The Grave of Ben Hall is a heritage-listed headstone of bushranger Ben Hall at Forbes Cemetery, Bogan Gate Road, Forbes, Forbes Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of a group of historic sites labelled the Ben Hall Sites for their association with bushranger Ben Hall, along with Ben Hall's Death Site, the Bushranger Hotel, Cliefden, Escort Rock and Wandi. It is also known as Ben Hall's Grave. The property is owned by Forbes Shire Council. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 8 October 2010.
Grave of Ben Hall
Heritage boundaries
Image: 1827 The Ben Hall Sites Grave of Ben Hall Grave of Ben Hall in Forbes Cemetery (5052422b 1)
Ben Hall was an Australian bushranger and leading member of the Gardiner–Hall gang.
He and his associates carried out many raids across New South Wales, from Bathurst to Forbes, south to Gundagai and east to Goulburn. Unlike many bushrangers of the era, Hall was not directly responsible for any deaths, although several of his associates were. He was shot dead by police in May 1865 at Goobang Creek. The police claimed that they were acting under the protection of the Felons Apprehension Act 1865, which allowed any bushranger who had been specifically named under the terms of the Act to be shot, and killed by any person at any time without warning. At the time of Hall's death, the Act had not yet come into force, resulting in controversy over the legality of his killing.
Ben Hall, photographed in 1863 (from the New South Wales State Library).
Hall, John Gilbert and John Dunn attack policemen guarding the Gundagai Mail, 1865
Portrait of Hall, 1865
Death of Hall