Mad Dog Morgan, known as one of the most blood thirsty bushrangers frequented this area in the 1860’s causing havoc for both farmers and the police. He is said to have used ‘The Lookout’ as a vantage point to spot approaching authorities with the cuttings in the rocks providing excellent shelter.

Originating from Appin in New South Wales, Dan Morgan was actually born with the name John Fuller, an illegitimate son of Mary Owen and George Fuller, adopted out as a child he attended Catholic school at Campbelltown, south of Sydney. In 1847, aged 14, John left school and found employment on a station on the Murrumbidgee river as a stock-rider, he worked at the station for seven years.

Although he was suspected of stock theft from the late 1840s, his known criminal record began when under the name 'John Smith', he was sentenced to twelve years hard labour for highway robbery at Castlemaine, Victoria, on June 10, 1854 (age 21). In June 1860, he was released from the prison ship ‘Success’ on a ticket-of-leave for good behaviour, however he failed to report to police in the Ovens district.

He was not heard of again until 1863, when he became known as Dan Morgan the bushranger, using many aliases including Mad Dog Morgan. He found work as a horse-breaker and station hand in the upper King River Valley in August that year until he stole a prized horse belonging to the Evans family. Evan Evans, with fellow squatter Edmond Bond, tracked him to his camp, where an altercation occurred. Morgan was badly wounded but escaped into the Eastern Riverina and Western Slopes of New South Wales, which would become his base, although he frequently crossed into North-Eastern Victoria.

From mid-1863, he was involved in several major robbery under arms, including the bailing up of Henry Baylis, police magistrate, near Urana. A reward of £200 was posted for him dead or alive. On 19 June 1864, during a raid on Round Hill station, Morgan shot a young station hand John McLean who died three days later. A memorial site is located on the Culcairn-Holbrook road.

On 24 June, Morgan approached two mounted troopers. He shot and killed Sergeant David Maginnity near Tumbarumba, whilst Trooper Churchley managed to escape, the reward now reached £1000. In September, the Police were fired upon when searching for Morgan near Henty. Sergeant Smyth died of gunshot wounds. The site has been marked by a memorial stone two kilometres west of Henty on the Pleasant Hills road.

Morgan frequently targeted the region's squatters, especially those who were believed to be hard masters and delighted in humiliating them. During raids, he insisted that employees be fed and given drink. At Burrumbuttock the owner Thomas Gibson was forced to write cheques for his employees totaling some £400. Erratic, Morgan was often nervous and his moods could swing rapidly from an almost courtly treatment of prisoners to threats, rage and violence—hence his nickname, 'Mad Dan'.

On 8 April 1865, Morgan held up the Macpherson family at Peechelba Station, north of Wangaratta. Unaware that the station's co-owner George Rutherford lived close by. Alice Keenan, the Macpherson’s nurse, carried news to Rutherford, who rounded up his workforce, selected and armed five trustworthy men and sent them to watch at Peechelba homestead, along with Police and armed men from the district.

Next morning, as the bushranger walked towards the stockyards to select a horse to continue his flight, he was shot from behind by John Wendlan. Morgan died at about 1.45 p.m. on 9 April 1865. Locks were cut from his hair and his body was publicly displayed at Wangaratta.

He was buried on 14 April 1865 in Wangaratta cemetery.