The Gardiner–Hall Gang was an informal group of bushrangers who roamed the central west of New South Wales, Australia in the 1860s. Named after leaders Frank Gardiner and Ben Hall, the gang was responsible for the largest gold robbery in Australia’s history at Eugowra Rocks. The gang had its origins in 1861; its demise came with the execution of John Dunn in 1866.
Known members and fate
John Bow: Sentenced to death, later commuted to fifteen years in prison
Michael Burke: Shot himself dead after receiving a mortal stomach wound
Dan Charters: Caught, testified against the gang
John Connors: one of the "Three Jacks" Larry Cummins: Sentenced to fifteen years in prison Patrick Daley: Sentenced to fifteen years in prison, served ten, and later became a prominent and wealthy resident of Wrightville. John Davis, one of the "Three Jacks": Sentenced to 15 years in prison James Dunleavy: Gaoled in April 1865 after being sentenced to fifteen years’ imprisonment with hard labour at the Bathurst Circuit Court for armed robbery (six separate charges); died of consumption in October 1868 (aged 24 years) at Darlinghurst Gaol. John Dunn: Hanged Francis Foley (younger brother of notorious bushranger, John Foley): Sentenced to ten years in prison Alexander Fordyce: Sentenced to death, later commuted to fifteen years in prison Frank Gardiner: Sentenced to 32 years in prison (served 10 years and then exiled from Australia) John Gilbert: Shot dead by police Ben Hall: Shot dead by police Fred Lowry: Shot dead Henry Manns: Hanged John McGuiness: one of the "Three Jacks"; shot dead (probably by Gardiner for leaving Davis alone to fight police) James Mount ('Old Man'), alias Gordon: charged in November 1864 at Forbes with armed robbery of Pearce and Hilliard's store at Canowindra in June 1864 in company with Ben Hall and one other; sentenced to twenty five years in prison. John O’Meally: Shot dead John Peisley: Tried for the murder of William Benyon; convicted and executed in April 1862. John Vane: Sentenced to fifteen years in prison, paroled after six years William Woodhart: ran with Lowry and Gardiner, after escaping with Lowry from Bathurst Gaol on 13 February 1863; captured at Braidwood in May 1863, sentenced to three years (on top of a previous five years sentence for horse stealing). John Youngman: Skipped bail and disappeared.
Gang activities
Frank Gardiner was granted a ticket of leave in December 1859 on the condition of staying in the Carcoar district, and he soon joined up with John Peisley. Johnny Gilbert joined them soon afterwards, and the gang started stealing cattle and horses. Gardiner's ticket of leave was revoked when a warrant for his arrest for cattle stealing was issued.
Gardiner had a partnership with William Fogg in a butcher shop at Spring Creek. Gardiner supplied Fogg with stolen cattle, and Fogg would slaughter the cattle and sell the meat.
1861
May: Gardiner, Peisley and Gilbert robbed mail in Cowra. 16 July: Sgt. John Middleton and Constable William Hosie went to Fogg's house in search of Gardiner. He was briefly captured after a gunfight, but he was rescued by Peisley and John Gilbert, who ambushed the police on their return to town. 28 December: Peisley shot William Benyon, an innkeeper at Bigga, who died seven days later.
1862
12 January: Peisley was captured and committed for trial by the Carcoar bench for murdering Benyon. Within two months he was convicted and hanged at Bathurst. January: "The Three Jacks" – Davis, McGuinness, and Connors – committed their first robberies with Gardiner. 10 April: Davis was wounded four times by police near Lambing Flat. His companions, the other two Jacks, escaped. 13 April: McGuiness was found dead near where Davis was captured; he had been shot. 14 April: Gardiner, Hall, Youngman, and Gilbert robbed dray near Forbes. In 1862, John Gilbert was first named as an accomplice of Gardiner when they and two others held up a storekeeper. Just over a month later, John Gilbert was involved in another robbery, this time with Gardiner and Ben Hall. From then on John Gilbert was identified as being involved in several hold-ups between Lambing Flat and Lachlan. 25 April: Peisley was hanged in Bathurst.
15 June: Frank Gardiner enlisted the assistance of John Gilbert, Ben Hall, John O'Meally, Dan Charters, Henry Manns, Alexander Fordyce, and Johnny Bow to rob the Forbes gold escort, at a place called Eugowra Rocks, of banknotes and 2700 ounces of gold worth more than £14,000. 27 July: Hall and several others were arrested. Charters turned Queen's evidence but failed to name Hall or O'Meally. 23 August: Hall was released. Gardiner left the district and moved to Queensland.