THE WILD COLONIAL BOYS

IT WAS the biggest gold robbery ever in Australian history. In June 1862, a coach with a driver and four police escorts along with more than 2700 ounces (77kg) of gold and 3700 pounds in cash were on their way between Forbes and Orange, NSW, when Frank Gardiner and his gang of seven held them up, wounding two of the policemen in the process.

Helping themselves to the haul (the gold alone valued at more than AU$4.8 million today) the bushrangers fled, but the police and trackers were soon on their tail. Surprised at their hideout, the heavily laden horse with most of the gold was abandoned as the gang fled into the hills.

While most of the culprits were soon captured – including Frank Gardiner, who after 10 years in gaol was exiled out of the colony and after a short time in Queensland fled to the USA where he lived until the age of 74, dying in 1904 – the others weren’t so lucky.

Ben Hall, probably the most famous bushranger in NSW, ran the police ragged with his bold deeds throughout the colony until he was ambushed in his camp and