Went for a drive and an explore out to Singleton today. Watched a couple of trains pass by as we searched for a geocache in a cemetery (conveniently located on Cemetery Lane just off the New England Hwy).
Learnt some info about Joe Governor who was apparently the last bush ranger is Australia. He and his brother Jimmy were greatly feared in the district and much of northern NSW. From an Aboriginal family the boys grew up working for their father as horse breakers and cattlemen along the Paterson River and Allynbrook.
Jimmy ended up marrying a white girl by the name of Ethel Page who was 16 at the time. Eventually they hit trouble as an interracial marriage was considered taboo at the time. The family that Jimmy and Ethel worked for would mistreat them, subjecting them to racial slurs and abuse. Jimmy confronted the family (the Mawbey’s) on the night of 20 July 1900 and the families teacher Ellen, over this matter and things escalated to where Jimmy punched Ms Mawbey in the jaw over her predujice on their marriage.
Ms Mawbey died 3 days later due to injuries sustained by Jimmy’s forceful blow. The teacher, Ellen and Ms Mawbey’s 2 girls Grace and Hilda tried to flee through a window but they were too slow as Jimmy caught up with them and beat them to death with a nullah (a kind of club). Jimmy also caught and seriously wounded Ms Mawbey’s son, Percy who also later died due to injuries inflicted by Jimmy.
Jimmy had managed to kill 5 people in his short spree of violence on the Mawbey family and teacher Ellen. This became known as the Breelong Massacre and so began the manhunt for this violent and dangerous man and his brother Joe.
Jimmy and his brother Joe managed to evade capture for 2 months sparking the largest manhunt in Australia’s history to that point. The search involved around 2000 civilians and police and extended for 3000 kilometres.
Over the next 2 months the brothers went on a crime spree to avenge any wrong doing by any who had mistreated them. They committed more than 80 crimes including the rape of a 15 year old girl in Cobark Creek. Targeting mainly people who he had worked for, Jimmy made his way along the Goulburn River. Most of his targets had been warned of his intentions and had fled their homesteads.
News of this crime spree travelled far and wide in NSW stopping trade, closing schools and ceasing people from travelling through this region unless absolutely necessary.
The brothers raided properties for supplies and money all the while leaving notes and sending letters for the authorities to show the incompetence of the police. A reward was established for 200 pounds but quickly increased to 1000 pounds as their crime spree grew in terror and violence.
Luck eventually ran out for the brothers when they were confronted by some vigilantes in Forbes River where a shootout resulted in Jimmy being shot in the mouth. Loosing some teeth and a lot of blood the brothers fled leaving a gruesome trail for the pursuants to follow. On the run, they eventually had to separate as they came to a river. Jimmy now alone and injured, his capture seemingly inevitable attempted to evade capture but after a short chase was apprehended by members of the Moore family of Allyn district.
Joe Governor survived until the morning of 31 October 1900 where asleep in his camp hidden away deep in a gorge at Glen Rock, a local grazier investigates some smoke from a campfire. They found Joe asleep and opened fire. He tried to escape but was too slow and a bullet struck his head at close range killing him instantly.
Jimmy was bought to trial and later hanged for his crimes in Darlinghurst goal on 18 January 1901. Joe is forbidden to be buried inside the Anglican cemetery and so resides 1 meter on the outside of the cemetery. Commemorated by the stone and plaque.
