VIC and NSW Gold Rush Criminals?

Question

I need one or two criminals on the Victorian or New South Wales goldfields. If you have any information on what crimes this criminal commited could you please put it in, if you don't have any information don't worry, all i need is a criminal from the goldfields. Thanks.

Answer 1

Ned Kelly.

The Australian bushranger Ned Kelly is one of the country's more colorful folk heroes -- in some ways a bit of Jesse James in the American Wild West or Robin Hood in England's Sherwood Forest.

The term "bushranger" is defined by the Macquarie Dictionary as "a bandit or criminal in colonial times who hid in the bush and led a predatory life."

Born in 1855 and the son of a convicted thief, Ned Kelly was a bandit who started off as a cattle rustler, ranged the countryside between Beechworth and Benalla in Victoria, robbed at least two banks, held townspeople hostage and was responsible (together with his gang) for the deaths of policemen in gunbattles.

He may not have started his criminal career here in Wodonga but it was in nearby Beechworth that it ended. The Beechworth Gaol was familiar to both Ned and his mother, with both of them serving time within its walls. Kelly also made two appearances at the Beechworth Courthhouse, including his committal hearing for the murders of Constables Lonigan and Scanlon, before being sent to his execution in Melbourne. Visitors to this historic building can actually stand in the very same dock in which Kelly finally faced justice, and sit in the same cell that held him during his trial.

Just north- west of Albury Wodonga is Jerilderie, famed for his impassioned letter, and a real treasure trove of Kelly infamy. Its close proximity makes Albury Wodonga the perfect touring hub to relive this notorious bushranger’s history.

Answer 2

Ben Hall.

Frank Gardiner.

John Gilbert.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hall

On 15 June 1862, Gardiner led a gang of 10 men, including Hall, and robbed the gold escort coach near Eugowra of more than 14,000 pounds in gold and banknotes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Gardi...

In 1862 he bailed up the Lachlan Gold Escort near Eugowra with Ben Hall and Johnny Gilbert. This hold up is still considered to be the largest ever gold robbery in Australia's history. The total value of the 2,700 ounces of gold taken was estimated at £14,000 (approximately AUD$2 million in 2006 terms). Almost half of the gold was recovered by mounted police following a raid on one of the Gardiner hideouts in the Weddin Mountains near Forbes in NSW. What happened to the remaining gold is still the subject of much speculation and rumour. Treasure hunters still visit the area and it is even rumoured that two Americans who were thought to be Gardiner's sons visited the Wheogo Station near the Weddins in 1911.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gilber...

In 1862, he became the accomplice of Frank Gardiner. In that year Gardiner and Gilbert were identified as being involved in robberies in the Forbes, New South Wales area. In June 1862, Gardiner, together with Ben Hall and others held up the Forbes gold escort coach at Eugowra; this hold up is still considered to be the largest ever gold robbery in Australia's history.