Jerilderie history and heritage

1874 - Sir John Monash, honoured military commander, whose image appears on our $100 note, attended Jerilderie Public School from 1874 to 1877. His name can be seen in the head office of the school as Dux In later life he achieved Arts, Civic Engineering and Law Degrees at Melbourne University. During 1897-98 Sir John utilised both his engineering and legal skills to be an expert witness and adviser to pastoralists, farmers and townspeople, who brought an action against David and Samuel McCaughey when they dammed much of the water on the Billabong and Colombo Creeks. In World War 1, Sir John Monash was a Lieutenant-General in command of the entire Australian Army Corps. Monash received a knighthood, which was presented to him by King George V at his battle headquarters in Bertangles, France, on 12 August 1918. Sir John Monash held the first ANZAC day service in 1916. Sir John was a leading and loved public figure after the war, becoming involved in many public and private organisations, such as the Boy Scouts. For more information on Sir John Monash and his association with Jerilderie, please visit the Jerilderie Library.

1875 - Jerilderie's first bank - the Bank of New South Wales

1878 - Jerilderie and Urana Gazette commenced

1879 - Ned Kelly Gang raid - Jerilderie is the only town in New South Wales to be visited by the Ned Kelly Gang. From February 8th to 10th 1879, Ned and Dan Kelly, Steve Hart and Joe Byrne staged a hold up in Jerilderie. The Gang locked the police in their own cells, stole £2140 from the bank and destroyed a number of mortgage documents. The wires to the telegraph office were cut and Ned handed over the written account of his life actions to Edward Living, the bank accountant. This document is known as the ‘Jerilderie Letter’. It is thought that in addition to the cash, the gang targeted Jerilderie to have Ned’s Letter printed on the town’s printing press. The Gang escaped into the forest which existed south of Jerilderie. Today the original Jerilderie Letter is held at the State Library of Victoria.

1884 - Railway extended from Narrandera to Jerilderie (extended to Berrigan in 1894, Finley 1898 and Tocumwal 1914)

1926 - the Yanko, Colombo and Billabong Creek systems were augmented from the Murrumbidgee River to create opportunities for expansion of agricultural industry in the area.

1979 - Official opening of the artificial lake at Jerilderie

1987 - Railway line closed