Coffee Urn Presented to Amelia Campbell After the '

Back to object Collection Explorer Coffee urn presented to Amelia Campbell after the 'Battle of Goimbla' in 1863 1988.0058.0003 Coffee urn presented to Amelia Campbell after the 'Battle of Goimbla' in 1863 Description The coffee urn commemorates the attack on David Henry Campbell and his wife, Amelia, at their station "Goimbla" near Forbes NSW on the night of November 19, 1863 by bushrangers Ben Hall, John O'Meally and an accomplice Gilbert. David Campbell refused to surrender to the gang who set alight the barn and stables. At this point, Amelia fetched a gun to assist her husband. Campbell then sought cover outside and fired at the gang, killing O'Meally. The heroic efforts of the Campbells inspired the people of Forbes to raise 1,000 pounds in compensation for the loss of their property and livestock and to present this coffee urn to Amelia Campbell in recognition of her role in the death of O'Meally. Physical description Ornate pear-shaped, silver-plated, three-legged urn. It has a domed lid and a small tap. It stands on its own silver- plated drip tray. "The ladies of Upper & Middle Adelong / present this token of esteem / To Mrs Campbell as an appreciation of her heroic conduct displayed during the attack at GOIMBLA by bushrangers on 19th Nov. 1863." is engraved on the left side of the urn. Statement of significance The Veda Hope collection consists of an ornate pear-shaped, silver-plated, three-legged coffe urn with domed lid 1 and a small tap on a silver-plated drip tray. The urn is inscribed, ?The ladies of Upper & Middle Adelong / present this token of esteem / To Mrs Campbell as an appreciation of her heroic conduct displayed during the attack at GOIMBLA by bushrangers on 19th Nov. 1863.". The collection also contains a stitched silk cloth bearing a testament to the Campbell?s bravery and a letter of sympathy from the ?inhabitants of Forbes? to Mr and Mrs Campbell. The objects in this collection commemorate and bear witness to the bravery displayed by David Henry Campbell and his wife, Amelia, during an attack on their station, Goimbla, near Forbes, NSW, by bushrangers, John Gilbert, Ben Hall and John O?Meally. On 19 November 1863, the three bushrangers rode to Goimbla to give warning to Mr Campbell who had made no secret of his negative feelings toward bushrangers, and had previously participated in their pursuit. After being confronted by the men on the verandah, Campbell fired on the gang who then set fire to the barn and stables. Amelia fetched another gun and ammunition to assist her husband who sought cover outside and fired at the gang, killing O?Meally. The heroic efforts of the Campbells inspired the people of Forbes to raise £1,000 to compensate them for the loss of their property and livestock, and in recognition of the part played by Amelia in the death of O?Meally. The collection was presented to the NHC by Mr and Mrs Campbell?s granddaughters, Mrs V A Hope and Mrs R G Hanmer. Educational significance This is an ornate pear-shaped, silver-plated, three-legged coffee urn engraved with 'The ladies of Upper & Middle Adelong / present this token of esteem / To Mrs Campbell as an appreciation of her heroic conduct displayed during the attack at Goimbla by bushrangers on 19th Nov. 1863.' It has a domed lid and a small tap and stands on its own silver-plated drip tray. It is an intricately worked piece engraved with classical motifs such as beastly forms, acanthus and fish scales. This urn is more than the work of a craftsman, it is also a reminder of a bloody battle between a gang of bushrangers and a pastoral family. On the evening of 19 November 1863, bushrangers John Gilbert (about 1842-1865), Ben Hall (about 1837-1865) and John O'Meally (1840-1863) attacked Goimbla homestead in central New South Wales. Inside were the brothers David and William Campbell (outspoken critics of the Gilbert-Hall gang), David's wife Amelia and a servant girl. During the gun battle William Campbell was wounded, but escaped and raised the alarm in nearby Eugowra. By the time the police arrived the battle was over and O'Meally had been shot dead. The 'battle of Goimbla' lasted about two hours. The Campbells were well rewarded for killing O'Meally. They received, amongst other things, about 2000 pounds plus a silver coffee urn and two testimonials from the grateful citizens of surrounding towns. The death of O'Meally, the 'remorseless and bloodthirsty ruffian', was described as 'a public relief' by the Sydney Morning Herald. John O'Meally was probably the most violent member of the famous Gilbert-Hall Gang. The son of an ex-convict, O'Meally apparently operated a butchering business and sold sly grog in partnership with John Gilbert. O'Meally's serious bushranging career, however, lasted only 20 months, from about March 1862 until his death on 19 November 1863. He was involved in armed robberies, an attack on Gold Commissioner Keightley's home at Dunn's Plains and allegedly killed at least two people. John Gilbert and Ben Hall led one of the most notorious bushranging gangs of the 1860s. Ranging freely over the Lachlan Valley, New South Wales, between February 1863 and April 1865 the Gilbert-Hall Gang reputedly robbed 10 mail coaches, held up 21 stores and homesteads, stole 23 racing horses, took over the village of Canowindra three times and killed two policemen. They also attacked the homesteads of prominent government officials and squatters. Object information What Type Covered urns Collection Veda Hope collection Dimensions W 250mm x H 490mm x D 350mm Material Silver-plated brass When Date of event 19/11/1863 Date of the attack on Goimbla Station Who 2 Source Recipient Mr H.S. Clarke Amelia Campbell Associated person Associated person David H. Campbell John O'Meally Bushranger Bushranger Ben Hall John Gilbert Involved in the event referred to in the letter Involved in the event referred to in the letter Source Mr H.S. Clarke Jeweller who supplied coffee urn Where Place of event Goimbla Station, Eugowra, New South Wales, Australia Back to top 3.

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