PETER L. Newman's work as a planning consultant often drew him to the North East, and on one of those visits he happened across a publication about James Wallace.
This book, Arthur Hall's 'The Headmaster of Hurdle Creek', led to Peter developing an interest in the life of Wallace, who was a school teacher and life-long friend of Kelly Gang member Joe Byrne.
As a result, Peter spent years sifting through records and original documents for information about the man.
His self-published book, 'James Wallace: The Kelly Gang Sympathiser', is the culmination of those enquiries, and paints a portrait of a man who played a key role in one of Australia's best-known stories.
As part of his promotion for the book, Peter will visit the Wangaratta Library this month, in an event organised in conjunction with Edgars Books and News, to discuss his research.
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The book details Wallace's role in helping to keep the Kelly Gang at large for two years.
Peter said Wallace contributed to critical letters that told Ned Kelly's side of the story; fed misleading information to the police; assisted in the collection of the plough shares used in making the gang's armour; and was likely complicit in a significant murder prior to the gang's final stand at Glenrowan.
Wallace was dismissed from public service after adverse findings were made against him by a Royal Commission established after the gang's demise. Under threat of persecution, he fled to Queensland.
Six years would pass before it was safe for him to return, whereupon he commenced a career as a journalist, before leaving his family for a new life with a clairvoyant known as Madame Spontini.
Peter Newman will feature in a free event at the Wangaratta Library on Thursday, 27 March from 6.30pm, speaking about his research and the resulting book.
Copies of 'James Wallace: The Kelly Gang Sympathiser' will be available to purchase on the day or, ahead of the event, in-store and online at Edgars Books and News, and Peter will be available following the talk to sign copies.
While this is a free event, bookings are required, and can be made via https://edgarsbooksandnews.com.au/events/ or at https://events.humanitix.com/peter-newman-talks-james-wallace-and-the-kelly-gang
