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Police Sergeant Michael Kennedy, Mounted Constables Thomas Lonigan & Michael Scanlan Print Page Print this page

30-April-2022 (Fiona Morrison)
30-April-2022 (Fiona Morrison)

Photographs supplied by Kent Watson / Graeme Saunders / Fiona Morrison

The monument commemorates three local policemen; Police Sergeant Michael Kennedy, and Mounted Constables Thomas Lonigan and Michael Scanlan who lost their lives in a skirmish with the Kelly Gang at Stringybark Creek.

Ned Kelly, his brother Dan Kelly, Steve Hart and Joseph Byrne had been hiding from police in the forested Wombat Ranges, near Mansfield, for some months, and carryingout sluicing operations in the Stringybark Creek. Policemen were sent from Mansfield to apprehend the gang, but in the shootout that took place at Stringybark Creek on Saturday, 26 October 1878, three of the four policemen were killed. Trooper Thomas McIntyre was the only policeman to survive.

The event stunned the community and triggered great fear of bushrangers in the district. In response, the government passed the Felons Apprehension Bill, which gave civilians the right to shoot members of the Kelly gang on sight. The Victorian Government provided tombstones for each of the policemen`s graves in the Mansfield Cemetery. The memorial is a tall ornate monument in marble and granite erected at the cost of over £800, and unveiled by the Chief Commissioner of Police, Captain Standish.

Location

Address:High & Highett Streets, Roundabout, Mansfield, 3722
State:VIC
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -37.052134
Long: 146.088141
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Crime
Actual Event Start Date:26-October-1878
Actual Event End Date:26-October-1878
Monument Manufacturer:Hanson & Company

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Thursday 22nd April, 1880
Front Inscription

      A.D. 1880.

   To the Memory 
        of the
THREE BRAVE MEN
Who Lost Their Lives
While Endeavouring
To Capture A Band Of
Armed Criminals
In The Wombat Ranges 
NEAR MANSFIELD, 
26th October. 1878


Plaque :

SERGEANT MICHAEL KENNEDY
Entered the Victorian Police Force
       19th August, 1864.

Left Side Inscription

Mounted Constable 
MICHAEL SCANLAN,
Entered The Victorian Police Force 
22nd December, 1865

Back Inscription

       In Memoriam.
  MICHAEL KENNEDY,
Born At Westmeath, Ireland,
    Aged 36 Years.
THOMAS LONIGAN,
Born At Sligo, Ireland,
Aged 34 Years.
MICHAEL SCANLAN
Born At Kerry, Ireland,
Aged 25 Years.

      THIS MONUMENT 
Is Erected By Subscription, From The Inhabitants
Of Victoria And New South Wales.
            A.D. 1880.

Plaque:

Three Victoria Police Members Were Murdered
At Stringybark Creek Near Mansfield,
On The 26th Day Of October 1878
By A Group Of Men Who Came To Be
Known As The `Kelly Gang`.  

The Memorial Above Was Erected In 1880
To Honour The Slain Police.  

Sergeant Michael Kennedy, 
Constable Michael Scanlon
And Constable Thomas Lonigan
Are Buried In The Mansfield Cemetery.

Right Side Inscription

          Mounted Constable 
          THOMAS LONIGAN
Entered the Victorian Police Force 
             4th July, 1874

Source: MA,RUMV,VMR
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au