G'day Joybell - still singing "Bears" to the oldies??

You're right, of course. There are Castlemaines in Victoria, NSW AND Ireland (County Kerry ~ SW corner of Ireland and sits at the head of Castlemaine Harbour!)

However, the Wild Colonial Boy WAS, in fact, a true identity - his name was John (Jack) Donahoe. He was born in Castlemaine, County Kerry sometime between 1805 and 1808 - He was said to have been either 17 or 19 when he arrived in Port Jackson on January 2nd, 1825 on board the Transport Barque "Ann and Amelia".

He quickly took to the bush after escaping a chain gang / work group and returned to highway robbery. He was said to have been a bit of a Robin Hood (weren't they all?) - but in Donahoe's case it was actually true. He refused to 'bail up' "ordinary folk" and robbed only wealthy settlers on their properties and rich-appearing travellers: He then 'fenced' his takings through the poorer settlers and even distributed the takings from a tax collector on at least one occasion.

He collected a small band of like-minded abscondees among whom were William "Darky" Underwood, Jack Walmsey and Bill Webber. (Walmsey never made it into the song though - wonder how his shade feels about that?)

One of his more memorable exploits (apart from his penchant for very high quality clothes and boots) was at the height of his notoriety. Knowing full well the Troopers were hunting him with every resource, he calmly rode INTO Sydney Town, tied up his horse at a hotel and sat on the front porch in full view of the passing populace (and police), drank several (accounts vary from 2 to 5) bottles of Ginger Beer / Sarsaparilla (again - depending on the source - the hotelier/publican stated categorically he ordered ONLY Ginger Beer) and as dusk approached, he calmly mounted his horse and bidding "Good Day" to all, he returned to his base in the bush.

The police had word he was in the city and despite many of them riding past the hotel in the course of the day; they missed him.

Ultimately it was his "friend" Walmsey who betrayed him to police and who helped set up the ambush in which he was killed by trooper Muggleton - who was, according to police "As fine a shot as could be found".
Maybe the betrayal was the reason for his omission from the song (Gee! Do Ya Think????????)

Anyway - that's an account of the man who is historically regarded as THE Wild Colonial Boy - irrespective of Victoria's and NSW's claims. Victoria's would be the weakest as bushrangers tnded to remain in the regions they grew up in ie Frank Power, Ned Kelly, Dan Morgan (he only ventured into Vic after a challenge from the Vic Police and for revenge) and so on. So it is HIGHLY unlikely that a Victorian-born bushranger would operate in the unfamiliar territory around Sydney - especially as Castlemaine Victoria was not even in existence in 1825 - 30 (the year he was killed). Not sure when Castlemaine NSW was established - but it was probably post 1820's.

Muttley