Jessie Hickman was one of Australia’s most successful female bushrangers. Born in 1867, Jessie began a life of crime after being lured by a horse thief. With her charm and cunning, she carried out a series of robberies across the country, attacking mail coaches, holding up stagecoaches, and robbing banks and gold mines. Despite being one of the most wanted criminals in the country, she managed to evade authorities and became infamous for her daring exploits. Rediscovering Jessie’s story sheds light on the role of women in Australia’s criminal underworld and their impact on challenging traditional gender roles.
Rediscovering the Story of Australia’s Female Bushranger, Jessie Hickman
Australia has a long and rich history of bushrangers, notorious outlaws who roamed the country’s vast landscapes and evaded the law. While many of these bushrangers were male, there were a handful of female bushrangers who made a name for themselves in Australia’s criminal history. One such individual was Jessie Hickman, who was one of the most successful female bushrangers to have operated in the country.
Jessie Hickman was born in New South Wales in 1867 and grew up in poverty. By the age of 15, she was working as a nursemaid before being lured into a life of crime by a horse thief. The two eventually became partners in crime, with Jessie using her charm and cunning to orchestrate a series of robberies across the country.
Over the years, Jessie became infamous for her daring exploits, which included attacking mail coaches, holding up stagecoaches, and robbing banks and gold mines. She was adept at evading the law and managed to avoid capture for many years, despite being one of the most wanted criminals in the country.
One of Jessie’s most audacious robberies took place in 1901, when she and her gang raided the Mount Britton gold mine in Queensland. The gang managed to make off with a significant amount of gold, but were eventually pursued by police. A shootout ensued and Jessie was shot in the leg, but she managed to escape and evade capture once again.
After a life of crime that spanned several decades, Jessie was eventually arrested in 1903 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. She was released in 1913 and vanished into obscurity, with little known about her life after that.
Rediscovering the story of Jessie Hickman is important because it sheds light on the role that women played in Australia’s criminal underworld. Jessie was a trailblazer in many ways, paving the way for other female bushrangers who would follow in her footsteps.
FAQs
Q: Was Jessie Hickman the only female bushranger in Australia’s history?
A: No, there were several other female bushrangers who operated in Australia, including Mary Ann Bugg and Elizabeth Jessie Hickman.
Q: What made Jessie Hickman so successful as a bushranger?
A: Jessie was known for her charm and cunning, which allowed her to manipulate people and orchestrate successful robberies. She was also adept at evading the law and managed to avoid capture for many years.
Q: What happened to Jessie Hickman after she was released from prison?
A: There is little information about Jessie’s life after she was released from prison, and it is believed that she lived in obscurity until her death.
Q: What impact did female bushrangers have on Australian society?
A: Female bushrangers challenged traditional gender roles and demonstrated that women were capable of being just as ruthless and successful as male criminals. Their stories continue to inspire and intrigue people today.
