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It was not a happy ending for South Australia’s first bushrangers. On 16th March 1840, George Hughes and Henry Curren were executed by hanging. Their partner in crime James Fox, was sent to penal servitude in NSW, but reportedly died of a broken heart on the way.
Their drunken rampage began in Gawler on the Adelaide plains, finishing in Crafers, where they took siege of the Sawyers Arms Hotel. History tells us they didn't actually murder anyone, or for that matter, physically harm anyone. They did threaten people, they did fire shots, and they certainly robbed people. And for that, they were delivered harsh punishment indeed. A deterrent for others, it was claimed.
145 years later, Adelaide theatrical entrepreneur Bill Rough felt inspired to make a film about the hanging.
With support from historian Alan Upton, Police SA, state government, local council and the wider community, plus theatre colleagues David Erskine, Wayne Anthoney and Doug Leonard, the re-enactment went ahead.
Then, concerned that justice had been so severe for these men, Bill had a new idea: He would organise another seige on the Sawyers Arms hotel - this time with clowns portraying the bushrangers.
After offering patrons a free round of drinks, the bushranger clowns turned the pub into a bogus courtroom and set about performing a mock tiral. And when the final judgement came, TV screens about the pub all flickered on, to show the terrible justice that had befallen a trio of collonial larrikins.
WARNING: Although accurate to historical records, the ending is a wee bit gruesome.
Their drunken rampage began in Gawler on the Adelaide plains, finishing in Crafers, where they took siege of the Sawyers Arms Hotel. History tells us they didn't actually murder anyone, or for that matter, physically harm anyone. They did threaten people, they did fire shots, and they certainly robbed people. And for that, they were delivered harsh punishment indeed. A deterrent for others, it was claimed.
145 years later, Adelaide theatrical entrepreneur Bill Rough felt inspired to make a film about the hanging.
With support from historian Alan Upton, Police SA, state government, local council and the wider community, plus theatre colleagues David Erskine, Wayne Anthoney and Doug Leonard, the re-enactment went ahead.
Then, concerned that justice had been so severe for these men, Bill had a new idea: He would organise another seige on the Sawyers Arms hotel - this time with clowns portraying the bushrangers.
After offering patrons a free round of drinks, the bushranger clowns turned the pub into a bogus courtroom and set about performing a mock tiral. And when the final judgement came, TV screens about the pub all flickered on, to show the terrible justice that had befallen a trio of collonial larrikins.