The Tibbs Tragedy: Elizabeth versus The Monster

Ratbags & Roustabouts

When notorious bushranger Thomas Jeffries took a young family hostage in 1825, he performed an act so despicable, he had the entire island of Van Diemen’s Land calling for his execution.
It was New Year’s Eve in 1825 when John and Elizabeth Tibbs with their five-month-old baby were visited by a group of bushrangers. The leader was Thomas Jeffries, a killer who had earnt himself the nickname, The Monster.
The outlaws turned their house inside out as they helped themselves to the family’s possessions, before marching them, along with five other prisoners, for miles through the Tasmanian bush. And the truly horrific acts the bushrangers committed that day would see every person in that part of the country baying for blood.
But in the end, it would fall on the shoulders of 19-year-old Elizabeth Tibbs to bring The Monster down.

00.00 Introduction
02.43 Meet the Tibbs family
04.49 Meet the bushrangers
08.48 December 31, 1825
14.30 Tibbs and Isaac taken away
18.26 Elizabeth is left with the bushrangers
22.37 Bushrangers go on their way
25.32 Trial of The Monster
28.56 Aftermath

Hosted by Marion Langford. Follow on Instagram or check out the website at ratbagsandroustabouts.com. Do you know a story that the history books forgot? Let us know about it!