Elvis Festival – Staying in Forbes

We had left the booking too late and ended up staying in Forbes. It is only half an hour down the road so this was not a big issue. We stayed in the Albion Hotel, which must have been very grand when it was constructed in the 1890’s. We visited the cemetery during the day, the home of Ben Hall and Ned Kelly’s sister Kate.

But I cannot include a post on Forbes without including the words to the song:

Come all you Lachlan men, and a sorrowful tale I’ll tell.
Concerning of a hero bold who through misfortune fell.
His name it was Ben Hall, a man of good renown,
Who was hunted from his station, and like a dog shot down.

Three years he roamed the roads, and he showed the traps some fun;
A thousand pound was on his head, with Gilbert and John Dunn.
Ben parted from his comrades, the outlaws did agree
To give away bushranging and to cross the briny sea.

Ben went to Goobang Creek, and that was his downfall;
For riddled like a sieve was valiant Ben Hall.
‘Twas early in the morning upon the fifth of May
When the seven police surrounded him as fast asleep he lay.

Bill Dargin he was chosen to shoot the outlaw dead;
The troopers then fired madly, and filled him full of lead.
They rolled him in a blanket, and strapped him to his prad,
And led him through the streets of Forbes to show the prize they had.