The Gatton Murders

The murders of Michael Murphy and his sisters, Nora and Ellen, on the outskirts of the southwest Queensland township of Gatton on the night of 26 December 1898, shocked Brisbane, greater Queensland and then all of Australia. On that Boxing Day night, three members of the Murphy family were raped, shot and battered to death as they returned home in their horse and buggy from a dance that had been cancelled. The investigation into the murders was plagued by police incompetence, small-town prejudice and malicious gossip. The person or persons responsible for the Gatton Murders were never brought to justice and the crime has since become part of Australian bush folklore.