The story of Henry Readford and the famous cattle theft he carried out by droving stolen cattle from central Queensland to South Australia in 1870 is now part of Australian folklore. This feat, the climax of a long career as cattle duffer and horse thief, was portrayed by Rolf Boldrewood in the opening chapters of his classic novel, ‘Robbery Under Arms’. Patrick McCarthy’

s careful research reveals Readford as a mystery man and wanderer whose talents -

as pastoralist,drover, path finder and explorer -

rival those of his ‘respectable’ contemporaries.