Escort Rock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Escort Rock |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Location | Escort Way, Eugowra, Cabonne Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1862–1862 |
| Official name: The Ben Hall Sites - Escort Rock; Eugowra Rock | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 8 October 2010 |
| Reference no. | 1827 |
| Type | Geological site or area |
| Category | Landscape - Natural |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Escort Rock is a special rock formation in New South Wales, Australia. It's found near Eugowra in the Cabonne Shire. This rock is part of a group of historic places called the Ben Hall Sites. These sites are important because they are linked to the famous Australian bushranger, Ben Hall. Escort Rock was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on October 8, 2010, meaning it's a protected historical site.
The Gold Escort Robbery
Escort Rock is famous for a big robbery that happened there. It was one of the most well-known hold-ups by Frank Gardiner's gang. Ben Hall was also part of this gang at the time.
The Eugowra Gold Escort was a special coach. It carried gold and money from the goldfields to Sydney every week. On June 15, 1862, a mail coach was carrying a huge amount of gold and money. It was worth about 14,000 pounds, which was a lot back then! Four police officers and a driver were guarding this valuable shipment.
Gardiner's gang planned to stop the coach. They used two drays (carts) to block the road. When the coach arrived in the late afternoon, it couldn't pass. Gardiner ordered his gang to start shooting. The guards ran away, leaving the coach to the bushrangers.
Gardiner, Hall, and other gang members took the gold. They included Dan Charters, John Gilbert, Henry Manns, John O'Meally, John Bow, and Alex Fordyce. After the robbery, the gang went to a camp on Mount Wheogo. Later, the police tracked them down and got the gold back. Ben Hall and Dan Charters were arrested on July 27, 1862. Hall was later released on bail.
What Escort Rock Looks Like
.jpg)
Escort Rock is about four kilometers northeast of Eugowra. You can find it off Escort Way. The site is about 200 meters east of the main road. It's where the old coach road used to be.
There's a large rock marked "Escort Rock" near the old road. This old road used to wind around the base of a hill covered in boulders. Then, it curved back towards where the current road is. You can still see parts of this original coach road. This helps us imagine where the robbery happened.
Today, the site is in good condition. The old coach road is still visible. The area around the rock and road is well-preserved. This is partly because a new road was built 200 meters away.
There's also a picnic area near the highway. Tourists can stop there to see the site. You'll find a plaque too. It remembers a re-enactment of the hold-up that happened 100 years after the original event.
Why Escort Rock is Important
.jpg)
Escort Rock is very important to the history of New South Wales. It's known as the first major event that Ben Hall was definitely involved in. The actions of Ben Hall and his gang had a big impact on how people, money, and gold moved around regional New South Wales between 1862 and 1865.
The Escort Rock robbery was one of the first of many roadside hold-ups. Because these hold-ups happened more and more often, the police force grew. Security for mail coaches and gold escorts also became much stronger. Sometimes, Aboriginal people were hired to help the police. They were very skilled at tracking and knew the bush well. This helped the police find the bushrangers.
Escort Rock is also important because it's linked to Frank Gardiner, who led the robbery. Ben Hall's connection with Gardiner played a big part in Hall becoming a well-known bushranger.
Many people recognize Escort Rock as a place connected to Ben Hall. He is one of Australia's most famous bushrangers. His story is a significant part of Australian identity. The Escort Rock site is clearly marked and is a popular place for tourists to visit.
This site also shows us the kinds of places bushrangers used for their hold-ups. Escort Rock is a great example of how Ben Hall and his gang would appear from the bush on horseback. Then, they would escape back into the bush with what they had taken. This is why these events were called "bushranging." Escort Rock is a rare example of a highway robbery location that is easy to find and identify. Most other robberies happened in places without clear landmarks.
Aesthetically, Escort Rock is a striking landmark. It sits on the old coach road that went from Eugowra to Orange. This old road is no longer used for traffic, as a new road was built nearby.
Escort Rock was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on October 8, 2010. This means it meets certain important criteria:
- It shows how history unfolded: The events here led to big changes in policing and security in New South Wales.
- It's linked to important people: It's where Ben Hall started his famous bushranging career.
- It's a beautiful landmark: The rock itself is an impressive sight on the old road.
- It's important to the community: People recognize it as a key part of Ben Hall's story and Australian history.
- It can teach us more: The old coach road could reveal more about its original path through archaeological research.
- It's unique: It's an unusual and well-documented place where a bushranger hold-up happened.
- It represents a type of place: It's a good example of the kind of hidden spots bushrangers used for their roadside hold-ups.
