A White Handkerchief
A White Handkerchief
The story of Elizabeth Scott, the first woman hanged in Victoria
The story of Elizabeth Scott, the first woman hanged in Victoria
Oh! No! We never mention her,
Oh! No! We never mention her,
Her name is never heard;
Her name is never heard;
My lips are now forbid to speak,
My lips are now forbid to speak,
That once familiar word.
That once familiar word.
Thomas Haynes Bayly
Thomas Haynes Bayly
1797-1839
1797-1839
Thousands of tourists visit the township of Beechworth in north east Victoria every year. Some come to sample its fine wines and culinary delights or to browse in the speciality shops, while others immerse themselves in the history to be found within many of the nineteenth century buildings. One of these buildings is the courthouse.
Thousands of tourists visit the township of Beechworth in north east Victoria every year. Some come to sample its fine wines and culinary delights or to browse in the speciality shops, while others immerse themselves in the history to be found within many of the nineteenth century buildings. One of these buildings is the courthouse.
Beechworth Gaol & Courthouse
Built in 1858, of local honey coloured granite, the courthouse is best known for the role it played in the lives of Ned Kelly and his mother, Ellen. Their stories are undoubtedly historically significant, but there were others, such as Elizabeth Scott, whose stories are also significant although not as well known.
Built in 1858, of local honey coloured granite, the courthouse is best known for the role it played in the lives of Ned Kelly and his mother, Ellen. Their stories are undoubtedly historically significant, but there were others, such as Elizabeth Scott, whose stories are also significant although not as well known.
The eleventh day of the eleventh month is of special significance in Australian popular culture. It is the anniversary of Ned Kelly's hanging, the end of World War One and the dismissal of the Whitlam government.
The eleventh day of the eleventh month is of special significance in Australian popular culture. It is the anniversary of Ned Kelly's hanging, the end of World War One and the dismissal of the Whitlam government.
It is also the day, twenty-three-year-old Elizabeth Scott, was ‘launched into eternity’ from the scaffold at Old Melbourne Gaol. Three weeks earlier, at the Beechworth Courthouse in October 1863, Elizabeth, along with her two co-accused, Julian Cross and David Gedge, were found guilty of murdering Elizabeth’s middle-aged husband, Robert Scott.
It is also the day, twenty-three-year-old Elizabeth Scott, was ‘launched into eternity’ from the scaffold at Old Melbourne Gaol. Three weeks earlier, at the Beechworth Courthouse in October 1863, Elizabeth, along with her two co-accused, Julian Cross and David Gedge, were found guilty of murdering Elizabeth’s middle-aged husband, Robert Scott.
A White Handkerchief evolved from many years of research after the author visited the courthouse in 1998, where she read a one page information sheet entitled Elizabeth Scott: The First Woman Hanged in Victoria.
A White Handkerchief evolved from many years of research after the author visited the courthouse in 1998, where she read a one page information sheet entitled Elizabeth Scott: The First Woman Hanged in Victoria.
Author: Anne Hanson, E-mail annehanson1@bigpond.com
Author: Anne Hanson, E-mail annehanson1@bigpond.com