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Bushrangers

Bushranging was a feature of life in New South Wales from the early days of settlement to the late 19th Century. The State archives collection is rich in material documenting individual bushrangers and their gangs, and the efforts of the authorities to bring them to justice. This gallery contains a selection of documents featuring famous and not-so-famous outlaws from this colourful period of Colonial history - their exploits and depredations, capture and ultimate fate.

Ned Kelly

Kelly Papers

New South Wales Police - Particulars of Deaths and Bodily injuries sustained by the Police from Bushrangers from the time of Peisley's depredations March 1862 to 7th June 1870. NRS 906, Colonial Secretary: Special bundles, 1826-1982 [1/2326.2; p.89]In August 2002 several documents relating to the capture of the bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang were returned to State Records' custody. These documents were archival estrays (that is, they had passed from the control of the public office responsible for the record).

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Captain Moonlight

See the "Staff Pick" on the Archives Outside blog featuring Captain Moonlight

Captain Moonlight

Thunderbolt and others

The digitsed records below are entitled:

  • 'New South Wales Police - Particulars of Deaths and Bodily injuries sustained by the Police from Bushrangers from the time of Peisley's depredations March 1862 to 7th June 1870' [Letter No. 70/4624], and
  • 'New South Wales Police - List of Offenders known as Bushrangers killed or wounded in the colony of New South Wales from March 1862 to 7 June 1870'

The compilation of these lists by the Police was related to consideration being given by the Government to awards and medals for those associated with the suppression of bushranging during the 1860s. Their importance lies in the fact that they bring together in summary form information about bushranging activity in the Colony during the decade up to 1870.

  • Deaths and Bodily injuries sustained by the Police from Bushrangers 1862-1870. Click for larger version.
  • List of Bushrangers killed or wounded 1862-1870 (1 of 2). Click for larger version.

These extracts are from NRS 906, Colonial Secretary: Special bundles, 1826-1982 -> Medals and rewards to persons who distinguished themselves in suppressing bushranging from 1862 (including papers about Thunderbolt’s demise, and concerning such bushrangers as Hall, Gilbert, Dunn and Morgan; lists of deaths and bodily injuries sustained by the Police from bushrangers, and of offenders known as bushrangers killed or wounded in NSW), 1868-76 [1/2326.2]

Copies of the complete bundle are available in the reading room at COD 604.

Related content
The Ned Kelly Papers