The Batlow Devil

[Chris V]

Please excuse me if this has been raised before but its a mystery that really baffles me.

Back in the 90's, the TV show " The Extraordinary" had a segment on the Batlow Devil. It was quite chilling and to this day is quite intriguing.
To save a long winded story - a picture was taken in 1932 in Batlow by a group of men camping in the bush. A figure appears behind them in one picture and resembles something quite confronting. Pretty sure its not a hoax and some think it could be a double exposure. I wont comment as my mind is not yet made.....
It does show some resemblances to Bush myths such as yowie or quinkans etc......

Here is the youtube link for the full story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztvsp_wry-U

Check out the pic and tell me what you think!

[Neil Frost]

G’day Chris,

I don’t think that there is anything of significance in this photograph. However, the associated stories told around the campfire, probably have much more credibility.

When I spoke to Merve P, an elder from the south coast of NSW, he told me about his experiences as a timber cutter on the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme sometime after WWII. He said that the dooligahl are regarded as the “protectors of the environment” and that they were very active around the ridges, throwing rocks, as the men were cutting down the trees prior to flooding. He said that none of the Aboriginal men would stay in the valleys at night and that they were very insistent in leaving the area well before sundown. The Australian and migrant workers, however, would remain at the camps, despite their warnings.

A bit of oral history.

Neil

[Chris V]

Hi Neil ,
Thats a great insight.
Seems like the settlers really just went on with their work, unaware of the traditions that have dominated the bush for eons.
I would hate to have had rocks thrown at me from an unknown source !!! or any rocks or anything for that matter.

The photograph still - if real - shows a distinct figure in the background that could fall under a number of catergories.

Its looks like its 12ft tall!!

[FM80]

The photograph still - if real - shows a distinct figure in the background that could fall under a number of catergories.

It's a real photograph, but the give away is the fact that the 'figure' has the same texture and lighting effects as the rest of the foliage in the picture. Cool photo though.

[Bow Hunter]

Still my fav show wish they would repeat it.