Harry Readford
Henry Arthur Readford | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Near Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | March 12, 1901 (aged 59) |
| Occupation(s) | Drover, stockman, cattle rustler |
| Known for | Inspiration for Captain Starlight in Robbery Under Arms; 1870 cattle drive |
Henry Arthur Readford (December 1841 – 12 March 1901) was an Australian drover, stockman, and cattle rustler. While he himself never adopted the moniker, the fictional figure "Captain Starlight" in Rolf Boldrewood's 1882–83 novel Robbery Under Arms drew partial inspiration from Readford and other bushrangers. Readford’s 1870 cattle drive plays a significant role in the narrative.
Early life
Readford was born near Mudgee, New South Wales, into a family of good standing. He began his working life locally before relocating to Queensland in search of more lucrative opportunities in cattle rustling.
Bowen Downs Station
In 1870, employed as a stockman at Bowen Downs Station near Longreach, Queensland, Readford took advantage of the station’s remote sections to steal around 1,000 head of cattle with two partners. To conceal their activity, they built secret yards and slowly gathered the herd without raising suspicion among station staff.
Knowing that selling branded cattle within Queensland would be risky, he undertook an arduous overland drive covering approximately 1,287 km through the Channel Country and Strzelecki Desert to South Australia. This journey was an extraordinary accomplishment given the challenging environment. After three months on the trail, he exchanged some cattle for supplies near Wallelderdine Station before ultimately selling the entire herd for £5,000 at Blanchewater Station close to Marree.
When Bowen Downs personnel discovered the theft, they pursued Readford’s trail with stockmen and Aboriginal trackers but arrived too late to reclaim the stolen livestock.
In April 1871, Readford married Elizabeth Jane Scuthorpe in Mudgee; they had at least one daughter. He was arrested in Sydney in 1872 and faced trial in Roma, Queensland. The jury acquitted him, reportedly impressed by his boldness. The presiding judge expressed relief at the verdict. Following this trial, the Queensland government temporarily suspended proceedings at the Roma District Criminal Court.
In 1881, Readford received an eighteen-month prison sentence in Brisbane for horse theft. After his release, he continued working as a cattle driver across various locations including from Atherton Tableland to Dubbo. By 1883, employed by Macdonald, Smith and Company, he managed Brunette Downs Station near Corella Creek on the Barkly Tableland and later took charge of McArthur River Station in 1899.
Later life
In 1901, Readford left Brunette Downs intending to explore Central Australia but met a tragic end on 12 March when he drowned attempting to swim across the flooded Corella Creek—an ironic fate for someone renowned for safely guiding others through difficult terrain.
An inspiration for Captain Starlight
Readford became a well-known figure nationally and partly inspired the character Captain Starlight in Rolf Boldrewood's Robbery Under Arms. Although Readford himself never bore this nickname—which originally belonged to bushranger Frank Pearson—the fictional Captain Starlight was a blend of several outlaws including Readford and Thomas Law (known as Captain Midnight). The novel’s early chapters echo Readford’s adventures while its conclusion mirrors Law’s destiny.
The annual Harry Redford Cattle Drive commemorates his legacy as a drover by attracting participants from both urban and rural areas for events lasting between three days and three weeks.
His life story also served as the basis for the 1987 movie Bullseye.
Further reading
- Clune, Frank (1945) Captain Starlight: The Daring Rascal of "Robbery Under Arms" Melbourne, Hawthorn Press
- Deckert, John, Harry Redford – Was He Captain Starlight?
- Dwyer, Andrew (2007) OUTBACK - Campfire Stories and Recipes Miegunyah Press
- McCarthy, Patrick, Starlight: The Man Behind the Legend. Hawthorn Press Melbourne 1972
- McCarthy, Patrick, The Man Known as Starlight: The Life and Legacy of Henry Readford, Stock Thief, Explorer, and Folk Icon. Sydney: Allen & Unwin : 1987.
- Strzelecki Creek National Heritage Place
- Morrison, John, Harry Readford's Outback: Limited Edition Art and Story Collection. Acumen Media Pty Ltd : 2010.
- Harry Redford, The Movie (2008), a 20-minute DVD produced by Brisbane Video Makers Association.