The goldfields and surrounding were harsh and dangerous times. Gold and money were transported on the mail routes by the Cobb and Co coaches and were most certainly a target for roving bushrangers. One such incident occurred on 6th January 1869, just south of Gympie. The coach had just left Gympie heading for Brisbane, full of the mail and several local businessmen. One of which was Willaim Selwyn King, the manager of the Kilkivan branch of the Bank of New South Wales who was escorting 2000 pounds in half notes for delivery to Brisbane then onward to head office in Sydney. (The talk of the town was that it was a risky trip and bets were already being placed the evening before of 5 to 1 odds on the likelihood of it being held up).

Only five miles out of Gympie on ascending a rise, an armed and masked man rushed from cover into the road ahead of the team. His strong Irish accent ordered the coach driver to “bail up”. An armed accomplice gave similar command from behind the coach. The coachman complied as a revolver and double-barrelled gun were pointed ….

But what makes this story, wilder than the bushrangers, is that bank manager, Selwyn King was no pushover. He did not surrender and he pulled out his own Tranter revolver and immediately fired at the lead bushranger, who after a stagger and quick recover, replied fire of three shots back.

“Both wore coats, moleskin trousers, and felt hats. The taller man had a mask of black cloth, and the face of the other was concealed by a mask of green oil-cloth”

Read journal article A bushranging incident at Gympie, 1869 by Craig Edgman*

Read the first reporting was on the 9th January 1869 titled “Sticking up of the Gympie and Brisbane Mail” and reads in detail as follows:

One roving Queensland bushranger was James Alpin McPherson aka “The Wild Scotchman”. Known as the “highwayman” at that time in Queensland, he would’ve been the first suspect, however was in custody (for a robbery of a mail coach near Gin Gin) when the Gympie Goldfields opened. McPherson was sentenced to 25 years to a penal settlement at Moreton Bay until remitted in 1874 (but not without one escape attempt in 1870)

*Published 1990 by the Journal of Royal Historical Society of Queensland, Volume 15, Issue 5

Various suspects were brought under arrest on the morning of, on suspicion of robbery under arms and brought to police court on 7 January 1869, but later discharged and released .

Various letters to the editor of The Gympie Times, were published on the incident….including Mr Selwyn King himself, counter-replying to dispel misinformation and letters by locals that were astonished that the bushrangers hadn’t been caught yet. Read the talk of the town here: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/19074890

Finally news that one of the bushrangers had been arrested was reported on 14 January 1869. The alleged criminal was William Bond who was found camped three miles from town WITH a fairly fresh bullet wound. Through the police court he was trialled and eventually sentenced to 20 years hard labour and 50 lashes.

His accomplice? Not found. Though suspected as notorious ranger George Palmer.