The Ben Hall Raids on Canowindra

Canowindra is home to one of Australia’s most remarkable bushranger stories. In 1863, the infamous Ben Hall and his gang carried out three daring raids on the town, turning what could have been violent encounters into unforgettable episodes of Australian folklore. During each visit, the gang gathered everyone in town at Robinson’s Inn, where they held locals as hostages while sharing food, wine and music.

One of the most extraordinary parts of the story is that the hostages were entertained rather than harmed. Bessie Robinson and her sister Frances played the piano and sang for the crowd, while the flooded Belubula River prevented police from crossing and intervening. The unusual standoff became one of the most famous bushranger events in New South Wales and remains a defining moment in Canowindra’s history.

Legend also tells that Ben Hall paid for his hospitality using money stolen from the local bank. Hall, together with John Gilbert and John O’Meally, had previously ridden with Frank Gardiner’s gang, notorious for the famous Escort Rock gold robbery. Today, these colourful tales continue to attract visitors interested in Australia’s colonial past and the legendary bushrangers who became part of its history.