The Robbers Tree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Robbers Tree |
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Robbers Tree, circa 1920
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| Location | Stockyard Street, Cunnamulla, Shire of Paroo, Queensland, Australia |
| Official name: The Robbers Tree | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600762 |
| Significant period | 1880 (historical) 1880-ongoing (social) |
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The Robbers Tree is a special tree in Cunnamulla, Queensland, Australia. It's famous because of an exciting event that happened there in 1880. This tree is now protected as a heritage site, meaning it's an important part of Queensland's history and a popular spot for visitors.
Contents
The Story of Cunnamulla and the Robbery
How Cunnamulla Began
The area around the Warrego River in southwest Queensland was first explored by Europeans in the 1840s. However, it wasn't until the 1860s that people really started to settle there. Explorers like William Landsborough found good land for farming and raising animals.
In 1867, people asked the Queensland government to create a town where two important animal routes crossed near the Warrego River. That same year, the town of Cunnamulla was officially planned. Its name is thought to come from an Aboriginal word meaning "long stretch of water."
Cunnamulla grew slowly at first. By 1871, only 45 people lived there. But by the end of the 1870s, it started to grow faster. A school opened in 1878, and the town became a key service center for the surrounding farms and ranches. Important transport companies like Cobb & Co. started running coaches to Cunnamulla, bringing people and mail. Banks also opened, and by the late 1890s, a railway line reached the town, connecting it to other parts of Queensland.
The Famous Robbery of 1880
In 1880, an event took place that made Cunnamulla famous. On January 16, a man named Joseph Wells, who worked on a farm, robbed the Queensland National Bank in Cunnamulla. He used a gun during the robbery.
As Wells was trying to leave the bank, a storekeeper named William Murphy tried to stop him. During their struggle, Murphy was accidentally shot in the shoulder. This allowed Wells to get away from the bank, but a crowd of people had gathered outside.
Wells tried to escape on a horse, but the horse's bridle broke. In a panic, he ran towards the edge of town and into the bush. Two men from the crowd, who had unloaded guns, chased after him. Wells threatened to shoot them if they didn't stop, and he disappeared into the trees.
The Tree and the Capture
The police were called and started a big search for the robber. Wells might have gotten away if it hadn't been for a very determined sheep dog. The dog had followed Wells' scent and sat barking loudly under a tree. When the local police sergeant investigated, he found Wells hiding high up in the branches of the tree, where he was very well hidden.
Wells was arrested and later faced trial. He was found responsible for the armed robbery and the injury to Mr. Murphy. At that time, the punishment for such a crime was very serious.
A Change in the Law
Because of how Mr. Murphy was accidentally hurt and because Wells didn't have a lawyer during his trial, many people felt that the punishment was too harsh. There was a lot of discussion about it in the newspapers and among politicians.
Even though there were many appeals, Joseph Wells received the most serious punishment possible at the time. However, this event had a lasting impact. Joseph Wells was the last person in Queensland to receive this specific punishment for armed robbery with wounding. One of his supporters, Arthur Rutledge, later became a very important lawyer for the government. He worked to change the law so that armed robbery was no longer a crime that carried such a severe penalty in Queensland.
The tree where Wells hid became a key part of this story. It's now strongly connected to the robbery and the important change in the law that followed. It's a popular spot for tourists who want to learn about this piece of history.
About the Robbers Tree
The Robbers Tree is located on the edge of Cunnamulla, at the southern end of Stockyard Street. It sits on a small sandy hill. A low fence has been built around it to protect it.
The tree is a large, old Cypress Pine, which is a type of tree native to Australia. These trees are very good at growing in dry, sandy places. In 1979, the tree was about 15 meters (nearly 50 feet) tall.
Why the Robbers Tree is Special
The Robbers Tree is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it meets important criteria:
- It shows how Queensland's history has changed.
The local story of this tree and the 1880 robbery is linked to a big change in how serious crimes were punished in Queensland.
- It's important to the community.
The Robbers Tree has a strong meaning for the people of Cunnamulla. It's a central part of a local legend about a "bushranger" (an old term for an outlaw) in southwest Queensland. It has become a popular place for tourists to visit.
