Australia In History: Kings of the Road

Product Description

After the demise of 'bold' Jack Donohoe, the last of the convict outlaws, a new breed of 'wild colonial boys' rode boldly across the Australian landscape. Predominantly Irish Catholic and born of convict parents, these Australian-born 'currency lads' soon fell under the scrutiny of the law. Most were caught for stealing horses or cattle, and were sent into the stone-walled prisons to pay for their crimes. Once there, they grew hard and resentful. When they were released, these 'kings of the road' took their revenge on the highways; holding up travellers, robbing banks and stealing from gold escorts. Kings of the Road tells the stories of these bushrangers, and often popular folk-heroes, who captured public attention as they thwarted the police at their every turn, including: John Piesley, Frank 'Darkie' Gardiner, Ben Hall, Johnnie Gilbert, Captain Moonlite and Captain Thunderbolt.