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Escort Rock Gold RobberyPrint Page Print this page

24-March-2015
24-March-2015

Photographs supplied by Chris McLaughlin

The monument commemorates holdup at the site where Frank Gardiner`s bushranging gang undertook Australia`s largest gold robbery. It consists of a plaque mounted on a boulder and an information sign. The plaque has replaced the original marble plaque which was placed at the site in 1962 during a re-enactment of the event to celebrate the centenary. 

On June 15, 1862, Australia’s biggest and most infamous gold robbery took place just outside Eugowra when Frank Gardiner’s gang ambushed the Forbes-Orange Cobb & Co coach. The bushrangers stole 82.5kg of gold and $7400 in cash. Only a small amount of the total haul worth $28,000 was recovered. Gardiner was never brought to trial for the robbery and subsequently died of natural causes in California in 1883.

Location

Address:The Escort Way, Escort Rock, 4 kilometres north-east of Eugowra, Eugowra, 2806
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -33.402351
Long: 148.409581
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:Culture
Sub-Theme:Crime
Actual Event Start Date:15-June-1862
Actual Event End Date:15-June-1862

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:1962
Front Inscription

232 yds. east from this point is "Escort Rock" when the gold escort from Forbes was robbed by Frank Gardiner`s gang (which included notorious Ben Hall) on 15th June 1862.

The road was blocked with 2 bullock teams, the drivers forced to lie face downwards, the gang then ambushed the armed  escort & robbed the coach of 2,719 ozs. gold & £3,700 in cash.

Erected 1962 - by citizens of Eugowra

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