The Lake Mac Heritage Series was placed to pay homage to the people, places and events that contributed to building and pioneering the Lake Macquarie region. The pick and shovel were chosen in this geoart series to symbolise the hard work the people of Lake Macquarie put forth into the region.

Bushrangers Of The Lake Part 1

Bushrangers have been part of life in Australia from the beginning of European settlement. One such gang, who roamed the Lake Macquarie, Central Coast and Hunter areas, was the Jewboy Bushranger Gang. The gang comprised of either escaped or assigned convicts and numbers fluctuated between two and seven members. On August 12 1840 five convicts decamped from Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney and took to the bush, commencing their exploits soon afterwards. They operated in close proximity to heavily populated settlements, raiding medium sized establishments, such as inns, and occasionally bailing up to twenty or more people for up to six hours at a time.The following list comprises the six captured members of the Jewboy Bushranger Gang.

Jack Marshall

John Marshall was a shepherd and farmhand, from Nottingham, England. He was aged 27, convicted of stealing a lamb and transported for life in 1832. He arrived in the colony aboard the Clyde, The last person he was assigned to was John Elliott of the Hunter River district, from whom he absconded in early 1840. Records show him back in gaol soon after, charged with rape alongside James Everett. He was twenty seven, of sallow complexion, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a scar on his chin. Most distinguishable were his tattoos: " Rejoice evermore pray without ceasing", "God be merciful to me a sinner" and the figure of a woman. He was also known as "Wye Harbour Jack". He absconded from Hyde Park Barracks on August 12, 1840, alongside James Everett, Francis Knight, John Wilson and William Brown. They headed toward the Hunter River district, where four of them had lived as assigned convicts. These were the founding members of the gang. The gang split after a raid in the Wollombi district, when Marshall and Everett returned to the Sugarloaf area.

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