Site 13 - Site of the Police Barracks, Lockup and Stables
Address: Jerilderie Street (next to Jerilderie Sports Stadium)
Towards midnight on Saturday 8 February 1879, the Kelly Gang converged on the Police Barracks. Ned Kelly waited on horseback at the fence, approximately 50 metres in front of the barracks, while Joe Byrne, Steve Hart and Dan Kelly crept up to the barracks, with Joe Byrne taking up position on the eastern end; Steve Hart and Dan Kelly on the western end.
When in position, Ned rode up to the barracks calling out for Senior Constable Devine. On hearing his name, Devine called out “I’m in bed, what do you want?”
Whilst still on horseback, Ned replied “For God’s sake get up. There is a row on up at Davidson’s and they’re fighting. If they are not stopped there will be murder before morning. Get up at once and come up, and bring Richards with you.”
Devine sprang out of bed, donned his trousers and socks, and stepped out onto the verandah.
Trooper Richards had also heard the exchange, and stepped out onto the verandah from the office door, similarly attired as he also had been in bed in the lean-to attached to the office.
With both Devine and Richards on the verandah in front of him, Ned Kelly drew his revolver and said “Throw up your hands, I’m Ned Kelly” and, as the other three outlaws stepped onto the verandah, “Don’t move, for you are also covered by my men from both ends of the verandah, and on the slightest movement on the part of either of you, you will be shot by them.”
Ned Kelly dismounted and ordered Devine and Richards into the dining room, to be met by Mrs Devine, also hastily dressed. Ned assured the captives that no harm would come to them provided they obey his instructions. He ordered Mrs Devine to make some supper and, whilst she was doing this, Dan Kelly and Steve Hart retrieved the gang’s horses and took them to the police stables, where they released the police horses into the horse paddock, and stabled their own.
Ned and Joe Byrne escorted Devine and Richards to the “logs” where they locked them in, along with a drunk who had earlier been ensconced. The outlaws then took turns at guard duty while the other three slept.
On Sunday morning the outlaws dressed themselves in police uniforms and, after breakfast prepared by Mrs Devine, walked about the barracks and stables so as the locals would think they were new troops on their way south to the Victorian border, where patrols were being carried out in an endeavour to catch the Kelly gang attempting to cross the border into New South Wales.
At 10.00am Dan Kelly escorted Mrs Devine across to the Courthouse for her to prepare it for the church service to be held there later that morning. Throughout the day, Devine and Richards had been allowed out of the cell, under guard, to be returned to the cell later that evening with each member of the Kelly gang again doing shifts of guard duty.