Around 240 people crammed into the club’s auditorium for the official launch of local author, Peter Smith’s new book, ‘The CLARKE GANG, Outlawed, Outcast and Forgotten’, which was held on Saturday 23rd May, at 2.30pm at the Braidwood Servicemen's Club.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The publication has involved the author collecting and writing for over 40 years. The book consists of 664 pages and includes over 100 photographs, many of which are being published for the first time, documenting the lives and times of Thomas and John Clarke and the events that led to the worst outbreak in bushranging history leading to the setting up, in Braidwood, of the first Royal Commission in New South Wales in January 1867. The Commission followed the murder of four special police at Jinden after which police appeared powerless to bring the culprits to justice.
Among the room of many descendants of the Clarke’s and other early Braidwood district families was Sergeant Paul Batista from the NSW Police Monaro Command.
The Clarkes were arguably the most troublesome bushrangers of all time, but unlike Ned Kelly, Ben Hall and Thunderbolt they have been all but forgotten. The book shines a light on some interesting theories on why that is the case.
The book is available at the Braidwood Museum or can be ordered through the publisher at www.rosenbergpub.com.au. The retail price is $49.95
