Bombay Display Board: Notorious
The text, images and references of the 'Notorious' as featured on the Bombay display board at Bombay Reserve.
During the mid-19th century rural New South Wales was often plagued by bushrangers, including districts around Braidwood. From 1865-67 the Clarke Gang or “Jindera Mob” terrorised an area stretching from present day Canberra to the coast. Family ties and mixed loyalties abounded in communities accustomed to petty crime, where horse stealing and cattle duffing were the norm.
The Clarke Gang held up stores, coaches, hotels, homesteads and even bailed up local gold escorts. On 20 October 1866 the Gang raided the “Little Bombay” property of Mr Joseph Taylor, an early settler and first postmaster of Braidwood, who had known the Clarkes since they were children. The property is located along the Little Bombay Road.
The Clarkes occupied the Little Bombay property for four hours, stealing valuables, loading a packhorse with goods and a ready dressed pig, before riding back towards the river. They made camp close to the Shoalhaven, cooked the pig and caroused late into the night. The police pursuit did not take place until the next morning, when the gang again eluded capture. Fortunately for Mr Taylor, most of the loot
was eventually recovered stashed on the slopes of Mt Gillamatong.
The four special constables allegedly murdered by the Clarke Gang in 1867
In January 1867, four “special constables” were ambushed and shot dead, allegedly by the Clarke Gang, near Jinden station about 50 kilometers south of Bombay. A reward of £5000 was offered, setting off a huge police hunt and culminating in a prolonged gun battle and eventual capture of the brothers at a hut on Jinden Creek on 27th April.
Always maintaining their innocence in the killing of “The Specials”, Thomas and John Clark were taken to Braidwood gaol, then on to Sydney. They were eventually charged with attempted murder of an independent constable, hanged in Darlinghurst Gaol, and buried in an unmarked grave in Sydney’s Rookwood Cemetery.
Brothers Thomas and John Clarke in Braidwood gaol upon
capture. Credit: The Clarke Gang Outlawed, Outcast and
Forgotten by Peter C Smith
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Notorious References:
- “The Clarke Gang – Outlawed, Outcast and Forgotten” by Peter C. Smith Published: Rosenberg 2015
This Bombay Landcare Information Board project was proudly co-funded by Bendigo Community Bank Braidwood, WaterNSW
Bombay Landcare Group and Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Council. With Special thanks to Sheep Station Creek Landcare's Christine Payne and Michael Gill for illustrations and design. Artwork © 2025 C Payne & M Gill. All rights reserved.