm during the hold-up of the Carcoar on 6th August, 1863, Senior Constable Carcoar mail coach could try to identify him. On the Sutton was mounted on his horse following a wagon first occasion Sutton declared that he did not know in which were three prisoners secured in leg iron Vane but subsequently at the trial he said that he and hand cuffs. One prisoner was Micky Burke’s identified Vane. ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo cousin, James Burke. Constables Merrin and Grainger were keeping an eye on the men. BEN HALL - PART OF THEO BARKER Superintendent Edric Morisset was sitting up front MEMORIAL LECTURE ON 16TH AUGUST with the driver, in between them was a female This special lecture will take place in Bathurst on passenger. Friday 16th August at 6pm. Known as the Theo John Gilbert, Barker Memorial Lecture, it is being held on the John Vane and Bathurst campus of Charles Sturt University in John O’Meally, Building CO2 in Lecture Theatre 347. The route on stolen steeds, will be marked to the venue, from Panorama had decided to Avenue, by coloured balloons as usual. lay an ambush at Andrew Pike, OAM, will be delivering the Five Mile lecture on Australian film history, with a Waterholes, Bathurst and bushranger flavour. RSVP by 14th between Carcoar August to Ms Kate Esdaile, phone 63384645 or and King’s email [email protected] Plains. It was getting on Andrew Pike (left) is a film towards one distributor, film historian, o’clock and as documentary film-maker and usual the former exhibitor with a long and bushrangers had distinguished career. brought their arsenal – double barrel carbines and Various movies will be covered multiple revolvers. The bushrangers came upon a from the black and white silent bullock driver, Mr. John McGeorge, heading to days filmed around the Bathurst Carcoar and hadn’t stopped him for long when the area, including some on our local escorted mail coach with the prisoners was bushrangers. sighted, though they were unaware it was escorted ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo by the Police. BEN HALL WOULD HAVE HANDED O’Meally was bent on killing or wounding CARTWHEEL PENNIES BACK! Superintendent Edric Morisset and fired off his One copper coin that would have been in circulation carbine but the former had moved quickly to get out during Ben Hall’s life was the large copper, two of the line of sight beside the coach. The two ounce English coin known as the ‘cartwheel’ guarding constables also went undercover using the twopence, though he would have had little interest coach as protection. The bushrangers decided to get in their two penny value. Along with the penny they away and Gilbert rode off with Senior Constable were dated 1797 and were produced with the same Sutton on his tail. The men exchanged shots, one of date for some twenty years. Numbers of these coins Gilbert’s finding its mark hitting Trooper Sutton in would have arrived in the Southern Colonies in the the right arm near his elbow and into his body. pockets of free settlers, businessmen and officials. Sutton then headed back encountering John Vane on As early as 1774 James Watt, the steam engine the way, managing not to get shot again. designer, had suggested using steam power to drive Superintendent Edric Morisset and the Constables a coining press. He met up with Matthew Boulton, a moved up a nearby hill to see if they could see the toymaker, engineer, industrialist, manufacturer and criminals. With little success as the bushrangers philanthropist and would revolutionise the minting were hiding, they returned to the coach to find that of coins in Britain and around the world. Their first their female passenger, who had initially fainted, steam-driven screw press was built in 1786. The had come to. Senior Constable Sutton was then British monarch and Treasury, by the late 1700's, removed to inside the coach where his comrades were coming under increasing pressure to sort out took him to a house at nearby Water Holes and Dr. the nation's coinage problems, not to mention its Machattie of Bathurst was sent for. colonies such as New South Wales. British Later, after John Vane gave himself up and was Parliament set up the ‘Committee on Coin’ to 7 overcome the counterfeiting and shortage of coins. Boulton's penny contained a full ounce of copper and was often used as weights and greengrocers and Boulton begged the Government to allow him a shopkeepers did use them for this. Another usage licence to strike official coinage which was granted was that eight of the pennies could be lined up on a and the so-called ‘Cartwheel coins’ were born and piece of cloth - their combined length being an designed by Conrad Heinrich Kuchler who worked imperial foot so haberdashers were happy also. for Boulton. Matthew Boulton believed that copper ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo coins should be worth the actual value of the metal content. Boulton's steam-powered equipment could MEETING CONCERNING BUSHRANGER’S turn out fifty cartwheel pennies each minute and RAID HELD IN THE BATHURST COURT almost the same for the twopence coin (below). HOUSE

(From the Bathurst Free Press – from Monday 5th May, 1863.)

“In consequence of the appearance of Gilbert and his party in Bathurst on Saturday night last, Dr. Palmer issued circulars to several of the inhabitants inviting them to attend at the Court House on Ironically, these hefty cartwheel penny pieces were Monday morning, to consider what means could be to be the first coins officially shipped out to the adopted for the protection of the town in the present Colony of New South Wales. Boulton's cartwheel emergency. The circumstance that a meeting was pennies (about 650 English pounds worth) arrived called having been made public, a large number of in wooden barrels in Sydney in 1799. persons collected together, and about half past The front of the ‘cartwheel coins’ feature the side eleven o'clock the Court House was tolerably well portrait of King George III complete with laurel filled. Amongst the persons present were observed wreath, who approved the design in May 1797. the greater part of the most respectable residents in Around the edge is “GEORGIUS III D. G. REX”. the town in addition to several magistrates and The reverse has the Roman figure ‘Britannia’ seated other gentlemen residing in the vicinity. on a rock amidst the waves (and the first time she Dr. Palmer was called to the chair, and said that in appeared on official coinage) with a line of man o’ consequence of what had occurred on Saturday war ships on the horizon. In her left hand is a trident evening last, when a gross attack had been made by slanting above a shield which bears the Union Jack. a party of armed men upon the residence of Mr. A small branch is being held in her right hand. McMinn and also upon that of Mr. De Clouet, Around the wide edge in incuse letters is whom they robbed, he had deemed it necessary to “BRITANNIA – 1797”. call them together for the purpose of discussing the question “what can be done for the protection of the town?” He thought it was not probable that the bushrangers would visit the town during the night but he hoped that all the residents who could do so would arm themselves and be prepared to meet them if they should visit Bathurst again. He would have convened a public meeting by advertisement or printed circular, but that course would have involved considerable delay which was not advisable in the present emergency.

The police appointed to town duty were fourteen in number, being one senior constable and six others for day duty, and one senior constable and five others for night duty, besides the one housekeeper all those men were all well armed and were ready at 8 a moment’s notice to give assistance if required. He Act of Parliament. was of opinion that, it would be better at that Mr. Farrand had no doubt that on the question of meeting to deal with the question in a general way legal right Mr. Rotton was correct in what he had rather than go into minute particulars, for he said, but the present was a time of great emergency, believed that there were some who would convey the and he thought they were not asking too much by intelligence to the bushrangers, and he had no the resolution before the meeting, and, in the doubt, there were some, in that room who were absence of the Superintendent of Police, he was of prepared to adopt that course. opinion that the Government would be justified in acceding to the request of the inhabitants of Bathurst.

Mr. De Clouet argued the expediency of secrecy what they had already said would be all known, and if they went, into a private room to discuss the matter, it would soon be known outside and discussed at the corner of every street; plenty of volunteers could be obtained if the Government would pay them, but he did not think it was necessary to swear in special constables.

The following resolutions were put and carried. “It is the opinion of this meeting that, for the better Later photo of the current Court House protection of life and property in this town, a He thought it would to wise to appoint a committee number of special constables should be immediately to deal with the minutes of the matter, and by that sworn-in and equipped by the Government, and means arrangements might be made that would not parties willing to volunteer to form a mounted body reach the ears of the bushrangers. A great deal had (and find their own horses) for protection at night, been said about the police, but he knew that they be immediately enrolled, and that they may be were ready and anxious to do the utmost in their placed under the control of the police magistrate power; he referred to two or three facts to prove the and magistrates; and that the Inspector General be truth of this statement. requested to place the police at present allotted for the protection of the town under the same Messrs. Hawkins, Farrand, McGuigan, Webb, authorities. That a committee be appointed to take Smith, Stanger, Parker, Rotten, De Clouet and into consideration the necessary steps for protecting Curtis took part in the discussion which then life and property in Bathurst, and also to ensued. It was argued that five policemen were not communicate with the Government as to the sufficient, for night duty in the town, and that in schemes to be devised for the capture of order to the proper protection of the inhabitants a bushrangers, and the suppression of bushranging. number of special constables should be sworn in The committee to consist of the Mayor, the Police and they, with the town police, should be placed Magistrate, Mr. Webb; Dr. Machattie, Mr. under the orders of the police magistrate (who Robinson, Mr. Hawkins, Dr. Connell, Mr. W. Lee, resided in town), and not have to wait for Snr.; Mr. John Dargin, Mr Stranger, Mr. J. C. instructions from an officer of the force, whose duty White, Dr. McDonagh, Mr. Kenna, Mr. J. De might call him fifty or sixty miles from Bathurst. It Clouet and Mr. William Farrand; five to form a was also contended that business would be much quorum.” better managed if a committee were appointed, as many suggestions might be made and some plans Dr. Palmer stated to the meeting that he had just adopted, which, if made publicly known, would most received the following telegram from the Colonial likely be defeated in consequence of the system of Secretary-: “From the Colonial Secretary to the bush telegraphy now in operation. Police Magistrate. The Government will most cordially co-operate with the inhabitants of the Mr Smith thought it would be taking too much into town of Bathurst in any steps such as you suggest. their own hands to attempt to place the police under Keep me apprised of anything you hear. In the the contro1 of the Police Magistrate, as it would be absence of the police officer you may do what you interfering with the powers conferred upon the think best.” Superintendent of Police under the Police Act. After a vote of thanks to Dr. Palmer for the action Mr. Rotten coincided with Mr. Smith in his opinion he had taken in the affair, and for his conduct in the upon that part of the subject, and thought that by chair, the meeting broke up.” taking the police from under the control of their ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo own officer and placing them under the control of another, they would be attempting to override an BUSHRANGER BOOK FOR SALE

9 Prominent Bathurst architect Henry Bialowas, who The “Advocate” went along well for a year or so, recently received a prestigious Award from the then the proprietor was in trouble. He published an Australian Institute of Architects Country Division item from a contributor, which led to libel action, for his design of the Cathedral Bell Tower and and in addition to being obliged to pay £40 convenor of the Bathurst Town Square group has damages, he had to serve an obligatory gaol written a book called “Ten Dead Men” a speculative sentence. Soon afterwards he disposed of the paper, history of the local Ribbon Gang. which was sold to Mr. William Ferrand, who changed the name to the “Free Press”. On 31st July, The book was officially 1858, the goodwill and plant were bought by J.C. launched by the then Mayor White, who renamed the paper, “The Free Press and of Bathurst, Paul Toole, Mining Journal.” with the event conducted by Marie Sullivan. Marie is the On 17th March, 1858, the “Bathurst Times” first Architect of the Macquarie saw the light. In true newspaper tradition of getting 2010 bicentenary to press whatever the obstacles, the first issue of the commemorations for Gov. “Times” triumphed over difficulties. It told its Lachlan and Mrs. Elizabeth readers: “Almost all our type was not delivered by Macquarie and as chair, the carrier from Sydney until noon on the 15th. inst., influenced the New South when we had given up all ideas of publishing Wales Government to today.” endorse the program as well “At the present moment one of our firm is on the as securing the patronage of road in quest of the carrier, having started from Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO Bathurst on horseback at six o’clock on Monday Governor of NSW. morning with the intention of proceeding until he Introductory remarks said: “Ten Dead Men” probes found him, even to Sydney.” The “Times” was into the facts and fictions that feed the story which published by a partnership of Messrs. W. Wheeler in parts feel uncompromisingly bleak-a sunburned, and E. G. Wilton. The partnership was soon grimy-nailed saga wrung from the on-going process dissolved, and Wilton went to Forbes, where he set of civilising a largely untamed and often brutal up a paper called the “Lachlan Observer.” 1830s Australia. There’s an engaging ebb and flow In 1859 he returned to Bathurst and, with his to Henry’s narrative style and a sense of foreboding brother, Mr. T.T. Wilton, he re-established the that tragedy is inevitable. The book pulls no “Times”. In 1873 the goodwill, and presumably the punches. Importantly, it doesn’t resort to shock plant, was sold to Messrs. Dowse and McDougal. In tactics. Instead it provides a well researched 1881 the “Bathurst Times” became a daily. analysis of a truly remarkable story by examining and developing several central themes. The Free Press and Mining Journal took keen ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo interest in all proceedings at the Bathurst Court BATHURST NEWSPAPERS RECORD House each time one or other of the bushrangers BEN HALL ANTICS appeared. A small, four page paper, “The Bathurst Advocate,” Newspaper personnel frequently attended the Police made its bow to the local citizens on Saturday, 3rd Office to get reports on the latest robbery or February, 1848. It cost nine pence a copy, and in something else newsworthy. One was the attack on keeping with newspaper style of the times, the front the Assistant Gold Commissioner’s home at Dunns page consisted of advertisements. It announced that Plains near Rockley when Mr. Keightley was held it was printed by “Benjamin Isaacs, sole proprietor, for a £500 ransom. During the melee Michael Burke at The Bathurst Advocate office, William St.”

was shot. Mrs. Keightley had to drive a horse and sulky into Bathurst to get her father, Henry Rotton, to organise the ransom money from the bank.

When the Ben Hall raid took place on Bathurst on Saturday 3rd October, 1863, one of the paper’s own staff was involved, a Mr. John Hunter, a compositor, who was seated at Mr. De Clouet’s inn reading newspapers when confronted.

There was another great news story when Father McCarthy brought John Vane to Bathurst so he could surrender to the Police Magistrate, Dr. William Palmer. This procedure took place in front An advertisement from a June 1849 Advocate newspaper of the Bathurst Court House in November 1863.

10 Afterwards John Vane was imprisoned in the old Bathurst Gaol at the rear of the Court house.

A later photo of Perthville

The Queen Charlottes Vale area was named after Queen Charlotte, wife of the King George III (1738-

The attached Police Magistrate’s room is seen to the 1820), with the area settled since the 1820s. By the left of the Court House. 1850s the population was increasing to a point that in 1863 plans for a village, to be known as Perth, The newspaper relied on the Bathurst Telegraph had been drawn up and surveyors sent to survey it. Office and they relied on them to deliver any Initially it was basically a road junction with the telegrams promptly. One such news story took place branching of three roads some six miles out of on Monday 28th September, 1863, “News has just Bathurst ‘in a southerly direction’. In 1859, even reached here that Gilbert, O'Meally, Ben Hall, before the village was surveyed, land was donated Burke, and Vane have stuck up Mr. John Loudon's to allow for the construction of a Methodist Church house at Grubbenbong, near Carcoar. They which was finally opened in May 1863. By the early handcuffed all the inmates while they searched the 1890s this church was too small so it was altered house for policemen they had been told were there. and enlarged. Finding none, they went to prosecute their search elsewhere. They said before leaving Mr. Loudon's William Lane, a devout Wesleyan, was one early house that if any more troopers were sent from landowner who built a large home on ‘The Vale’. He Bathurst they would capture them and take them in, once owned the land on which the Hen and Chickens handcuffed, to Carcoar.” Inn was constructed. Lane paid to erect this inn which was constructed of bricks and timber slabs with a The Free Press and Mining Journal often sent shingle roof in 1855. A cellar had been dug out and articles and information on to other newspapers in was where the hogsheads of beer were kept. It the southern colonies via telegram. initially boasted six bedrooms, a bar, dining room,

ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo kitchen and verandah with the inn’s first licensee SPONSORS SO FAR being Mr. Samuel Walker, an Army sergeant who had retired, though he was there only a few years. The Bathurst District Historical Society is indebted to a number of sponsors to help with the financial According to the Bathurst Free Press and Mining commitments of staging the Ben Hall Raid Journal, Henry Butler was the innkeeper at the Hen Weekend Festival on 27th, 28th and 29th and Chickens Inn in June 1859, this being his fourth September. The first are:- hostellery that he had operated in the previous decade. Henry obviously planned to stay a while as • Bathurst Regional Council he catered for the teamsters travelling from Bathurst • Keystone via Evans Plains to Orange and other directions. • Panorama Paints Butler built resting yards and paddocks for the • P & B Hennessy livestock along with erecting a blacksmith shop.

ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo Early in 1860 a meeting was held in the village of BEN HALL’S GANG Perth that was the beginning of the end of the VISITED QUEEN CHARLOTTES VALE political career for the local Legislative Council The village we now call Perthville was initially member Mr. Henry Mort. Those in attendance known as Queen Charlottes Vale. It was then called expressed their discontent with him and passed a Perth until it was finally changed to Perthville in motion as such. Mort was a large landholder in the 1908 (primarily due to mail direction problems with region and he lost the next election. Perth in Western Australia). Local papers at the Ben Hall and his gang of bushrangers visited Samuel time noted numerous suggestions for the new name Walker’s hostellery on the night of 6th October, such as Perth Vale, Charlotte Town and 1863, however it was not the first Hen and Chickens Bridgetown. Inn but another inn built at ‘the junction’, about half a

11 mile away near the Vale Creek. The outlaws held up coinage was done by the Wyon family. Firstly by those in the hotel’s establishment William Wyon, who died in 1851 and then by his eldest son Leonard Charles Wyon (1826–91). After They then moved on to Mr. and Mrs. McDiamid’s a long dispute, in 1828 it was decided that William general store further along the road. Here they stayed Wyon would be appointed as chief engraver to the for a short while eating canned fish and other items as Royal Mint in London and Benedetto Pistrucci was they loaded up with tobacco, tea, sugar, tinned fish given the designation of Chief Medallist of the and some material to take with them. The men raided Mint. the store’s cash tray as well as stealing a sixpence and shilling (below) from a money box. This location will William Wyon was held in high regard by Queen be visited as part of the Ben Hall Bus Tours being Victoria. Their relationship began early for the conducted over the three days of the festival. Queen first sat for him as a young Princess of thirteen and he produced a medallic portrait for her eighteenth birthday. This was followed by a portrait in lower relief for the new Queen's coins, which began to find their way into circulation in the summer of 1838, and by a diademed portrait for a medal commemorating the Queen's visit to the City of London in November 1837.

A sixpence is a silver

coin that was worth half

that of the shilling. It

was equal in value to six

pennies, or pence. Under

the British pre-decimal

pound/shilling/pence

(£sd) system, a pound

was valued at 240 pence. This 1842 Queen Victoria silver shilling (above) is One pound was equal to typical of many of the shillings that would be in 20 shillings and a circulation during Ben Hall’s bushranging time. The shilling was equal to 12 pence. inscription on the obverse of this shilling reads ‘VICTORIA D G BRITT REG F D’. The reverse Queen Victoria’s reign of 63 years was longer than (back) shows the Imperial Crown with “ONE any other British monarch. Known as the Victorian SHILLING” within a laurel wreath and the date era, this was a period of industrial growth and ‘1842’ at the bottom (below.) expansion of the British Empire. Sixpence coins until 1887 featured the “Young Head” of Victoria, The first portrait for Queen Victoria’s coinage is those from 1887 on featured her more mature known as the “Young Head”.Though it was refined profile. All of the sixpences issued during Victoria's and modified a number of times during its use it still rule and Ben Hall’s time are sterling silver. incorporated the young portrait of the queen. The Wyon obverse coin design was formally approved These silver sixpences have been the focal point of on the 26th February, 1838, showing the left facing several long-standing traditions in the past. To many profile of the young Queen with her hair drawn they were considered a lucky coin but Ben Hall and back into a his mates wouldn’t have considered that point. chignon and her head bound by a Young ladies on their wedding day often carried a double fillet. silver sixpence in a purse in the belief it did not This bust was attract bad luck. Most of us have heard a version of used for her first the following - “Something old, something new, coins from 1838 something borrowed, something blue and a sixpence until 1887 for in her shoe.” Thus some brides placed a British gold and silver sixpence in the bottom of their shoe on their coins, but wedding day as a good luck charm and for continued in use prosperity. One wonders if Biddy had one in her shoe when she married Ben Hall. until as late as 1895 on some bronze coins. This early design was The sixpence was also popular in Christmas one that the citizens in the Colony of New South puddings, especially here in Australia. My father, a Wales were used to. Lancaster Bomber pilot during World War Two, along with other pilots and crew, had a silver Much of the work on Queen Victoria’s young sixpence sewn behind their brevets or wings for 12 good luck. It worked for him anyway, he came that – hats made from the plaited palm home. fronds of the cabbage tree palm. • That James Edward Marsden, a butcher at In May 1865 a school opened in Perth but due to the time, was one of the seventeen Special small numbers attending it closed the following year Constables sworn in for the protection of in March, reopening again in October 1873 as the Bathurst residents and to assist in the Perth Public School. All schools were inspected apprehension of the bushrangers by Dr. annually and an inspector would arrive from the Palmer, Bathurst’s Police Magistrate after Council of Education. ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo the raid on Bathurst on 3rd October, 1863. Almost to the day, six years later, Mr. This old clock is Marsden on 4th October, 1869, was one of the exhibits appointed the new postmaster at Kelso Post in the Bathurst Office by colonial postal officials. District Historical • Ben Hall, John Gilbert and John O’Meally Society Museum. It stole two horses on 30th October, 1863, at was installed in the Davey Plains. In exchange they left another bank which was horse which they stated belonged to Mr. situated beside Mr. Bernard F. Hughes. Mr. B.F. Hughes was a Pedrotta’s Gunshop hotelier, initially at Kelso in 1848. He later where Ben Hall’s transferred his Woolpack Inn to William gang visited during Street in Bathurst in 1850. He later operated their raid on an inn on the Turon River to cater for gold Bathurst. It was put in by E. Curtis & Co., prospectors. He was also a flour miller, a watchmaker of Bathurst about seven years after the hotelier again and later landowner at Peel raid took place. near Bathurst. On a visit to Bathurst he Where this original bank was is where the ANZ stayed at the Carrier’s Arms Inn run by Mr. bank is in William Street now. Charles Turner. He died there after ooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooo swallowing four ounces of tincture of DID YOU KNOW? opium (laudanum) on 5th November, 1867.

• That when the Ben Hall gang visited Mr. BEN HALL RAID WEEKEND FESTIVAL De Clout’s hotel during their raid on CONTACTS Bathurst he asked Mrs. De Clouet to hand over the cashbox. When she finally agreed Alan McRae, President, Bathurst District to get it she attempted to hand over the Historical Society. Phone 63315404 evening is child in her arms to Hall while she was best or email [email protected]

getting the box, however he simply showed Publicity & e-newsletter her his revolver in his hands and laughed. email [email protected] or phone 63315404 - • That John Walsh, the father-in-law of John evening is best. McGuire, married Julia Hickey, at Bathurst Dinner Bookings on 20th October, 1836. Julia later died after Bathurst District Historical Society, P.O. Box 237, the birth of her fourth child. Bathurst NSW 2795 or personally to the BDHS

• John McGuire, son of an Irish convict, Museum. East Wing, Bathurst Court House, married his employer’s daughter, Ellen. The Russell Street, Bathurst. Phone 63308455 couple were married at St. Michael’s – Best times 11am – 2pm Tuesday to Sunday. Roman Catholic Church in George Street in [email protected] Bathurst on 10th November, 1852. • Francis Bathurst Suttor, later Sir, was born Russell Street Activities & Space Co-Ordinator at Bathurst in 1839. His father, Mr. W. H. Samantha Friend, Phone 63294233 Suttor, had, at the age of sixteen, [email protected] accompanied his father, Mr. George Suttor, For other information go to our website at over the Blue Mountains in 1821. They took www.bathursthistory.org.au for the weekend up land near Peel some eight miles north of program and more information.

Bathurst which they called “Brucedale”. © Bathurst District Historical Society The same year that Ben Hall and his cohorts raided Bathurst in 1863 young Francis Alan McRae, FAIHA, President - Bathurst District married Miss Hawkins, a daughter of Mr. Historical Society and Ben Hall Weekend Festival e- Thomas Hawkins. newsletter Editor • That the cabbage tree hats which the bushrangers and others wore were literally