1. FYI UPDATE April 09
·There has been confusion as to where the police actually camped at Stringybark Creek: up or down the
Creek, and east bank or west bank. The following original information clarifies the matter.
The following statement by Constable McIntyre published in the Argus stated clearly that the clearing was
between one and two acres in size (narrowing the possibilities).
The Argus Saturday, August 7th 1880
'We camped at Stringy Bark Creek, about 20 miles from Mansfield. All four of us travelled on horseback and were
armed. At Stringy Bark Creek the country is thickly timbered, but we camped on a clearing. The photograph produced
shows a portion of the ground. There had been a hut on the clearing, but only remains of it were left standing. A
number of logs were lying about. The opening was about an acre or two in area; we camped immediately behind the
old hut, erecting a tent there.'
We know that an original photo of the police camp is correct, as both Ned and Constable McIntyre examined
it. Const. McIntyre said that the gang were in a line in front of Kennedy and Scanlon. Steve was in the tent. Joe
and Dan in the spear grass, which, according to Ned, was near the Creek. The man on the right of the photo
had been brought closer to fit into the picture. He represented the returning police who were coming up the
Creek heading south. The tent was said to be near the camera. Thus, north is to the right of the photo.
Const. McIntyre gave contradicting information as to the location of the Creek in relation to the crossed
logs.
Wilson Hall published a book about the Kelly Gang in 1879. He had firsthand access to participants,
locations, and information. Wilson stated that the Creek was on the opposite side of the crossed logs to that
of the tent. Since north is to the right of the camera, the camp can only be on the east bank of the Creek.
'The spot where they established their halt was a small clearing on a rise alongside of the Creek, near the ruins
of two small huts, one of which was burnt down, and had been the temporary residence of three prospectors, named
Reynolds, Bromfield and Lynch, who worked the Creek for a short time with indifferent success.
The level space, though pretty well cleared, is surrounded by thick, heavy timber and scrub, and on the right hand
side has a patch of very tall spear or sword-grass, which affords a jungle-like cover. In front of the tent, and between it
and the Creek, were two fallen trees, the ends being crossed at a right angle; there were also some stumps of trees that
had been felled in the clearing.'
If you walk up and down Stringybark Creek there is only one spot that fits the original descriptions. I have
shown this correctly on my map in Chapter 1. This also agrees with other original information such as:
1. The 1884 survey map has "scene of the police murders by the Kelly gang" marked on the east bank.
2. The deliberately marked spot on the map is in the middle of the flat rise I've identified in my book.
3. Const. McIntyre said that Sgt. Kennedy ran across the Creek and hid behind a tree. He was then
pursued along the track leading into the place. Because of the topography, this track must have been near where
the road is today.
4. If the camp had been on the west bank, Ned need not have had to negotiate the spring, as there would
have been no need to cross the Creek.
5. The flat rise is a level up above the Creek. Ned said that when he approached the spring he could see the
police "up at the top". If the camp had been on the west bank he would have been either level or above the police.
It is interesting to visit historic sites and know you are standing where historic events took place. When such
places are marked for the benefit of tourists, one can always be forgiven for doubting the accuracy of the locations.
I once worked for a surveyor who was asked to locate a spot where a highway crossed the path of a famous explorer.
After studying diaries, memoirs and old maps the surveyor believed he could pin point the spot to a few yards.
He was later shocked to find the government had built a monument beside the highway half a mile away. When
he enquired as to the reason why, he was told the statue was less likely to be vandalised than the correct location.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
·There has been confusion and disagreement over the location where Sergeant Kennedy was killed. This is
partly because:
1. The location was given as a rough distance and direction from the place where the search party camped.
This was a different spot from where the original police set-up camp.
2. Then, it was incorrectly assumed that his escape path headed for the prospector's hut (which is not the
fortified hut).
Since the publication of my book Ned Kelly The Widow's Son, Peter, my brother, has found more
supporting information in the National Library of where we believe Sgt. Kennedy was murdered.
The first article below leaves no doubt Cons. McIntyre didn't cross the ridge running down Stringybark
Creek. Keep-in-mind, in order to get to Mansfield, which is southwest of the area, Cons. McIntyre had to first
travel north.
The Maitland Mercury,… Tuesday 10 August 1880, page 6
McIntyre's evidence:
'…..I caught and mounted Kennedy's horse, which was close to me. The horse was restive of fire. I turned his head
north, and he moved about twice his own length while I was struggling to get into the saddle. After some trouble I
succeeded in mounting. Kennedy must have seen me mounting, but he did not say anything. A number of shots were
fired while I was riding away; but at whom, I could not say. I saw a blood spot on Scanlon's coat immediately after the
shot I have spoken of, and he laid over on his back. I rode away northerly to-wards Mansfield, until I got 100 yards past
the gap, when I turned westerly, which would take me to the telegraph line between Benalla and Mansfield. I was
thrown off my horse, and crept into a wombat hole.'
The second article says the search party formed a line to search the immediate area of the police campsite.
When that failed, they followed Cons. McIntyre's track.
Brisbane Courier Tuesday 5th November 1878
MANSFIELD, Thursday.
'The search party in quest of Sergeant Kennedy reached the halting-place for the night about half-past 6 last
evening, and camped there for the night. The party numbered in all, including the police, 25 persons. An early start
was made this morning at half-past 5, the party being provided with provisions for the day. They headed for the vicinity
of the scene of the late encounter, when the party formed themselves into an extended line, and scoured the country
until they reached the place where the murders had been committed. After consultation, it was decided to scout for a
mile in the direction of McIntyre's escape tracks. Half a mile had scarcely been searched, when a "cooey" from Mr.
Sparrow brought the party together, and it was then found that the body of the unfortunate Sergeant Kennedy had
been discovered. This was about 8 o'clock.'
These articles add to the other evidence included in my book, e.g. that bullet marks were in the trees either
side of the track McIntyre took. It leaves little doubt about the veracity of my theory.
One more item of interest is the significance of whisky distilling in the Kelly story. Ned made no recorded
mention of distilling until a week before he was hanged. Wilson Hall brings up the subject of distilling in his book
about the Kelly's in 1879.
The following published article while not being proof of anything, is at least interesting in the context of Ned's
later prison letters.
The Maitland Mercury, 3rd August 1880
"Further particulars show that Ned Kelly, on his way to Beechworth yesterday, showed much bravado and was
excessively impudent, calling out to the bystanders at the stations, and expressed the conviction he would never be hanged.
An extraordinary cave, fitted up for habitation, has been found in the Strathbogie Ranges; but it is thought to have no
connection with the Kelly gang, but to have been used for an illicit distillery."
Steve McCarthy
April 2009