An original forensic photograph of the site
merged into a modern-day picture of what
Bill Denheld says is the same site.
merged into a modern-day picture of what
Bill Denheld says is the same site.
A HISTORICAL research group claims to have found the true site of the ambush and murder of police by the Kelly gang 132 years ago.
The discovery will spark controversy, because more than $50,000 has been spent to create a tourist trail at another site claimed, by a rival research group, to be the scene of the infamous Stringybark Creek shootout.
Kelly researcher Bill Denheld said his group had identified the correct site with photo comparison tests which used the original police photographs taken only two days after the shootings.
"By comparing details of a steep slope in the background of one of the photos, the site can be identified at near the ruins of two huts which we found in 2002," Mr Denheld said.
The shootout on October 26, 1878, near Benalla, in which three policemen were killed, saw the Kelly gang become the most wanted outlaws in Australia.
"The tourism works at Stringybark Creek are the result of research that has not taken into account our recent discoveries," Mr Denheld said.
"We believe the true site is on the west bank of the creek near the huts, as reported in newspapers of October 1878. The site is exactly as it was then reported.
"No other sites display the photo comparison as near the site of two ruined huts where there is steep rising ground to the south, as shown in the background of the photos taken by Burman in 1878," Mr Denheld said.
Heritage Victoria's archaeologist Jeremy Smith said it was difficult to pin down the exact spot, but the entire area was now protected by heritage listing.
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