This walking track near Daylesford is named after the sad story of three young boys who disappeared on 30th June 1867 and sparked a three week search. The story made the papers in Europe and America. How they became lost, when so many people reported seeing them at different locations, seemingly happy and knowing where they were, will never be adequately explained. Perhaps a combination of youthful bravado, naiveté, lack of survival skills and the sudden onset of the coldest weather in living memory.
Their bodies were found a couple of months later. They had died of exposure. It’s a sobering story when out walking in the bush, and so I made this painting as my own memorial of sorts to those three boys.
Thanks Anthony and Maria. They were two brothers and a friend. The full story is here: http://jonesfamilyhistory.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/three-lost-children-daylesford/
Thanks lars, very sad story but nice to read about the heroic efforts made to find them. I wonder how many businesses would shut up shop these days to join the hunt ?
Jeez I’m getting cynical as the years pass by.
Nice touch Lars. So many youngsters were lost to accident or illness in those days. I wonder if they were friends or related?
A sad story – the bush can be treacherous. If the boys became tired they probably got confused and couldn’t find their way home. The painting is a lovely way to remember them.