JERILDERIE
#VisitMurrumbidgee
At a glance
By the time the four Kelly Gang members arrived in the NSW Riverina town of Jerilderie on 8 February 1879, the police manhunt for the outlaws had intensified. They had been on the run for several months, wanted for the Stringybark Creek murders and the bank robbery at Euroa.
Around midnight, the Gang surprised the two local policemen, George Devine and Henry Richards, at the Jerilderie station, confining them in the lock up and spent the next three days in the town, robbing and holding hostage 30 patrons of the Royal Mail hotel as well as the Bank of NSW where they stole £2,000.
Ordering the telegraph officer to dismantle his equipment, they also destroyed the poles to prevent word of their arrival in Jerilderie being communicated to the wider world.
Ned Kelly had also planned to force the local newspaper editor, Samuel Gill, to publish what is now known as “The Jerilderie Letter” at the office of the Jerilderie & Urana Gazette. This was account of his actions. Unable to find Gill, he instructed bank teller, Edward Living, to have it published instead. Living handed it over to police and only excerpts of the now famous Jerilderie Letter were published during Kelly’s lifetime and not in full until 1930.
Visit Jerilderie & surrounds
On the banks of Australia’s longest creek, Billabong Creek, Jerilderie was home to the First Nations Jeithi people. Jerilderie is the English translation of the language word ‘djrridhuray’ meaning reedy place. It is also the start of the 644 km Kidman Way linking the western Riverina with north western outback NSW.
Aside from the Kelly Gang’s raid on the town, Jerilderie was also the childhood home of Sir John Monash, head of Australia’s armed forces in WW1 whose image can now be seen on the $100 note.
Jerilderie has plenty of accommodation and food choices, creek as well as lakeside walks and places to catch a fish. Spend some time soaking up the history of this laid back place on the Ned Kelly Raid Trail exploring 16 significant sites around the town. Head to the Jerilderie Library to view The Bolt exhibition about Australian bushrangers and featuring replica armour worn at the siege at Glenrowan.
Coming soon! A brand new 360 degree virtual tour of Jerilderie’s Kelly historical sites not currently open to the public.
Historic Sites
Visit six of the original buildings dating from the Kelly Gang raid still intact in Jerilderie:
- Post and Telegraph Office
- Samuel Rea’s Blacksmith Shop
- Police Stables
- Printing office of the Jerilderie and Urana Gazette and residence of Samuel Gill, Editor & Proprietor
- Royal Mail Hotel
- Jerilderie Courthouse
Getting to Jerilderie
Jerilderie is 330 km, about 3 hours 50 minutes from Melbourne via M31 Hume Fwy & A39 Newell Hwy.
Visitor Information
Visitor Information Centre: Sticky Fingers Candy Shop, 63 Jerilderie Street (telephone 0448 878597)
Visitor Information Centre: Murrumbidgee Council (telephone: 03 5886 1200)
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