On this day in 1862 Australia's largest ever gold robbery was carried out. Bushranger Frank Gardiner, along with Ben Hall robbed the Gold Escort from the Lachlan at Eugowra Rock, near Forbes. Approximately 2,700 ounces of gold was taken, of which almost half was recovered by the Mounted Police. Gardiner disappeared from NSW and was eventually arrested in Rockhampton, Queensland. He served ten years of a thirty year sentence before leaving Australia for California.
Bushranger Ben Hall was shot dead on 5 May 1865. Ben Hall was also known variously as Bold Ben Hall, Brave Ben Hall and the Gentleman Bushranger. Between 1863 and 1865 there were over 100 robberies attributed to him and his gang. Ben was ambushed and shot by Police. He was buried in the Forbes cemetery.
Source: NSW State archives collection
