Sundown Murders
Encyclopedia
The Sundown Murders refer to the murder of Sally (Thyra) Bowman (43), her daughter Wendy Bowman (14), and family friend Thomas Whelan (22) on Sundown Station in northern South Australia
outback in December 1957. The search for their killer was one of the biggest manhunts in South Australian history.
, In November 1957 a family friend Thomas Whelan (22) travelled north to visit the family while on holiday. The Bowmans agreed to travel with Whelan back to Adelaide via Alice Springs
by car. After arriving in Alice Springs on 4 December 1957 Pete and Marion took a plane and flew to Adelaide.
The remaining three were travelling by car, with two family dogs, they had ₤85 in cash and were last spotted at Kulgera Homestead near the South Australian border where the party purchased petrol. The Bowmans then continued to travel south towards Adelaide. The Bowmans never arrived in Adelaide.
A huge ground search was launched, bosses and workers from nearby properties joining in.
Eight days later the vehicle was spotted by an RAAF aircrew under a clump of trees at the deserted Sundown Station.
Reaching the car some hours later, Aboriginal trackers found the bodies. All three victims had been beaten about the head and then shot. The trackers also found the spot were the killer had parked his car. The trackers noted that the car was towing a two wheel trailer. First reports announced that witnesses had seen a Grey Zephur towing a green trailer travelling north to Alice Springs in the area around the time of the slayings. The car was later sighted East of Tennant Creek
on 3 December 1932. He had four brothers and a sister. Raymond left school at 14 and got work as a carpenter. He married young and for a time was itinerant worker. He purchased the Desoto
in Renmark
in September 1957 and took a rifle he had agree to buy but never paid for in Wirrulla
.
Bailey was travelling north in a Desoto
car and caravan. Bailey had his wife and young son with him. Bailey had told another traveller on the Alice Springs road that he was heading north looking for work.
He was working at Mt Isa Hospital when the law caught up with him. Bailey was subsequently arrested in Mount Isa
in Queensland
. He was arrested on Tuesday 21 January 1958 on charges of false pretences in relation of a motor vehicle and being in possession of a unlicenced weapon . Two days later he was charged with the murder of Thyra Bowman. He was extradited to Adelaide where he stood trial.
David Iles met Bailey when both men came to working around Wirrulla, South Australia
in September 1957. Bailey and Iles struck up a friendship and the men went rabbit shooting. Iles later agree to sell to Bailey his huntsman rifle but Bailey skipped town without paying for it. Iles took Constable Grope to the spot were the men fired the rifle and Grope recovered used cartridge cases, The cartridges later matched cartridges found at the murder scene.
He was tried, convicted and executed in Adelaide Gaol
. Bailey was hanged on 24 June 1958, his two brothers had visited him the day before.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
outback in December 1957. The search for their killer was one of the biggest manhunts in South Australian history.
The murders
Pete and Sally Bowman with their two daughters Wendy and Marion managed Glen Helen station in the Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, In November 1957 a family friend Thomas Whelan (22) travelled north to visit the family while on holiday. The Bowmans agreed to travel with Whelan back to Adelaide via Alice Springs
Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Alice Springs is the second largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Popularly known as "the Alice" or simply "Alice", Alice Springs is situated in the geographic centre of Australia near the southern border of the Northern Territory...
by car. After arriving in Alice Springs on 4 December 1957 Pete and Marion took a plane and flew to Adelaide.
The remaining three were travelling by car, with two family dogs, they had ₤85 in cash and were last spotted at Kulgera Homestead near the South Australian border where the party purchased petrol. The Bowmans then continued to travel south towards Adelaide. The Bowmans never arrived in Adelaide.
A huge ground search was launched, bosses and workers from nearby properties joining in.
Eight days later the vehicle was spotted by an RAAF aircrew under a clump of trees at the deserted Sundown Station.
Reaching the car some hours later, Aboriginal trackers found the bodies. All three victims had been beaten about the head and then shot. The trackers also found the spot were the killer had parked his car. The trackers noted that the car was towing a two wheel trailer. First reports announced that witnesses had seen a Grey Zephur towing a green trailer travelling north to Alice Springs in the area around the time of the slayings. The car was later sighted East of Tennant Creek
Tennant Creek, Northern Territory
Tennant Creek is a town located in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is the fifth largest town in the Northern Territory and it is located on the Stuart Highway, just south of the intersection with the western terminus of the Barkly Highway....
The accused
Raymond John Bailey was born at GilgandraGilgandra, New South Wales
Gilgandra, is a town and Local Government Area in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the junction of the Newell Highway, Oxley Highway and Castlereagh Highway. It can be reached in about six hours by car from Sydney. Like Coonabarabran, Gilgandra can be...
on 3 December 1932. He had four brothers and a sister. Raymond left school at 14 and got work as a carpenter. He married young and for a time was itinerant worker. He purchased the Desoto
DeSoto (automobile)
The DeSoto was a brand of automobile based in the United States, manufactured and marketed by the Chrysler Corporation from 1928 to 1961. The DeSoto logo featured a stylized image of Hernando de Soto...
in Renmark
Renmark, South Australia
Renmark is a town in South Australia's rural Riverland area, and is located 254 km northeast of Adelaide, on the banks of the River Murray. The Sturt Highway between Adelaide and Sydney runs through the town; Renmark is the last major town encountered in South Australia when driving this route. It...
in September 1957 and took a rifle he had agree to buy but never paid for in Wirrulla
Wirrulla, South Australia
Wirrulla is a small grain belt town located 60 km from Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula. The town is a focus point for many of the surrounding agricultural districts, and features a number of silos used to store grain from the surrounding areas. The name of the town is derived from an...
.
Bailey was travelling north in a Desoto
DeSoto (automobile)
The DeSoto was a brand of automobile based in the United States, manufactured and marketed by the Chrysler Corporation from 1928 to 1961. The DeSoto logo featured a stylized image of Hernando de Soto...
car and caravan. Bailey had his wife and young son with him. Bailey had told another traveller on the Alice Springs road that he was heading north looking for work.
He was working at Mt Isa Hospital when the law caught up with him. Bailey was subsequently arrested in Mount Isa
Mount Isa, Queensland
-Culture and sport:The local theatre group, the Mount Isa Theatrical Society, or MITS, often holds plays and musicals, at least once every few months or so....
in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. He was arrested on Tuesday 21 January 1958 on charges of false pretences in relation of a motor vehicle and being in possession of a unlicenced weapon . Two days later he was charged with the murder of Thyra Bowman. He was extradited to Adelaide where he stood trial.
Trial
The trial took place in Adelaide.David Iles met Bailey when both men came to working around Wirrulla, South Australia
Wirrulla, South Australia
Wirrulla is a small grain belt town located 60 km from Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula. The town is a focus point for many of the surrounding agricultural districts, and features a number of silos used to store grain from the surrounding areas. The name of the town is derived from an...
in September 1957. Bailey and Iles struck up a friendship and the men went rabbit shooting. Iles later agree to sell to Bailey his huntsman rifle but Bailey skipped town without paying for it. Iles took Constable Grope to the spot were the men fired the rifle and Grope recovered used cartridge cases, The cartridges later matched cartridges found at the murder scene.
He was tried, convicted and executed in Adelaide Gaol
Adelaide Gaol
Adelaide Gaol was an Australian prison located in Thebarton, South Australia, Australia. The gaol was the first permanent one in South Australia and operated from 1841 until 1988...
. Bailey was hanged on 24 June 1958, his two brothers had visited him the day before.