The Golden Gang cover art

The Golden Gang

Bushranger Frank Gardiner and the biggest gold robbery in Australian history

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Golden Gang

By: Ian W. Shaw
Narrated by: Steve Shanahan
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $21.99

Buy Now for $21.99

About this listen

 The first comprehensive biography of the godfather of Australian bushranging – Frank Gardiner – leader of the Lachlan gang and mastermind of the largest gold heist in Australian history.

Atop the hierarchy of Australian bushrangers sits Ned Kelly – the ultimate outlaw – and just below him, the tragic figure of Ben Hall, who joined a gang led by a man whose name today is less well known, but in his time was much more famous than any other: Frank Gardiner. Mastermind of the largest gold robbery in Australia’s history, Gardiner led an extraordinary life, the full telling of which is long overdue.

In a tough country and among a group of tough men, Gardiner was the toughest of them all. But while he engaged in gunfights with police to evade capture, he was always courteous and could lay claim to never killing anyone, and never stole from those who couldn't afford to be robbed. He went by three different surnames in his lifetime and spent almost half of it behind bars, including at some of the colonies' most notorious penal institutions: the Pentridge Stockade, Cockatoo Island and Darlinghurst Gaol.

But if Gardiner was never quite the Robin Hood he sometimes imagined himself to be, he was nevertheless a natural leader, and a man capable of inspiring a motley bunch of stockmen and drifters to become the most effective and successful bushranging gang in the country’s history. His Lachlan gang operated with a clockwork efficiency that culminated in the robbery of the Gold Escort at Eugowra Rocks, and from 1861 to 1863 it held reign over the roads of the Western Plains of New South Wales.

Richly detailed, The Golden Gang shines a new light onto Gardiner's remarkable life – one that ended in shocking tragedy – and reinstates him in the pantheon of Australian outlaw heroes. 19th Century Australia, New Zealand & Oceania Modern True Crime Robbery
All stars
Most relevant
Meticulously researched and written so the story rolls on. You would think it was made up - but it is all true.

What A Cracking Yarn

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Wow, such a huge amount of detail and research going into the book. Fascinating glimpse into the life of an Australian bushranger.

Fascinating read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I really enjoyed this book by Ian W Shaw. Well researched, good flow and narration. I loved hearing more about Australia’s bush-ranging history. I recommend it.

Fantastic story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I enjoyed the book very much. Ian W. Shaw is a talented writer and his historical research is meticulously and realistically presented. I have always been fascinated how Frank Gardiner’s life started and ended and the book takes you through what happened in wonderful detail.

Extremely well researched.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Really interesting bush ranger tale about one of the early and least known of the many Aussie bush rangers. Narrator was great, lost a star from me only for the mispronounced names of a few towns, otherwise, really good.

Well researched and written

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Although the narrator is easy to listen to, the story isn't very compelling at all. I consistently found myself thinking about other things and having to rewind to listen to parts again.
Avoid this one unless it's a free credit. Even with a credit, I wish I used it on something better.

Absolute snoozefest

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.