from the archives A piece of our past WONNANGATTA MURDERS STILL A MYSTERY
editorial maria carnovale
photos revealed .01 Police carried Bamford’s remains on a pack horse from Mount Howitt. .02 A detective involved in the case stands outside the Talbotville post office during the investigation.
T
he Victoria Police Historical Services Unit has uncovered photographs relating to the 92-year-old Wonnangatta murder mystery, where station manager Jim Barclay and his farm hand, John Bamford, were killed. The original negatives, taken at the crime scene in the small Victorian country town, showed police searching for clues.
Mr Barclay was found murdered near his rural property in January, 1918. After a long and arduous trek to the murder scene on horseback, police located his body and transported it back to town. It was believed Mr Barclay had been murdered by his employee, Mr Bamford, but he could not be found. In a strange twist, a man claiming to be Bamford confessed to police, but police discovered that he was an ill man pretending to be Bamford.
Investigations resumed and weeks later police were called to the scene of another murder – that of Bamford. His body was found on Mount Howitt, 14 miles from the scene of Barclay’s murder. Mystery still surrounds the murders, and while a number of theories have been suggested, those with ties to Wonnangatta believe the truth may never be found. Items relating to Victoria Police’s history can be seen at the Victoria Police Museum, corner of Flinders and Spencer streets, Melbourne. Opening hours are from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Entry is free. For more information, telephone 9247 5214.
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April 2010 POLICELIFE