144 years on, crime scene revealed
From the Spring 2008 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.
Sergeant David Maginnity was shot by infamous bushranger ‘Mad’ Dan Morgan in what is now Mundaroo State Forest
Former Tumbarumba school teacher and current president of the Tumbarumba Historical Society, Ron Frew, is passionate about the history of the local area.
While undertaking some background research into a local landmark – the Maginnity’s Gap monument – he realised that the location of the monument didn’t match the facts.
The monument supposedly stands near where the infamous bushranger ‘Mad’ Dan Morgan shot and killed Sergeant David Maginnity in 1864. Maginnity and Constable Charles Churchley were returning from a routine overnight patrol to Copabella Station.
Morgan had less than a week earlier shot dead John McLean and a posse from Albury was hunting him. He was known to have sympathisers offering boltholes in the Tumbarumba area.
Ron’s own investigative work has tracked down the location of the actual shooting to a creek near the old Copabella Road in Mundaroo State Forest, approximately two kilometres from where the monument now stands.
Forests NSW regional planning manager, Duncan Watt, said plans for an historical walking track from the monument to the murder site were underway with support from Tumbarumba Historical Society, Tumbarumba Council and Department of Corrective Services.
The walk (about 4.5km return) will pass through Mundaroo Forest Reserve.
“Walkers will enjoy a wonderful array of tree species including red stringy bark, broad leaf peppermint, brittle gum as well as grass trees and the occasional native orchid on the ridge,” Duncan said.
At the monument there are information boards telling the Maginnity and Morgan stories and picnic tables.
A brochure on the walk is being prepared and will be available from Tumbarumba Visitor Information Centre.
Sarah Chester - Public Affairs & Media, Albury
