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Constable Miles O`Grady Print Page 
Monument commemorates Constable Miles O`Grady, who, while suffering from severe illness, attacked five armed bushrangers and lost his life in the encounter.
When Nerrigundah was raided by the Clarke gang in 1866, it was a goldmining town with a population of 1200. Before entering Nerrigundah the gang had held up travellers to and from the town, keeping their victims as prisoners. On April 9th they held up Wallis` Hotel in Nerrigundah, bailed up people passing in the street, and attempted to rob Pollock`s store. They failed in this last task because Mrs Pollock threw the keys into the street. Once notified of the disturbance, the two constables of the station, Troopers Smith and O`Grady, the latter rising from his sickbed with a fever, went to Wallis Hotel.
They fired two shots, killing one of the bushrangers. The policemen withdrew into the street where the other bushrangers, responding to the shots, had arrived. Clarke shot O`Grady who died almost immediately. The Clarke gang then rode out of town to be pursued by a posse of twelve men. An ambush was prepared at the Eucumbene River but the only victim was a pack horse. They were eventually arrested near their favourite hideout, the Jingera Ranges.
CONSTABLE O'GRADY'S MONUMENT, The monument ordered by the Government to be erected at Nerrigundah to the memory of Constable O'Grady, is at length finished, and will be forwarded from the department of the Colonial Architect in a few days. The execution of the design was entrusted to Mr. W. Magill and his task has been accomplished in a manner that reflects credit on his skill, and on the judgment of those who employed him. The length of the monument from the base is thirteen foot six inches. The plinth is nine feet in diameter; on which rise two moulding pedestals, and the column, with a rich ornamental capital -the shamrock being intermingled with the scroll, and the whole terminating with the segment of a ball or globe. The monument will be surrounded by an iron palisade. On the column the inscription, by the Honorable James Martin, is neatly cut.
Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser (NSW), 14 March 1867.
Location
| Address: | Gulph Creek Road, Nerrigundah, 2545 |
|---|---|
| State: | NSW |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -36.116697 Long: 149.899508 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | People |
| Sub-Theme: | Crime |
| Actual Event STart Date: | 09-April-1866 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 09-April-1866 |
| Monument Manufacturer: | Mr W. Magill |
Dedication
| Approx. Monument Dedication Date: | Circa 1867 |
|---|
ERECTED BY THE GOVERNOR
OF NEW SOUTH WALES
IN HONOR OF
CONSTABLE
MILES O`GRADY,
WHO ON THE 9th APRIL, 1866
WHILE SUFFFERING
FROM SEVERE ILLNESS
SINGLE HANDED
ATTACKED
FIVE ARMED BUSHRANGERS
AND LOST HIS LIFE
IN THE ENCOUNTER
THUS
SETTING A NOBLE EXAMPLE
OF
BRAVERY IN THE
DISCHARGE OF PUBLIC DUTY.
