Faithfull's Creek (2)

One of the original squatting runs in the Kelly Country

Nearest towns

Euroa

The stations was also known as the Gooram Gooram Gong Wool Station (Argus20/2/1923)

History at Faithfulls Creek before the KellyGang

First settled by overlanders George and Willian Pitt Faithfull from Goulburn in New South Wales in about 1837.

Faithfulls Creek is north of Euroa. 11,000 acres.William Faithfull was born in England and died at Richmond NSW, Private in NSW Corps, first person in the colony to appeal against a magistrate's decision. His sons William Pitt Faithfull was born at Richmond in 1806 and died at Goulburn in 1896, and George Faithfull was also born at Richmond, died at Wangaratta in 1855. He was the first settler in Wangaratta.

Later it was owned by Thomas Turnbull in the 1850s

In 1876 the license was owned by Issac Younghusband and Andrew Lyle, ? acres, £80 half year license fee.

Did Younghusband have a rate problem (Ensign22/1/1875)

At the time of the KellyGang it was owned by Younghusband and Lyle. The homestead was 150 yards east of the railway line and 1/4 of a mile from the main road between Albury and Melbourne, 3 3/4 miles from Euroa by rail. It was made of brick with a slate roof. The creek ran near by the homestead

Map

Photograph The original aboriginal owners

The first selectors

The Gall and McKenny families at Balmattum

Original neighbouring properties

North

Honey Suckle

South

Springs

West

Seven Creeks

What was Faithfulls Creek like in the late 1870's

James Howard sheppard (Argus13/9/83)

Balmattum well established by 1876

Description of the homestead (Argus12/12/78)

Postal route between Balmattum and Euroa

Links to the KellyGang

see (Argus12/12/78) (Argus13/11/78) (Argus13/12/78) See also (Argus10/1/82) (Herald8/8/1880)

On 8/12/1878 the KellyGang turned up to see the manger Mr Macauley but he was out. They then saw P Chivers, George Gardiner and Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald. Soon after the conversation between Ned Kelly and Mrs Fitzgerald station hands came up to the homestead for their dinner

John Carson was at the stables. (Age10/8/1880) George Stephens was the groom.

Joe Byrne took up position outside and Dan Kelly looked after the KellyGang's horses. Ned Kelly and Steve Hart made prisoners of the station workers as they arrived at the homestead. Mr Fitzgerald and the others were taken into a detached store room building. The women on the station were not interfered with by the KellyGang and they made sure that they did no harm to any one. Ned questioned each person in a very quiet manner and he assured them that they had nothing to fear as long as they did not interfere.

About 5pm Mr Macauley, the station manager came in from an out station. As others on the station rode up at the end of the day they were captured by the KellyGang.

At about this time James Gloster, the hawker arrived at the station with his cart. He had a run in with the KellyGang and they took revenge in the form of a full set of new clothes. The KellyGang then went to sleep and the prisoners were guarded by friends. (SMH12/12/78) (Argus10/8/80)

See also Becroft. (Argus10/8/80)

During the morning of the next day Joe Byrne found 4 plate layers on the railway line and added them to the captives. About 1pm Casement, Dudley, Tennant and McDougall were captured by the KellyGang.

Soon after this at about 5pm the telegraph line repairer, Watt, who had been sent to check the telegraph line alighted from a train from Viotel Town and he was made captive by the KellyGang by Joe Byrne. (Argus13/11/78) (RC2129)

Ned Kelly asked Mr McCauley for a cheque. McCauley refused by Ned eventually found a cheque which he could use to gain entry to the bank in Euroa. The KellyGang then locked up all their captives and left Joe Byrne to look after them. The remainder of the gang headed off to Euroa with Ned Kelly driving Casement's spring cart and Dan Kelly driving Gloster's hawker's wagon.

At about 9pm Ned and Dan Kelly and Steve Hart returned after the Euroa robbery with Mr Scott and his family and the bank staff (12 additional people in all)

Soon after they arrived KellyGang had the ladies locked in the homestead and all the rest except Mr McCauley locked in the out buildings. Ned Kelly then told Mr McCauley that he should wait for at least 3 hours before he let the people out or sort any assistance. Of course there were sympathizers amongst the captives.

Was James Wallace here?

Next morning the police arrived from Benalla.

Ass Com Nicolson came down in a later train with Mr Wyatt. When the train reached Faithfull's Creek it pulled and left Nicolson there to join the police party. (RC537)

See also (Argus13/12/78)(Argus31/12/78)(FH) (CHC) [[[The Complete Inner History of the KellyGang and their Pursuers (25)|JJK]])

McKenny of Balmattum was arrested as a sympathiser (Argus6/1/79)

Rivers Creeks and Hills near Faithfulls Creek

Faithfulls Creek

What is happening at Faithfulls Creek today

7-dec-11