VPRS 4969 Consignment P0 Unit 2 Item 72 Document: Discovery of cave near Murchison possible hide-out and map

18/10/1878

Overview

Addressed to Inspector Nicolson of the police department in Melbourne, this letter includes a map of a cave where the Kelly Gang may have hidden. The cave’s location was described as being “between Stringy Bark Creek and Euroa on the Blue ranges”. Although there is no hard evidence to suggest that the Kellys actually did seek refuge in this cave, it is a possibility. The cave was located close to Stringy Bark Creek, where exactly eight days after this letter was sent, the murders of Constables Scanlon, Lonigan and Sergeant Kennedy occurred; and two months later, a bank was robbed in Euroa by the gang.

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Private	Tarringilo Murchison 18th. Oct 1878Sir As the information may be of service and is not known to the Police, I beg to inform you that directly on this line of Country between String Bark Creek and Euroa on the Blue Range near the Hills Hole Diggings there is a “cave” which such persons as the “Kellys” might stay for years if they had provisions supplied without the fear of ever being found out except by accident I will try to describe the place as well as I can & perhaps it might be worth while for the Police to pay this place a visit. Of course you will keep my name out of any instructions you may give as if by any chance these fellows friends knew it would be easy to burn my establishment out. I hear that there are a good many of theit relations near here farming, so I will rely on this being perfectly private The spur I mean is at the head of the Glen Creek on the “Junction Station” and is close to the “Gap” in the Blue Ranges going over to “Baryang” By running up the “Tangalooke” Creek, past Hills Hole and keeping all the Creek on the N. W. until the Gap looking over to the Glen Creek is reached, then keeping to top of the Range, until the first spur is reached leading towards Glen Creek and on the top of this spur which is abrupt at the point the “Cave” [missing] I can recollect is about 20 or 30 yards [missing], I have been in it some 24 yards and it presents the appearance [End of page 1]		VPRS 4969 Consignment P0 Unit 2 Item 72 Document: Discovery of cave near Murchison possible hide-out and map
	of an “extinct Volcano” There are some very high rocks just above it I will try to draw the situation but don’t say I will succeed I hope this information may be of service and that you may have the honor of stopping these fellows foul careers Believe me Yours faithfully James Winter Inspector Nicholson Police Department Melbourne [End of page 2]		VPRS 4969 Consignment P0 Unit 2 Item 72 Document: Discovery of cave near Murchison possible hide-out and map
	(Map of Murchison) [End of page 3]		VPRS 4969 Consignment P0 Unit 2 Item 72 Document: Discovery of cave near Murchison possible hide-out and map