Thunderbolt’s Statue and Constable Walker Memorial

Casting his steely gaze over Uralla’s main street, the life-sized statue of bushranger Captain Thunderbolt, was produced as a Bicentennial project. It was designed and cast by sculptor, Denis Adams unveiled in 1988 during witnessed by what is acknowledged as the biggest crowd ever assembled in Uralla! Today the statue is popular with tourists and photographers alike.

A few metres east of the Thunderbolt Statue is the often-overlooked memorial to Constable Alexander Binning Walker, the Officer who brought an end to the bushranger’s career. The memorial was produced in 1970, at the time of the centenary of the death of Captain Thunderbolt.

To show their gratitude to Walker for ridding them of the menace of bushranging, local residents raised money for him, while the Sons of Temperance Movement awarded him a gold watch. Walker was later sent to Victoria to join the hunt for the Kelly Gang. Towards the end of his career, he was promoted to Acting Inspector-General of Police.