Ben HallPrint Page 
The wall and mural commemorate the birth of bushranger Ben Hall (1837 - 1865).
Ben Hall had a short bushranging career of three years from 1862 to 1865 and died young at the age of only twenty-eight in a shoot-out with police at Billabong Creek near Forbes, New South Wales. By 1863 he was regularly `sticking up` travelers mail coaches on the roads between Bathurst, Young and Yass with his gang, which included John Dunn and Johnny Gilbert.
Their exploits included occupying the town of Canowindra for three days, holding a police magistrate for ransom, serial robberies of all the stores and inns along Vale Road, and shoot outs with police during which Hall was wounded at least once, and both police and gang members were killed. Acting on a tipoff from an informer, on the morning of 5 May 1865, Ben Hall died in a hail of bullets. Ben Hall was buried in Forbes Cemetery on Sunday 7 May 1865.
Location
| Address: | Kamilaroi Highway, Rest Area , Breeza, 2381 |
|---|---|
| State: | NSW |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -31.245656 Long: 150.460999 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | People |
| Sub-Theme: | Crime |
| Artist: | Bronwyn Bassett (artist) |
Dedication
Ben Hall`s Wall
"Ben Hall was born at Breeza, in eighteen thirty seven
An honest lad, who earned his keep when barely aged eleven.
He grew into a strong-willed man who owned a cattle run.
He shared his life with a pretty wife and a precious baby son.
Then suddenly in sixty two there came the fateful day
When troopers stormed his peaceful camp and took Ben Hall away.
In Orange he was falsely charged with highway robbery.
A month in jail.... till truth prevailed and justice set him free.
Relief turned into bitter grief when coming home he found
His wife had gone.... they took his son...
The cattle dead.... all 'round....
Down on his knees he clenched his fists and crying beat his chest:
"They said I was a bushranger.....I'll be one! And the best!"
Who roamed the roads for three long years ?
Who gathered wealth and fame ?
Who robbed, but never killed a man?
Ben Hall ! That was his name !
A thousand pounds was on his head !
And claimed.. by his best mate.
In Forbes the troopers shot him dead....
He just turned twenty eight.
His riddled body on parade
The traps in triumph led !
A silent crowd dispersed to find
The Judas-friend had fled.
Oh travellers who came to view the story on this wall
A child of wild colonial days: was Breeza boy, Ben Hall"
