BOGONG JACK

Bogong Jack, sometimes known as Jack-the-Omeo-Butcher, could possibly have been a man named John Payne, who arrived from England in 1852. He roamed the Australian Alps from Bright to Kosciusko in the north, down to Omeo in the south and the Barry Mountains to the west. Very little is known of him, except what was written in E. Harding's book "Bogong Jack" and Sadlier's "Recollections of a Victorian Police Officer". Both books state that he was an exceptional bushman who ran a large scale horse and cattle rustling operation. They stole horses in one district and then moved on to the next, sell them and steal more before moving on again.

A police sergeant named Reid eventually broke up the gang but nothing was ever heard of again about Bogong Jack.

It is interesting to note that in 1868 a John Payne was arrested with a gang of bushrangers under the leadership of Robert Cotteral (alias Blue Cap). John Payne was sentenced to 10 years gaol, but was released in 1874 after receiving remission from the Executive Council.