Introduction
Two huts at Stringybark Creek.

Two bush hut fireplaces found at Stringybark Ck by Kelly researcher and the writer Bill Denheld, help to re-establish the exact location where three police were killed by the Kelly gang in October 1878. Old fireplaces found, are all that remain of two huts that are important to the Kelly story as one is certainly that of the shingle hut that Ned Kelly referred to in his Jerilderie letter dated 1879.

The shingle hut’ as written in Ned Kelly’s Jerilderie letter of 1879 by his mate Joe Byrne.

The Jerilderie Letter is a treasured document held by the State Library of Victoria that was hoped by 'Ned' to explain to the 'Crown', the injustices endured by the Kelly family. It tells how, in self defense three police were shot. Intended to be published while the gang was on the run, the 7500 word autobiography and makings of a rebel manifesto to proclaim North Eastern Victoria a republic was withheld by the authorities and not made public until 1930.  The original 56 page hand written letter was accepted by SLoV after 32 years of offerings by Mr. Keith Harrison and Mr. Ian Jones in November 2000.

	Bill at the remains of an old rock fireplace that may prove to be that of the shingle hut.  Below, 1885 penny and items found there.

This website covers many historical facts and items of interest to do with Stringybark and Kelly's Creek. The Kelly tree from the earliest photo to the present day. A letter referring to Blue Range that may be why the police went to Stringybark Creek- dated eight days before three police were killed there. How a postcard produced by photographer Burman, taken at the fatal police camp was used at Ned Kelly's preliminary trial that differs from survivor- Const. McIntyre's sketch and lead to confusion for the magistrate. See how details in the photos enabled an accurate birds eye view reconstruction of the scene. How forensic investigation of the photos lead to the finding of the two fireplaces. Read what McIntyre later told the Royal Commission in 1881. We can wonder what was the motivation for the man hunt, the rewards offered for Kellys capture, or justice?

The story of Ned Kelly and the Kelly Gang is firmly placed in the history of Australia. In some quarters Ned Kelly has achieved folk hero status and the exploits of the Kelly Gang are increasingly attracting world attention. A crucial episode in the Kelly story was the shoot out at Stringybark Ck which resulted in the deaths of three policeman. The exact location of the site of the shoot-out has been in doubt as a definitive marker, the so called ‘Kelly tree,’ was reportedly cut down by saw millers in 1908.

Since then, with the loss of the Kelly tree and the passing of generations of local knowledge, the location of the police camp site faded into obscurity.

Relationship of the two huts to each other according to the fireplaces

However, documentary evidence remains, in photos, maps and written statements, and this evidence has been utilized over the years in attempts to pin point the site. One feature of this evidence which had not previously been fully explored is the proximity of the police camp site to ‘two small huts’, one of which could have been ‘the shingle hut’ written about by Ned Kelly in his ‘Jerilderie letter’ of 1879. The Kelly’s knew the area well and when Ned Kelly refers to ‘the shingle hut’ (at Stringybark Ck) in 1879, -

Charcoal from Hut1 fireplace

he must have referred to a well established building of a particular style that had been there for some time. The evidence to support this comes from three sources. One is in a pamphlet  published by news paper owner in 1879, G. Wilson Hall: called ‘The Outlaws of the Wombat ranges’, on page 24 that states (referring to the police camp at camp at Stringybark Ck)- as follows,

“The spot where they established their halt, was a small clearing on the 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, Reynolds, Bromfield and Lynch who worked the creek for a short time with indifferent success.” 

The 2nd source, 'The Argus’ news paper article dated Monday, October 28^th 1878, just two days after the Killings, reported that ' the police camped from Friday evening at  Stringybark on an open space on a creek - the site of some old diggings - and they pitched the tent near the ruins of two huts'. 

3rd source, ' The Complete Inner History of the Kelly Gang and their Pursuers'  by
J.J. Kenneally 1929. J.J.K had  'Tom Lloyd', cousin of Ned as his guide when preparing to write his book. References to the shingle hut  by J.J.K claims the shingle hut as standing at the time of the shoot out. He wrote, Sgnt Kennedy had been shown the place to camp by Mr. Tolmie, and showed him the shingled hut on Stringybark Creek, near where the police party afterwards pitched their tent. Then it reads on - that Ned had deputed brother Dan to investigate a shot fired, - heard at the Kelly camp over the hill, Dan reported that the police were at the shingled hut on Stringybark Ck, and that their tent was pitched in the open space nearby.

J.J.K. also writes on page 52, after shooting Lonigan dead, Ned Kelly then called out, asking McIntyre who was in the hut. The later replied. " No one"
He clearly states hut not tent,

In Max Brown's version  Australian Son (1947) page 68,  Ned to McIntyre " where is your revolver?" he asked " at the tent"  "Who's in there?" " No one"  he replies.

Max's book was written 69 years after, where as J.J.K's written 50 years after the event. But, since J.J.K's was partially written by Tom Lloyd himself, and the fact it was Tom's wish the book not be published till after his death in 1928, I like to believe Tom would not have mistaken a hut for a tent. Max Brown also had descendents to guide him through the finer points of the story when referring to the revolver at the tent. Somehow unfortunately the story becomes blurred.

What is entirely possible, that the police did in fact make use of the hut on the other side of the creek, Ned may have noticed something about the hut to suggest the police were using it considering there were four troopers camped here during what could still be a cold and wet October. One wonders how all four would fit into an 8 x 10 foot tent with all those provisions for a possible two weeks exercise? Perhaps the hut was being used to dry out cloths.

Also, the Mansfield Guardian reported on Aug 1877, a court case of the deliberate burning of Percy Bromfield’s hut by his partner Walter Lynch. ** My view is, this hut burning related to a recently built ‘ third ’ hut away from the other two - on the other side of the creek, the remains of charred corner posts that survived that fire (indicating green wood) can be seen in the Burman photos. * see notes, and the photo in Story three 'Orientation of the Burman photo'.

Fireplace hut 1 approximately 12 metres away from

Fireplace hut 2. Note, large but hardly noticeable.

With the recent finding of two hut fireplaces opposite an area already considered to be the true site of the police camp (as opposed to the established site near the Kelly tree), we simply have to believe, that their remains are those of the two huts described by ' G.W.Hall ’ and may complete a sixty year mystery, pin pointing the exact location of the police camp and a high probability that one of the fireplaces is that of the Shingle Hut. 

This following series of articles report these findings, as well as the history of the Kelly tree. Why the police went to Stringybark Ck, how the Kellys knew the police were there and also an analysis comparing Constable McIntyre’s sketch to the Burman photographs.

A problem to solve,

As early as the 1940’s Kelly historians had problems visualizing the present day Kelly tree in its surroundings on the western bank of Stringybark Creek ‘as the site of the shoot-out’. The Kelly tree (left) was marked in 1933/4 and it is the third tree in a line of succession , each time a little further away from its original position. This picture is looking south east with the Creek on the left. Even though there are display amenities at Stringybark Ck,
I wondered for how many more years visitors would come here only to be faced with a deception of a Kelly tree that was 3-400 meters away from where it should have been and on the wrong side of the creek !  

I felt compelled to try and solve the mystery and find the correct location of the police camp and the Kelly tree, not expecting to find the shingle hut site as well. 

A very interesting publication that summarizes all the known facts on Stringybark Ck is included in the Ned Kelly Seminar Papers. At the Ned Kelly seminar held in Beechworth in 1993 which the papers report, historian Ian Jones read his definitive chapter, The Killings at Stringybark Creek: New evidence from a Surviving witness, in which he identified the most likely area of the Police camp and its proximity to one or two huts.  ( A copy is available, see publications below for details.) 

Renowned Kelly historian Gary Dean informs me that during the 1960’s to 70’s, any person making inquiries at the Mansfield Shire Offices as to the site of the police shootings, was given a map which showed clearly that the site was on the east side of Stringybark Creek, but just where, was left up to your imagination?

Ian Jones's definitive paper of 1993 concludes that the gunfight had occurred further up the creek from the present day Kelly tree and on the opposite bank from the hut. Interestingly, Jones’ states in the paper he made this conclusion after tending to disbelieving local knowledge offered to him some thirty years before ' that the police camp' was up the creek on the eastern bank of Stringybark.

The problem was, a ‘hut’ site adjoining the 'current considered police camp site' had not been found. In the Kelly seminar, Ian Jones spoke ".It seems most likely that the remains of the marked hut on the western bank were taken eventually as marking the site of the police camp “

Interestingly, when the fireplaces of two huts were found Sept 2002, Ian Jones was notified and invited to be taken there and view them on several occasions, but he never responded except on public ABC radio 774AM four months later when on radio he was questioned about the fireplaces found - he described the findings as 'Codswollup'.  Why would this be so?

During 2003 when Ian Jones re launches his second edition of his book, A short life, he made references to the fireplaces found, and makes a note on page 385/6 - that reads - quote  ”Despite an extremely misleading report in The Age, 10.2.2003 ‘ New find leaves shooting theory up the creek’ , the discovery of two fireplaces nearby, on the western bank of the creek, does nothing to refute my identification of the site, and in fact throws no new light on the subject. Numerous huts were build in the vicinity, before and after 1878. Like some other recent ‘discoveries’, this one seems more concerned with publicity than historical insight "

Then in his latest 2008 edition in a similar vein - on page 443 in notes
Quote “ Two fireplaces, on the Western bank of Stringybark Creek opposite the Gunfight site, have been given inappropriate significance since 2003. ( see Age 10/2/03 ) No contemporary source refers to them. A second ruined hut mentioned by G Wilson Hall in 1879 ( Mansfield Pamphlet, P24) some distance to the north of the site, was identified in 2006 by Dave Wilson and Dave Brown. ( Dave Wilson should be Dave White)

But this statement is completely erroneous and misleading - as from all historical records there is no mention of the huts being separated by any distance or North of the site.

Firstly, - for him to claim the old rock fireplaces of two small huts near the police camp having " No contemporary source referring to them" is ridiculous. He needs to re- read - G Wilson Hall's 1879 pamphlet - The Outlaws of the Wombat Ranges page 24.

Then he says - " A second ruined hut mentioned by G Wilson Hall in 1879 - some distance to the north of the site, was identified in 2006 by Dave Wilson (White) & Dave Brown.”

This is also erroneous as this is what G W Hall wrote - quote -
“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.”

G.Wilson Hall does not mention a second hut at all, he simply states the police camped " near the ruins of two small huts", There is also mention in the Argus of 28 October 1878 of where the police pitched their tent - "near the ruins of two huts"

The fireplaces of these two small huts are located near the police camp area , and their existence proves where the police had camped at Stringybark Creek in Oct 1878 - just as The- Argus and GW Hall states.

He also states that with his son Darren after doing lengthy orientation field work looking for the police camp in October 1993 he " identified the site several hundred metres south of the accepted location marked by 'the Kelly tree' and on the opposite, eastern bank of the  creek"

Readers are led to believe he actually identified the site of the police camp after doing lengthy orientation fieldwork there. Yet in his 1993 seminar talk he said this -

” We had arrived at the area pointed out to me by Jack Healy nearly thirty three years before and rejected by me because of my stubborn conviction that the site was on the opposite bank of the creek ---Careless reading of sources, particularly Kenneally, and mental inflexibility doomed me to thirty years of chasing my tail where the site of Stringybark Creek was concerned. It may be too early to say that we have located the actual site of the Stringybark Creek gun battle.  However we can say with complete confidence that perhaps for fifty years people have been honouring a spurious landmark”.

On the one hand Jones states how important it is to find the remains of a hut. When fireplaces of huts are found right opposite the considered police camp he publicly pronounces the findings as 'codswollup'. In his books he publicly vilifies my findings, yet goes on to describe how he identifies the true location of the police camp while all along he had been shown where it was by an earlier generation of land owners.  

I have never claimed to have found the site of the police camp. All I have done by finding the fireplaces is to confirm and prove where the police camp was of 1878.

With co-operation from the Department of Sustainability and Environment ( DSE ) and numerous other historians, the fireplaces were accepted as those of two huts as described in the history books. DSE historian Mr. Daniel Catrice said that while the fireplaces in themselves were not a significant structure, he acknowledged they were very important to the Kelly story and have to be preserved. They have now been covered with mesh and the whole Stringybark area has been nominated for heritage listing, - which had never been done.

On 13 May 2008, four years to the day following Heritage nominations, it was announced by Jeremy Smith -  Heritage Victoria archaeologist - the three creeks at Stringybark will be listed on Victorian Heritage inventory. 

Regarding signage there, the DSE decided to be guided not by the Mansfield Historical Society, of which I am a member , but rather by the  Ned Kelly Touring Route planning committee to which Ian Jones also happens to be their historical consultant.

However, with the launch of the Ned Kelly Touring Route well underway, many more thousands are expected to visit Stringybark Creek.  

After 5 years that this webpage has been online and lobbying for signage to direct visitors the correct locations,  the DSE have drawn up plans for a walk to the police camp as part of the Stringybark Creek re - development program. But without any acknowledgements to the ruins of two huts fireplaces.
Click here to see the plan- April 2008

Questioning DSE why the two huts have been omitted from the story , they say the two fireplaces still require a proper archaeological investigation. Well that's fair enough but what about after that?  I learn there is no plan for signage pointing to the fireplaces now or in the future and see no reason why the main notice board could not make mention of this research via a website URL. But they have refused my request for this website to be included saying they don’t have control over its contents, but they are happy included Ian Jones for profit books promotion - paid for by public monies on public land, and they also don't have control over his book contents even though there is gross historical inaccuracy. His book notes on Stringybark does nothing to bring clarity, - rather to confuse the reader into believing that his print version of events is complete and correct - when clearly they are not. 

With the inclusion of the true Police camp as a walk destination, at least we have achieved that – without any thanks to Jones. Looks like this webpage will continue to provide truth and balance.

If you would like a detailed map for visiting the above places, please contact me via email with your full name and postal address.

Please enjoy the stories, Bill Denheld 

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The abbreviated stories following are a quick overview. For a full, more   comprehensive look, click on the links below these for the full story.

 Stories overview,

Story  1 - The Importance of the Huts at Stringybark Ck

See what was found at one of the huts and read why they are important to the Kelly story.. References to the huts occupants, Reynolds, Bromfield and Lynch and the burning down of Bromfield's hut by Lynch during 1877, and  the remaining charred posts can be seen in the forensic police photos taken just after the police killings by the Kellys.

This article explores how one of the huts was constructed as well as items dug up by historian Gary Dean from an adjoining rubbish dump. The dumped items suggest domestic occupation of one of the huts at late 1880's and a penny 1885 supports this. We believe with further archaeological work at the site, dating of  early 1860's will be confirmed.    

For the full story on the importance of the huts    < click here >

Story  2    One hut or two ,  

The first known map of the area was a gold field’s map. In 1884 the surveyor preparing the first map of the district marked ‘Hut’ on the western bank of Stringybark Ck. and directly opposite the hut, notes,‘Scene of the Police murders by the Kelly Gang’.  In 1879,  G. Wilson Hall wrote a pamphlet called ‘The outlaws of the wombat ranges’ in which he mentions that the police camp was near the ruins of two small huts, but one had burnt down, however the fireplaces remain. In this story, read references to huts at this location in various written articles of the time and attempts to find the evidence on the ground. Also I provide a birds eye view of the police camp in relationship to the huts.  For the full story   One hut or two,      < click here >

Story 3     Orientation of the Burman photo. 

The Burman photos were taken as a record of the murder scene. Not knowing exactly from where they were taken; are we looking north, south east or west?  Going by the orientation of natural lighting on objects throughout the photo, I observe that the main light comes from the right, indicating a Northerly direction. In our Southern Hemisphere the Sun arcs through the Northern sky. Photographs in 1878 required long exposure times and we can guess the photographer chose near midday to take the shots. In summary from analysis of natural lighting we have been able to conclude that the camera was pointing South West. This means the background details in the photo are of the western bank of the creek. In this article we provide evidence from shadow details to confirm this and show you both Burman photos that lead to the fireplaces discovery.

Then and Now. 
After discovering the ‘fireplaces’ I made calculations to plot the true location of the Police camp of 1878.  A camera was set up to capture the same area and a picture was taken of the scene 124 years after the Burman photo. Note, that in the intervening years a thick undergrowth has sprung up obscuring a good view to the sloping back drop as in the photo.

For those interested, this site can be reached by walking along the track after crossing the creek near the Kelly tree. Follow the track to the right in a southerly direction till you come to horizontal log caught in a forked tree at head height.  At this forked tree, turn right 90 degrees, you should be looking down a narrow corridor and just there, there is an axed tree where it is estimated Burman's camera and tripod stood looking South West taking this old 1878 photo. 

Above, Burman photo - Police Camp Oct.1878  . Right,  the same place Oct. 2002. looking S.West.
Bill sits at the base of a tree near where the man with the hat is standing.

For the full story,   Orientation of the Burman photo.     < click here >

WARNING;  When visiting the sites be aware of tall dead trees that are ‘hung up’ and ready to fall any time. Also, the creek and swampy ground here is good habitat for snakes and leeches. Do not cross the creek or swamp except on paths.

 

Story  4     How the bush hut fireplaces were found. 

Left, Burman photo No 1, of the police camp where the police were killed by the Kellys was used as evidence at Ned Kelly’s preliminary trial. Information gleaned from this photo and the one above led to the discovery of the two bush hut fireplaces during Sept. 2002. Like others before me, I wanted to find the exact location of the police camp - after reading that it had eluded even the most serious of efforts to locate.

It had become a 60 year old mystery and I wondered if there was anything that had been overlooked.  Referring to evidence in the photos, maps and written statements in books like Keith McMenomy’s ‘Ned Kelly, The Authentic Illustrated Story',  Ian Jones’s ‘Ned Kelly, A Short Life', and his story in the Ned Kelly seminar Papers, I wondered why the actual site had not been found considering that most of the jigsaw pieces were in place except the last one, the huts.
The enlargement detail in Burman photo 2 (Left)  shows what could be seen as a post and rail fence on the slope, but in Burman photo No 1 (above), they are saplings lying on the ground. It is entirely possible the long thin saplings may have been axed and dropped by prospectors for building purposes as the area looks as though it may have been cleared indicating human activity.
I noticed what looked like a fence,
perhaps an indication of human activity I      thought.                

To supplement this very scant information which I had gleaned from photographs and which I had shown to Gary Dean, we decided together to take a closer look at the actual area of bush where I thought this activity may have taken place. While there, Gary was scouting around the area when I stumbled onto a pile of large moss covered rocks and called out  “Hey, Gary look at this”,  when he came into view we both said, 'a fireplace'. On a return trip to the site a week later I found the second fireplace only 12 metres away.

Pictures above reproduced with  permission of Keith McMenony, from his book, Ned Kelly- The Authentic Illustrated Story.

Gary Dean, Bill and Carla Denheld at Stringybark Ck on the day we found the fireplace of the hut on the 5 Sept. 2002



How the bush hut fireplaces were found.
Read the full story,          < click here >

Story 5  A Kelly tree history.

The original Kelly tree, (pictured left) can be seen in this enlargement of the Burman photo No 2, (behind the figure with the raised arm).  This was the original Kelly tree and it was cut down for its valued timber in 1908. It was near here that Const. Lonigan and Const. Scanlan died. It was situated on the high bank of the creek which ran immediately behind the tree.This is not obvious in the photo and has been the reason for much confusion for historians. The last Kelly tree below is perhaps one of the most famous trees in Australia, it attracts a lot of visitors and is accompanied by a fitting memorial to the three policemen who were killed here.

Side by side, the iconic symbols of tragedy. 

The Kelly tree above. Centre, the iconic armour motif of the Kelly gang. Right, the Memorial stone at Stringybark Ck reserve, dedicated to the three policemen, two of whom left families behind, a point that often gets ignored.  

The plaque reads ;  In Memory of  Sergeant Michael Kennedy No:2009.  Constable Michael Scanlon No: 2118. Constable Thomas Lonigan No: 2423. Killed at Stringybark Creek on the 26th October, 1878 during the execution of their duty in a gunfight with a group of men later known as the “ Kelly Gang “ Respectfully remembered and never forgotten  The Victorian Police Force Plaque unveiled by Michael and Mick Kennedy on the 26th of October, 2001.

As early as 1940, Kelly historians had problems visualizing the present day Kelly tree in its surroundings on the western bank of Stringybark Creek as the site of the shoot-out. The picture of the Kelly tree above is looking south east with the Creek on the left. The iconic armour motif is being swallowed up by the marked tree until one day the motif will disappear altogether. With the true location of the police camp being confirmed by the finding of the fireplaces, one now wonders whether other plans for future tourism need to be made considering the key markers are some 3- 400 metres from where they should be ?

This is a question for you:  do you believe the authorities need to update the Stringybark Ck Reserve to show visitors the real locations of both these icons, as well as leave these two where they are, suggesting two police memorials and two Kelly trees ?      Please send in your thoughts to         bill@denheldid.com     

To see early photos and a history of the Kelly tree          < click here >

 

Story 6
McIntyre’s sketch and the Burman photographs      compared.
This sketch drawn by Constable McIntyre, the only surviving witness, (other than the four members of the gang) of the shoot-out, shows where Constable Lonigan was killed in relationship to the camp fire, the position of large logs, and the point from where the gang advanced. Constable McIntyre had made a written statement accompanied by this sketch and there is a note made (presumably when the sketch and the Burman photos of the re-enactments were presented at Ned Kelly's preliminary trial almost two years later by the magistrate or a court officer) on a piece of paper attached to the photo, saying;

“ Doubts as to the accuracy of the scene (leading to reconstructions)  perhaps been stimulated by a sense that this is a fairly unusual piece of   evidence to Introduce”.  

This statement suggests that there was some confusion in assessing the evidence. The magistrate was shown a ‘post card’ of the police murder scene, not a photo, but a ‘post card’ (pictured below). Secondly, the magistrate compared the sketch by Cnst. McIntyre with the ‘post card’, and as can be seen, they are quite different. Shortly before his execution, Ned Kelly wrote a letter to the Governor of Victoria hoping to point out the injustices of his case. In it, he asks the Governor to examine contradictions in McIntyre’s evidence suggesting the governor would at once see the disparity between the two versions, and using the photo Ned hopes to verify that they (the gang) were in a direct line when facing the two police at the camp - proving they did not ambush the returning police.

Photo and sketch, reproduced with the permission of the Keeper of Public Records. Public Record Office Victoria, Australia'. Burman Photo1, citation No, VPRS 4966 Consignment P0 Unit 2 Item 30 Record 1 Document: Photo of Wombat Ranges where troopers were shot.   

In this story we compare the sketch and the photos to reveal where the mix up may have occurred. We create a grid on the Burman photo to accurately construct a birds eye view of the scene based on both photos.   

 McIntyre’s sketch and the Burman photographs compared.  < click here >

 

Story  7     Blue Range, crucial to the Kelly story !

Blue Range as seen when leaving Mansfield on the way to Tolmie and  Stringybark Ck.


It may be that Blue Range played a crucial role as to why the police went to Stringybark creek due to a letter received at police headquarters. This little known fact has been overlooked by many.  

A plausible explanation hinges on the letter and map dated 18^th Oct. 1878, by a writer who asks to remain anonymous. The letter dated just 8 days before the police shoot-out with the Kellys, advised that a cave situated at Blue Range could be occupied by the Kellys.  

To find this cave, the writer gave instructions to draw a straight line on a map between Stringybark Ck on the east and Euroa in the west, and the cave would be found near where the line intersected Blue Range. The above picture of Blue range is the eastern end, and it stretches for miles, although the writer refers to the western end. With this information we now have an idea more than likely, as to where two of the four police party went on that first and fatal day.     

Reproduced with the permission of the Keeper of   Public Records. Public Record Office Victoria,  Australia'. Citation No, VPRS 4969Consignment   P0 Unit 2 Item 72 Record 1 Document: Discovery   of cave near Murchison possible hide-out and   map, Map of Cave .

While the above letter does mention Stringybark Creek, I consider the letter to be a trigger that set off a chain of events for the apprehension of the Kellys.

Mansfield Guardian dated 16 Nov 1878 reported that 'Walter Lynch was with the Kelly party the night before the police were murdered and could give information as to who the unknown men are who are with the Kellys'.(source, ( Sheila Hutchinson)  

With the implication, of Lynch having intimate knowledge of the Kellys' at their Bullock Ck camp hideout, we may wonder whether his former partners Bromfield or Reynolds also held that knowledge?. In search for reasons why the the police decided to camp at Stringybark Ck instead of anywhere else (within the thousands of square miles of the Wombat Ranges), we should ask the question, ' did Percy Bromfield , Willy Reynolds, Walter Lynch, John Martin or a Mr. Tolmie' or any one of those men notify the police of the Kelly's being at Bullock Ck. Then, consider the Blue Range letter being sent only a week before the police set out and in it suggesting the Kellys could be at Blue Range not far from Stringybark Creek.
 
Sergeant. Kennedy (in charge of police station Mansfield) having an optimistic view of quick capture, together with the lure of a very generous reward offered to the police as well as members of the the public, the attempted capture of the wanted Kellys began.

To show how close the two camps were, in the picture below the aircraft wing strut is Stringybark Ck. To the centre right is Kellys Ck and the horizontal ridge through the middle from left to right is Ryan's CK-(away from the viewer). The foot hills of Blue Range can be seen at the very uppermost photo edge and is about 8 km away, an easy distance to cover by mounted police camped at Stringybark Ck. 


Aerial view of both Stringybark and Kellys Creek
This view is looking S. West.

For the full story, Blue Range, read the letter and see the map. < click here >




 
Story 8, The Bullets of Kellys Creek.
 
Including the only known photo of the actual trees fired at by the Kellys during their target practice, ( well before the shootings at Stringybark Ck ) I spotted this remarkable picture detail only very recently, Aug 2003.                             < click here>



Story 9,  The Kelly hut on Bullock Creek.
This looks at the possibility there were two huts at Kellys Ck. One described by Constable James Nov 1878, the other by an unknown reporter of the Melbourne Argus Newspaper 1880.  Another first is a photo found of the Kelly Ck sawmill that was constructed directly over the Kelly hut site in 1930. This picture reveals another target tree that was identified to me by Billy Stewart in 1985, up till Jan 2004 it was lying rotting in the creek. Recently it has been recovered for preservation.   <click here>


Story 10,  The EK marked gun. 
This new page reports on other Kelly related items. The gun was found in a mine shaft at Beechworth 1940's together with three other muzzle loaders and are very old. They were probably part of the Kelly sympathizer armourment and dumped as the EK inscription may have become a liability to the owner. Also New,     
see a picture of the possible Kelly campfire rocks as they were photographed by a Tolmie working party that  visited The Kelly Camp some years later.
                                                             <click here>
 

Story 11, Ned Kelly Centre Glenrowan,
When architect Penleigh Boyd and Bill Denheld decided to design the new proposed Ned Kelly interpretive visitor centre at Glenrowan, they got rather excited. This iconic building to house the NEW Ned Kelly interpretive visitor centre planned to the North East of Victoria is meant to act as a court house, here is all the evidence,  you decide, was he a hero or a villain ? With poor tourist facilities to present the full Kelly story, the new $15 million centre, to be built at the original siege site where the Kelly gang was captured, aims to turn the town into a major attraction that will also showcase the entire districts known as Kelly country.
To view proposal, visit the Nedcentre website          <click here> 

Time line for the Two Huts stories

The two huts stories are itemised in the following time line points.

For the purpose to separate source records = maroon from,
points of conjecture = blue from,
new information and recent discoveries = red please refer to this colour code below. (only applies to this timeline)

Please note, there were two huts at the Stringybark Creek police camp,
and we know of one or maybe two huts at the Bullock Creek (Kellys Ck), Kelly camp.  Un be known to the police troopers, these camps were only 1 mile apart.

Notes
The name Scanlan is often spelt Scanlon. Most official documents have Scanlan including, his grave headstone, monument Mansfield town centre, The Royal Commission of 1881, J.J. Kenneally' s book of 1929 and his records in court cases of the time. Scanlon is recorded on the memorial at the Stringybark Ck reserve, in books, by Ian Jones, Keith McMenomy, Max Brown, Gary Dean and G. Wilson Hall to name a few. In this website I chose Scanlan.

*   According to Public Records Office of Vic (PROV) Burman and Madeley was the company of photographers based on Bourke Street Melbourne.
The Mansfield Guardian dated 28 Nov. 1878 refers to Mr. Burman as selling the photos as advertised ( Sheila Hutchinson’s book, Heritage and History on My Doorstep) 

** Apart from burning down Bromfield’s hut , Walter Lynch was a Kelly sympathizer who had occupied the huts prior to the events there and wrote a threatening letter to a local Mr. Monk who apparently helped the police. Later, Lynch was prosecuted for his threats and served three years in gaol.

Mansfield Guardian dated 16 Nov 1878 reported that 'Walter Lynch was with the Kelly party the night before the police were murdered and could give information as to who the unknown men are who are with the Kellys'.(source, Sheila Hutchinson)  With this implication, of Lynch having intimate knowledge of the Kellys' at their Bullock Ck camp, we may wonder whether his former partners Bromfield and Reynolds also held that knowledge?. 

The doctor who carried out the autopsy on the bodies of the three dead police was Dr Samuel Reynolds whose son William Reynolds was the first member of the prospecting party.  Dr Samuel Reynolds came to Australia for gold prospects and became a miner that also practiced his chosen profession as doctor. It was probably the 'Doctors' knowledge of gold that brought him to try the Wombat Ranges area. He may even have had early experience of the  discovered gold deposit at S/Bark and Bullock Ck. Later he and his family settled in the Mansfield district. (A book, written by the Doctors great grand daughter Joan Gillison, 'Colonial Doctor and his town' makes mention of the doctors son 'Willy' being an excellent bushman who lead the police search party to Stringybark Ck at night the following day after the killings.)  
 

Publications  
                                       
The Ned Kelly Seminar Papers  "Ned Kelly: Man And Myth Revisited”

The proceedings of the seminar held at Beechworth 13th and 14th Nov. 1993 were published by the Council of Adult Education (CAE). It featured eminent writers; Mr. Keith Mc. Menomy, Mr. Ian Jones, The Chief Justice of Victoria, His Honour John H. Phillips, Dr. John McQuilton, Jane Clark, and was edited by Marian Matta.

This publication, is not available through CAE, contact Marian direct,  E-mail  mandpmatta@yahoo.com.au

 
Another publication worth acquiring, is Heritage and   History on My Doorstep. It is an excellent historical look at the districts of the Wombat Ranges, written by local historian Sheila Hutchinson. It covers the history of gold mining and gem fields of the district and reports snippets of interest relating to the ‘Kelly’ connections. Her father, Tim Brond, marked the present day Kelly tree in 1933/4 by inscribing the three policemen’s names. Sheila grew up near Stringybark Creek and has been a valuable source of information and key photographs relating to my story .

Copies of her book are available direct from Sheila.
email joshe@mansfield.net.au  


In 2003 Mansfield Historical Society members  compiled a 20 page publication titled Stringybark Creek and other stories to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the shootings at Stringybark Creek in Oct 1878 .

It profiles the troopers involved in the Stringybark              Creek tragedy and a time line account of events          associated with it as reported in the Mansfield Guardian newspaper at the time. The booklet is available direct;
Mansfield Historical Society Inc. P/O Box 309 Mansfield 3724 Vic Australia.  Cost $ 10 including postage.
Inquires welcome. email  mansfieldhs@iinet.net.au

 

The first Kelly book published, titled
THE KELLY GANG  ‘The Outlaws of the Wombat ranges’
by G. Wilson Hall, the publisher and proprietor of the Mansfield Guardian.
This publication was in print while the gang had been on the run for six months. It is very rare with only three copies known to exist. If you would like a copy, the State library of Victoria have a transcript  they are prepared to photocopy.
Contact  bill@denheldid.com and I will E-mail you the details.

Note, E-mail from Brian McDonald, collector and author of 'Kellyana', a booklet that lists a large number of published works to do with Kelly, makes mention that the above transcript contains quite a few errors and should not be relied upon. As well as many typographical and spelling mistakes, there are two pages missing (seven paragraphs in all) from the preface that give a more detailed explanation as to why G. W. Hall published the work. For any serious research the original rare and extremely detailed publication should be consulted. Thank you Brian. Contact.  brianmac@isp.net.au  for his must have booklet.
     
___________________________________________________________________

Many thanks to

Marian Matta, for locating a copy of the CAE Ned Kelly Seminar Papers 1993, helping with historical facts, and reading through various drafts.
Gary Dean , for his help in finding the fireplaces, for providing historical reports, field survey and excavation at the site.
Keith McMenomy for allowing copies from his book Ned Kelly, The Authentic Illustrated Story.
Ian Jones for providing his excellent insight into Stringybark Ck, contained in the Ned Kelly Seminar Papers of 1993.
Sheila Hutchinson for her book and providing her knowledge and pictures of the Kelly tree, via her friend Charlie Engelke of WA.
Peter Free, of The Police Historical Unit for their permission to show the Burman photos and Constable McIntyre’s sketch.  
James McKinnon, The Keeper of Public records of Victoria ( PROV) for permission to show historical documents in support of my story.  
The State Library of Victoria for extract from Jerilderie letter’ and who, according to PROV is believed to hold some of the images of the Burman photo Kelly series. ?  
David Hurley and Terry Kingston of Parks Victoria in support of activities at the site.
Tim Pollock, Doug Anderson, Geoff Hearn,  for the numerous proof readings and corrections.  
Arthur Francis for his overview and constructive critique.
Carla my wife for her forbearance and patience during this work.
All photos from private and public collections, many thanks.


EK branding iron impression was Edward Kelly's own brand.
 

The writer reserves copyright and none of the text or images may be commercially reproduced    without written permission.  Some personal views expressed are conjecture - based upon    published works and open to feedback to Bill Denheld.   E-mail   feedback@ironicon.com.au 
Oct. 2002

Site created 25.2.03  revised  *15 June 2005 add time line note Heape and Grice
*11 March 2006 - A problem to solve
 

This background image is of the Kelly camp at Bullock Creek photographed by a Tolmie work party prior to 1883. The remains of the Kelly fortified hut.