The Hatfield Bushrangers had a short career as highwaymen, rampaging across the Balranald, Hayfield and Ivanhoe districts for just four days in 1879 before being captured.The members of the gang were 21-year-old Thomas Gorman, a jockey and colt-breaker who was described in newspaper reports as being “determined looking man, hook nose, grey eyes, thin lips, spare whiskers, no moustache.”The description of Charles Jones, a stockman from Queensland was similarly blunt. “Short, thick set, bullet headed, dark hair cropped short, and slight moustache, about 21 years, and a determined customer, with a great amount of bravado.”The youngest of the fledgling gang was 19-year-old William Kaye, also a stockman from the area, who was described as “tall, slop built, fair complexion, no whiskers.”Perhaps the most uncomplimentary description was saved for the fourth member, William Hobbs, a cook from the Hatfield Hotel.“This accused is about 33 years, of stunted growth, and slight personal physique. He was formerly a sailor, and has his right arm de-formed, bowed inwards, as also his right leg. He, however, seems to have much worldly experience, combined with some mental capacity, and can so well supposed to have been not the least useful of his party, in spite of his inability to ride well.”In the weeks prior to their four men starting out as bushrangers, three of the gang had been running in wild horses from Tyson’s Juanbung Run into the Hatfield paddocks for themselves. In the process they “sweated two of Mr Grainger’s horses, badly breaking down a valuable mare.” This was apparently the cause of some “ill feeling and hard words”, which came to a head on a Friday afternoon in February 179Mr Grainger and his storeman, Day, were set upon by the gang with their fists, but defended themselves so the gang retreated into the Hatfield Hotel, pelting Grainger and Day with bottles and sardine tins as they fled. Mr Day jumped on a horse to head to Balranad for help but was held up by Gorman and Hobbs, each armed with a revolver. They ordered him to dismount but instead Day spurred on his horse, as Gorman took aim. Fortunately, the revolver misfired, but he was next confronted by the rifles of Jones and Kaye at the front of the hotel. Day again ignored their orders to dismount, but an insences Gorman appeared, snatched the rifle from Jones and fired twice at Day as he fled. The last bullet struck the horseman.It was about 6pm on Friday February 21, 1879 and the gang held up Mr Grainger, a neighbour named Hartshorn, the district bailiff, Hartwell, and his son. Unarmed, they were forced to comply, and watched on as the gang rifled through the cash box. Because banking had occurred the day before, the tin held only £2 and a cheque for £30. Grainger quietly let the cheque fall behind the counter unseen by any of the gang.After taking all they wanted from the store, the gang went to the dwelling house, taking Grainger with them, and demanded of Mrs Grainger a valuable revolver known to belong to Day. Finding no cartridges, they left it behind them, but helped themselves to news clothes, after trying on various shirts and pantaloons to find the ones that fit best. They then marched Grainger and the rest down to the public house, and made him shout drinks everyone, and covering the hostages with their revolvers.Bizarrely the gang taunted Mr Grainger, as reported by the Deniliquin Chronicle, and published in the Melbourne Argus.“Jones produced a tin whistle, which he plays well, and required Mr. Grainger (a very corpulent gentleman) to dance a hornpipe. The serio-comic appearance of the perspiring dancer, coupled with the grotesque appearance of the crippled sailor Hobbs, as he mounted guard with a loaded revolver in his gammy hand and a glass of shandygaff in the other, caused roars of laughter from the rest, even in this unpleasant predicament.”The gang left 10 pm, taking two of Hartwell’s horses and three. Gorman told Grainger that if he went to Balranald within four days he would blow his brains out.The following morning, having assumed the name of the Kelly Gang, they stuck up Freadman the hawker, at the Government tank a short distance from Till Till station. They bailed up a total of 14 men working at the tank, but robbed only the unfortunate hawker, taking £40 in money from a him and two valuable rings straight off his fingers. After they ransacked his cart, they headed off to rob Till Till Station.They first appeared at the men’s hut, and called the cook out saying they were the Kellys. Calm under pressure the cook replied if they were, they had better come in and have something to eat, but the gang declined. They rounded up the 20 or son men and herded them to the homestead.Mr Crombie, the manager, and the overseers were absent, in town, or out on the run, leaving Mrs Crombie and the servants home alone to face the novice bushrangersMrs Crombie was assured by Gorman that if all the cash and the firearms were delivered up, no onewould be “molested ‘. He ordered the store to be opened, and they took rations and ammunition.They then ordered one of the men to bring in certain horses which they knew by name. Only one of those named - a fine black horse – was in the paddock, so they had to content themselves with three inferior ones. Kaye had previously worked on the station, and knew the best horses. They left all the horses taken from Hatfield, and proceeded in the direction of Magenta station.They next appeared in a totally different quarter, at the Victoria Hotel, about six miles from Clare station. The gang told the proprietor, Mr J Nolan, that they had stuck up Hatfield and Till Till, and that they were going to Queensland. They enjoyed a cool drink, paying their tab before they left.That same Saturday evening they reached Prentices well-known Clare Hotel, and joined in a dance that was being held there. The four men very well known to Prentice, but not as bushrangers, and the news of them sticking up at Hatfield and Till Till had not reached Clare.Gorman was dancing when his partner noticed something hard in his breast pocket and asked what it was. Gorman reported said “You’ll know in a day or so.”After a couple of hours drinking and socialising they left, once again stating they were headed to Queensland.They rode about 12 miles further, to a boundary riders hut, where they spent the night, hobbling their horses in a small horse paddock, not once considering thee Police were hot on their heels.  It is a significantThe gang unhurriedly left this hut the next morning after breakfast, going in the direction of Killera station, but separated in thick lignum in the Willandra Creek, not four miles from Kilfera.Gorman and Hobbs set up camp in the scrub, while Jones and Kaye rode up to the station, where they purchased some rations, and told Mr Rigg the storekeeper, they were travelling to Queensland with a mob of 8O bulls. They made other inquiries as to when the mail left Kilfera and were informed that it left in about 21 hours time. Armed with this information, they left Kilfera, no doubt with plans to rob the valuable Ivanhoe mail when it passed through, and then flee for the Queensland border.In the background, and unbeknownst to the gang, Moulamein police, who were on duty at Balranald when the information was received on Sunday morning, were about to appear. First-class Constable Beresford, Constable Power, and Special Constable Day, had started out on Sunday morning and managed to overtake the bushrangers, after riding 180 miles, from 9am on Sunday till 7pm, on Monday. Assisted by Aboriginal trackers from Clare, and ran their tracks to the Kilfera Station. Mr. Casey, J.P., manager of the Kilfera Station, supplied them with his best horses, and started with the police to Four-mile Down where the gang was camped.Blithely unaware the four men were preparing supper near two small trees, on the Cape Lignum scrub. When approached the bushrangers ordered the police to bail up, and the troopers answered by calling on them to surrender in the Queen's name. The gang fired twice wildly at the police without effect.The police promptly returned the fire, when Constable Power's horse, being unaccustomed to firing, broke away. Power, however, quickly mounted Mr. Casey's horse, and rejoining the troopers, again covered the bushrangers, who were by now trying to escape.Several shots were then exchanged, and Power was shot through the right shoulder. The police surrounded the gang, and all the bushrangers threw up their arms and surrendered.Their bushranging career has lasted just four days.The Hatfield Bushranger captors - Constables Beresford and Power and Mr Day. Image: From the original edition of the Australasian Sketcher.The gang of four was transported by Police and in April appeared in Deniliquin court before His Honor Sir William Manning.Hobbs made a statement that he had been a sailor for nineteen years, and was “unfortunate.” He once narrowly escaped being burnt to death on a ship and on another occasion fell from the topgallant mast. He told the court he thought it would have been better if “the Lord had taken him then than that he should come to the gallows.”His Honour said it was sad to see prisoners in such a position, especially with three being “so youthful” but said they had chosen bad careers. “Happily, by the mercy of God, they were spared the horrid crime of murder. I have but one duty to perform, which was to sentence you all to death.”The sentences of the men were commuted by the Executive Council. They served long terms of imprisonment, some of which was spent in painful irons.  Thomas Gorman received a commuted sentence of 21 years imprisonment, the first three in irons. William Hobbs and Charles Jones were sentenced to 14 years apiece, with the first three to be served in irons. Willaim Kaye received a sentence of 10 years.A news report describes the gang of four as they left Goulburn on a train, bound for Berrima Gaol.“The Hatfield bushrangers left here today, on their way to Berrima Gaol. They sat smoking unconcernedly in the train-, and cheered as the train left the platform.”The novice bushrangers spent the first nine months of their incarceration in solitary confinement.1840 image of the cells at Berrima Gaol. Image: Australian Migration Centre

Organisers of the world's most remote music festival, the Big Red Bash, have announced the festival will not be held in 2026.Held outside the village of Birsdville in Queensland's own back country, the Big Red Bash was first held in 2013.My husband, Jason Gee and I travelled to the Big Red Bash in 2021."The Birdsville Big Red Bash will be taking a breather in 2025," organisers posted on social media."After running non-stop since 2013 (with a covid break in 2020), our team is ready for a reset and recharge.As the most remote music festival in the world, building our mini desert city from scratch each year is a massive undertaking. After 11 massive years, it’s time for a well-deserved break - think of it like a gap year after 12 years of school! Just like Glastonbury’s 'Fallow Year', we’re taking a pause to come back even stronger."The post went on to recognise the impact the festival has on inland tourism each year, when around 10,000 descend on the corner of the wide Australian outback."We know this might be a letdown for those planning to attend in 2025 and for businesses in Outback Queensland that benefit from the event. That’s why we wanted to give you plenty of notice."Organisers then released the dates for the 2026 festival - 7th to 9th of July."The Birdsville Big Red Bash will be back, refreshed, and ready to 'Rock the Simpson' once again."The sister festival, the Mundi Mundi Bash held near Silverton in NSW since 2021, will be held unchanged."If you’re looking for a Bash fix next year, check out the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash from 21-23 August 2025 at Belmont Station. The line-up drops mid-October, and tickets will be available at the end of the month. We’re keeping the numbers fairly steady to ensure a great experience for everyone!"Thanks for all your incredible support. We’ll miss you in 2025 but can’t wait to see you in 2026! Rock on!"

In northwest New South Wales, the small town of White Cliffs has a big history as Australia’s first commercial opal field. Add it to your next outback NSW road-trip itinerary to discover its fascinating mining history, spend a night in an underground hotel, and more. Staking a claim The remote outback NSW town of White Cliffs is a 12-hour drive northwest of Sydney, or a 2.5-hour drive from the regional hub of Broken Hill. It was founded in the late 1880s after a couple of stock hands found colourful rocks and sent them off to Adelaide to be analysed. Those sparkling rocks turned out to be opals — the first commercial seam opals to be discovered. As well as flat opal stones, White Cliffs produces the highly sought-after double pseudomorph opals, commonly known as ‘pineapple opals’ because of their distinctive spiky shape. To get a sense of opal mining, visit Red Earth Opal, the world’s only company mining and dealing in pineapple opals. Take a tour with owner Graeme Dowton, who’ll tell you all about the town’s mining history, demonstrate mining equipment and give you the chance to try it yourself. If you don’t have any luck, you can buy gems from the Red Earth Opal’s shop, which doubles as a gallery and coffee house. Under the Mining Act of 1992, anyone can fossick on the White Cliffs Reserve and no licence is required; however, many miners have registered claims that should be respected. Going underground Today, the White Cliffs landscape is littered with around 50,000 disused diggings, which gives the town its lunar landscape. Many of these ‘dugouts’ have been converted into comfortable homes that provide respite from the high temperatures above ground. The White House, an architecturally designed dugout and the home of a local couple, offers tours each day at 11am and 2pm — look for the sign 150m back from Red Earth Opal.  Exploring above ground Although only around 150 people live in White Cliffs today, plenty of heritage relics remain. The original post office is still in use, the old church and butcher shop are still standing, and the former police station has been converted into a private residence. The White Cliffs Hotel has hosted guests since 1893; come for a good pub meal or stay overnight.Staying cool If you want to live like the locals for a night or two, book in at the White Cliffs Underground Motel. Dug into Poor Man’s Hill — so named due to the lack of opal — the motel opened in 1989 and has gradually expanded to the size of a football field underground, with 30 rooms under the earth and two above. The hotel’s facilities, including bathrooms, are shared. Within the complex you’ll find a games room, a history and culture centre, an art gallery and shop, a bar, restaurant and café. You can also have a dip in the pool and take in the views of the surrounding landscape, and imagine the inland sea that once existed here. Story and images: Destination NSW

The ancient landscape of Mutawintji National Park, north east of Broken Hill, is rich in Aboriginal history. Explore bushwalks and camp under the outback night sky.Visiting Mutawintji National Park in the NSW outback is a uniquely Australian experience. You'll find a ruggedly beautiful desert region showing evidence of continuous use by Aboriginal people for thousands of years.Dominated by the Bynguano Ranges, whose vibrant red colour dramatically captures changes in the light, this outback park is home to the famous hand stencil art of local Aboriginal communities as well as many other important cultural and historic sites.Stop to gather information from Mutawintji Visitor Centre, then explore the area further. You can book a night at Homestead Creek campground and then choose from easy walking tracks like Thaaklatjika Mingkana walking track, or more challenging options like Rockholes Loop walking track or Mutawintji Gorge walking track.Don't forget to book guided tour and visit Mutawintji Historic Site while you're in the area. It boasts one of the best collections of Aboriginal art in New South Wales.There are lots of things to explore in Mutawintji National Park however it is also a very remote outback park. To pick up some more information about the park and ensure that you are well prepared for your visit please drop by the park’s visitor centre. You can also stop here for a picnic or barbecue and to fill up your water bottles before heading out onto your park adventure.Bynguano Range walking trackBreathtaking in more ways than one, this scenic walk will challenge the most hardy of bushwalkers. Bynguano Range walking track branches off the Homestead Gorge walking track and crosses over the rocky ridge of the Bynguano Range to the west of the Mutawintji National Park.The walk starts leisurely enough as it meanders between the craggy cliffs of Homestead Creek. Keep your eye out for impressive Aboriginal rock art at the Thaaklatijika overhang. Climbing steeply over the Bynguano Range, stop to view the spectacular maze of valleys and rugged gorges. Kangaroos and emus forage in the grassy woodland below, and perhaps you’ll glimpse the rare yellow-footed rock wallaby.Stop to refuel and take in the birdlife - you’ll probably hear the unmistakable chatter of the correllas while there might be a majestic wedge-tailed eagle, or even a peregrine falcon, circling above.Homestead Gorge walking trackHomestead Gorge walking track takes you on a moderately challenging hike along Homestead creek between the rich-red rocky cliffs that shelter ancient Aboriginal rock engravings. If it has been raining, a large mirror-still rockhole will be waiting for you at the end of the walk.Keep an eye out for wallabies and emus, or you might see a goanna strolling across your trail or lazing on a rock in the sun. If you have binoculars you might like to take them with you to spot the remarkable array of birds that will dart and flit across your path.Mutawintji Gorge walking trackExplore the spectacular rangeland country of Mutawintji National Park along Mutawintji Gorge walking track. Your journey through one of the park’s most scenic gorges ends at a peaceful pool surrounded by soaring red cliffs.It’s a moderately challenging walk, and at three hours return makes for a good day hike. You can spend as long as you like at the pool, admiring the beauty of this special country and taking in the scenic view. You could even take some lunch and a thermos to enjoy an outback picnic.

Mungo National Park isn't your typical postcard paradise. Its beauty lies in its stark, ancient landscapes that whisper tales of a time long gone. Located in outback NSW, roughly 875 kilometers west of Sydney, Mungo paints a picture of ochre dunes and dusty plains, a dramatic backdrop to an even more remarkable story – that of Australia's Aboriginal people.Mungo's claim to fame rests on its UNESCO World Heritage status, recognising its cultural and natural significance. Here, the land itself becomes a museum, with evidence of Aboriginal occupation dating back over 50,000 years. The centrepiece of this story is the discovery of Mungo Man and Mungo Woman, perfectly preserved remains of some of the world's oldest cremations, estimated to be 42,000 years old. These finds, along with fossilised footprints, offer a glimpse into the rituals and lives of these early Australians.A visit to Mungo National Park is a journey through time. The Mungo Visitor Centre, your first stop, serves as a great introduction. Explore interactive exhibits that delve into the park's geological history, Aboriginal culture, and the fascinating archaeological discoveries. Here, you can pick up the park's digital guidebook, a handy companion that will enrich your explorations even in remote areas with limited reception.Beyond the visitor centre, the park unfolds in a tapestry of diverse landscapes. Take a walk along the Walls of China, a dramatic formation of ancient lakebed sediments sculpted by wind and time. Climb atop the Mungo Lunette, a crescent-shaped dune offering panoramic views across the vastness of the park. Let your imagination wander as you gaze upon the stark beauty of Lake Mungo, a reminder of a wetter past when the region teemed with life.Nature enthusiasts will find plenty to discover in Mungo. The park is a haven for a variety of outback wildlife. Keep an eye out for majestic wedge-tailed eagles soaring overhead, the ever-curious emus, and the agile red kangaroos hopping across the plains. Look closely, and you might spot a shy goanna basking in the sun or a flock of colourful galahs flitting between trees.For the truly adventurous, camping under the vast outback sky offers an unforgettable experience. Designated campsites are available, each with basic amenities. Remember, Mungo is a remote location, so ensure you're well-prepared with plenty of water, food, and essential supplies before venturing out.Respecting the park's delicate ecosystem is paramount. Indigenous Australians have a deep spiritual connection to this land. Always be mindful and adhere to designated walking tracks to avoid disturbing any cultural sites or fragile plant life.Mungo National Park is more than just a scenic getaway; it's a portal to Australia's ancient past. It's a place where the wind whispers stories of resilience, where the land itself bears the marks of cultures long gone. So, pack your sense of adventure, a healthy dose of respect for the environment, and get ready to embark on a journey unlike any other.