Ben Hall's Death Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ben Hall's Death Site |
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Billabong Creek, where Ben Hall died
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| Location | Billabong Creek, Ben Halls Road, Forbes, Forbes Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1865– |
| Official name: The Ben Hall Sites - Ben Hall's Death Site; Blowclear Pastoral Run; Ben Hall's Place | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 8 October 2010 |
| Reference no. | 1827 |
| Type | Other - Landscape - Cultural |
| Category | Landscape - Cultural |
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The Ben Hall's Death Site is a special historical place located at Billabong Creek, near Forbes in New South Wales, Australia. It's known as a "heritage-listed" site, which means it's officially recognized and protected for its historical importance. This site is part of a group of places called the Ben Hall Sites, all connected to the famous Australian bushranger, Ben Hall. It's also sometimes called Blowclear Pastoral Run or Ben Hall's Place. The site was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 8 October 2010.
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Who Was Ben Hall?
Ben Hall was a well-known bushranger who operated in New South Wales between 1862 and 1865. Bushrangers were like outlaws or bandits in early Australian history. They often robbed people, coaches, and banks. Ben Hall and his gang became very famous, and their actions led to more police being sent to rural areas. Security for gold escorts and mail coaches also increased because of them.
The Story of Ben Hall's Final Days
The land where Ben Hall died was once part of a large property called Blowclear pastoral run. This property was owned by Thomas Morris back in 1840.
In late April 1865, Ben Hall and two members of his gang, Gilbert and Dunn, were near Forbes. They had stolen horses from local stations. At the same time, a man named Mick Coneley, who used to be Hall's friend, became an informant. He was hoping to get a £1000 reward for helping the police catch Hall. Coneley had been watching the gang and telling the police where they were.
On April 29, a group of six police officers and two Aboriginal trackers left the Forbes police station. They were led by Sub Inspector Davidson. They set up camp in a thick bush area about 10 kilometers from where they expected the gang to meet.
Gilbert and Dunn arrived at the meeting spot a few days before Hall, on May 2. However, they got scared off by some local stockmen, thinking they were police. Ben Hall arrived at the camp on the afternoon of May 4. This camp was a dense area of scrub right next to Billabong Creek, near Mick Coneley's hut. The police officers and Aboriginal trackers, including Billy Dargin and Charley (Goolagong), were still waiting, even though they had run out of supplies.
At six in the morning on May 5, Ben Hall came out of the bush and walked towards his two horses. At that moment, police officers shot him.
After Ben Hall was shot, his body was searched. Then, it was tied to the back of one of his horses and taken to the Forbes police station. Inspector Davidson had hoped to keep Hall's death a secret. He wanted to try and catch Gilbert and Dunn too. But it was impossible to keep quiet. There was too much excitement about Hall's death. Reports say that 400 to 500 people came to see his body.
A map of the death site was drawn by Inspector Davidson. This map was part of the official police report on Hall's death. It is the main way we know the exact location of the site today.
What Does the Site Look Like?
Ben Hall's Death Site is located about 19 kilometers northwest of Forbes. You can find it between Forbes and Bogan Gate. In 1957, the Forbes Historical Society placed a metal plaque on a steel post to mark the site.
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The site itself is a small group of trees on a mostly flat, treeless plain. You can reach the site through a small gate from Ben Hall's Road. It's also next to a dam. Billabong Creek, where Mick Coneley's hut was, is to the northwest of the site. The exact spot where Ben Hall died was found using Inspector Davidson's notes and map. These were later published in a book.
Near the entrance to the paddock, there is a large painted sign. This sign tells the story of Ben Hall's death. A dam was also built nearby recently.
Experts believe that the death site itself probably doesn't have old artifacts buried there. However, the spot where Mick Coneley's hut was might have archaeological potential. This means there could be interesting historical items buried there.
Why Is This Site Important?
Ben Hall's Death Site is very important for several reasons.
The Felons Apprehension Act
This site is connected to a new law called the Felons Apprehension Act (also known as the Outlaws Act). This law allowed police, or even regular people, to shoot outlaws on sight. Before this law, police had to arrest someone and confirm their identity. Then, a trial would take place before any punishment. Ben Hall, Gilbert, and Dunn were declared outlaws under this new act. However, the law didn't officially start until five days after Hall was shot. The way Hall died at this site shows how fearful the police were when dealing with bushrangers. He was shot many times, even after he had passed away. This harshness was partly a result of this new law.
Aboriginal Trackers' Role
The site also shows the important role Aboriginal people played with the New South Wales police. The skills of the Aboriginal trackers, Billy Dargin and Charlie, were crucial. They helped the police find Ben Hall, which shows their amazing tracking abilities.
Ben Hall's Place in History
Ben Hall's Death Site helps us understand why he is so important in people's minds. Hall is one of the most famous bushrangers in New South Wales. He is a big part of the Australian identity. As Australia was becoming a nation, people wanted to present themselves as strong and respectable. This led to bushrangers, especially Ben Hall, being seen in a more romantic way. Ben Hall's life has captured people's imaginations because of this.
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Places where cultural legends like Ben Hall died are very valuable to many people. Tourists visit the site to connect with the spirit of Ben Hall. The fact that the road is named Ben Hall Road, and there are signs and a monument, shows how important the site is to the community. People visit the site even though it's far from Forbes.
A Rare Historical Site
Ben Hall's Death Site is quite rare because it's a well-documented place where a bushranger died in the bush. Most bushrangers in New South Wales were either killed during sieges in buildings, hanged in places like Darlinghurst Gaol, or died in more common ways. This makes Ben Hall's death site unique.
