It’s 150 years since the capture at Jinden of Autralia’s deadliest bushrangers, the Clarke Gang, who roamed the South East from Braidwood to Bega in the 1860s.

With the support of the modern NSW Police force, a full re-enactment of the shoot-out and apprehension of brothers Thomas and John Clarke will take place at the Braidwood Showground on Saturday, April 29.

Local historian and author of The Clarke Gang: Outlawed, Outcast and Forgotten Peter Smith said it’s going to be the biggest thing to happen in the town since the capture itself.

“We’ve sold 2000 tickets already and we’re expecting that to double this week,” Mr Smith said.

“It’s a terrific event to re-enact – we’ve rebuilt the whole site based on notes written by the police at the time and choreographed the events.

“It’s wonderful having written the book and now being able to bring it to life,” he said.

As well as re-enacting the final moments of the Clarke Gang’s deadly reign, Braidwood courthouse is also booked out on the Sunday for a reading of the subsequent trial that sentenced them to death by hanging.

“The capture of the Clarkes was in some ways a turning point for NSW Police,” Mr Smith said.

Mr Smith said the creation of a state police force in the preceding decade coincided with “an outbreak” of bushrangers, including names as notorious as Dan Morgan, Ben Hall and Frank Gardiner.

As for the Clarkes, “they robbed and plundered almost as they pleased” with many lives lost, including police.

However, the killing of four special troopers at Jinden, south of Braidwood, in 1867 saw public sentiment for the Clarke gang turn – or perhaps the 5000-pound reward, or threat of 15 years’ jail and loss of all assets for harbouring them had something to do with it.

It’s also believed the Clarkes shot and killed another police officer, Miles O’Grady, at Nerrigundah in April 1866 as they headed home from the Bega races.

Mr Smith said the story goes that the Clarkes attended the Bega races awaiting trainer Charlie Nash and his racehorse Digger – possibly to steal it. Tom Clarke himself was a very successful owner and trainer before turning bushranger, Mr Smith said.

However, as they headed home via Nerrigundah, they also robbed a gold buyer and ended up in a shoot-out with two policemen, one of whom had only been a constable for four days and O’Grady, who was deathly ill with cholera.

It was only 12 months later when they were finally captured and tried for capital crimes.

Monaro Local Area Commander Rod Smith said the apprehension and trial of the Clarke Gang proved a turning point for the NSW Police Force.

“It’s fair to say that bushranging gangs like the Clarkes were causing huge headaches for the new police force and the government of the day,” Superintendent Smith said.

“The constant robberies in and around the goldfields were damaging public confidence.

“The capture of the Clarkes turned all of that around and restored public faith in the constabulary.”

Historian Mr Smith said the Clarkes were arguably the worst and most troublesome bushrangers of all time.

“The arrests were of major historical importance and we hope the weekend’s commemorations will highlight the police success and the heavy price paid to bring them to justice.”