The Legend of Ned Kelly
The Kelly Gang rose from petty horse thieves to Australia's most wanted outlaws but Ned had the hearts of the common people. Controversy still rides over his original conviction, and his execution on November 11th, 1980 is remembered across the country to this day.
Ned has been memorialised by painters, writers, musicians and filmmakers, books have been written and songs have been sung in his memory.
Ned is part of the mythology of 'the bush' - the perceived cradle of mateship, equality, and the masculine virtue of fearless strength. To be as game as Ned Kelly is high praise indeed.
The "Kelly Outbreak"
How it started with a drunken, groping policeman
What happened on that Monday morning in 1878?It started when Constable Alex Fitzpatrick rode up to the Kelly property outside of Greta on April 15.
Fitzpatrick was apparently inebriated, he was well known for being drunk on duty, many a complaint had been issued of his behaviour which was "generally bad and discreditable to the force", and for his "rough and rude" manner to women.
There was a scuffle with young Kate Kelly. Her mother belted the constable with a cooking pan. An indignant Fitzpatrick swore an attempted murder charge.
The outcome was the arrest and incarceration of the pregnant Mrs Kelly. Warrants were issued against Ned and Dan Kelly who disappeared into the mountains of North Eastern Victoria.
Fitzpatrick was later dismissed from the police force as 'a liar and a larrikin', but Ned and Dan Kelly were, from that day on, outlaws.
Image from the Ned Kelly Collection the National Gallery of Australia, Sidney Nolan 'Constable Fitzpatrick and Kate Kelly ' 1946 .
A self-educated man, Ned was extremely articulate, known for his poetic turn of phrase and sharp wit.
Much has been made of his ironic statements and colourful language but it doesn't take an academic degree to have the gift of the gab, much less a passion for freedom.
The Suit of Armour worn by Ned Kelly
Made in a Bush Forge
Designed to protect him from gunfire, Ned Kelly's suit of armour has become one of Victoria's most treasured historical icons.
The armour was made of heavy iron mouldboards from farmers' ploughs, mostly donated from farmers in northeastern Victoria.
The mouldboards were heated in a makeshift bush forge, beaten straight over a green log, cut into shape and riveted together as breast plates, back plates and helmets.
The armour was designed for gunfire protection whilst fighting. It was flexible enough to be worn whilst riding a horse, but was primarily calculated to be worn whilst on foot.
Ned at Glenrowan
Ned kelly still stands guard
These days you'd be ill advised to hold up the Glenrowan Post Office. Standing guard outside is a six-metre high Big Ned Kelly, depicted just as he appeared when he was captured near the town, in June 1880, in his trademark charcoal armour and heavy mask, rifle in hand
The Last Stand
Ned Kelly's Last Stand : Buy at AllPosters.comThe Kelly gang bailed up the little town of Glenrowan, cut the telegraph wires and forced the railway workers to rip up the line.
More than sixty hostages were taken during the day as the gang waited for the arrival of the police's special train. Following a tip-off from the local school teacher the train stopped at the station and a bitter gun battle took place with the police laying siege to the hotel.
In the nine and a half hours which followed, the building was burnt to the ground, three of the gang members were killed, and Ned, badly wounded was arrested.
Ned was taken to Melbourne, patched up, hurriedly tried and sentenced to death. On November 11th 1880, Ned Kelly was hanged in the Old Melbourne Goal.
The Jerilderie Letter
Another legacy from Ned Kelly
The 8000 words long Jerilderie Letter, written by Ned Kelly about 1879, is an extraordinary document in Australian history. It's been described as Ned Kelly's 'manifesto'.
The following, an extract from the original letter, is remembered for the description of the Victorian police.
"Is my mother not to be pitied also who has no alternative only to put up with the brutal and cowardly conduct of a parcel of big ugly fat-necked wombat headed big bellied magpie legged narrow hipped splaw-footed sons of Irish Bailiffs or English landlords which is better known as Officers of Justice or Victorian Police who some calls honest gentlemen but I would like to know what business an honest man would have in the Police."
"It is an old saying 'It takes a rogue to catch a rogue' and a man that knows nothing about roguery would never enter the force."
My brothers and I played endless games of Kelly Gang versus Cops giving us the chance to joyfully rattle off Ned's description of the Victoria Police. Declaiming these two paragraphs was an integral part of the game.
Kelly Country
There's more to Kelly Country than you think
Take a drive a trip up the Hume highway out of Melbourne and you'll get to Glenrowan, where the Kelly gang made its last stand in 1880 at Anne Jones' hotel.The pub is no longer there, but the museum is worth visiting. Close by, at Benalla, you can see Sir Sydney Nolan's "Siege at Glenrowan" tapestry in the art gallery.
In the Benalla Costume and Pioneer Museum is a portable cell once used to hold Kelly, and the green sash presented to him for bravery when, aged 11, he saved a boy from drowning in a creek.
Ned's accomplice, Joe Byrne, is buried in the local cemetery. Ned's family made regular appearances at the Benalla courthouse, while the boot shop in Arundel Street was the scene of one of his many fights with the police.
You need to get off the beaten track to see Kelly's bush haunts, though, as is usual in Victoria, distances are short and you're never too far from good wine and food.
Spotlight on Kelly Country
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Kelly Country : Travel Victoria
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Up in the north east of Victoria is Kelly Country, where the bushranger, Ned Kelly, roamed and the Kelly legacy lives on. But there's more to Kelly Country than Australia's greatest folk tale - the northeast of Victoria is a favourite destination fo...
Ned Kelly 2004
Affable Outlaws come to a stricky end
Accompanied by his gang he robs banks to survive and also to gather the money to free his family from prison.
Ned Kelly
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Ned Kelly Movie Trailer
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What do you think about Ned Kelly ?
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Australia : Lensography of My Place
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G'day from Melbourne, Australia, where I put these pages together while looking out the window at the kookaburras. I have a number of lenses on Australia, some dealing with the creatures who bound across this land, some highlighting the different pl...
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Leave poor old Ned a note ..
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Reply
- throughglasseyes throughglasseyes Sep 24, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
- Did you know that Ned's dad learned some of his bushranging traits in Tasmania?
That was in the days of the infamous Van Diemen's Land bushrangers.
I've just set up a new lens on MATTHEW BRADY - the Tasmanian 'gentleman' bushranger.
Though less well known than Ned Kelly, Brady's story is certainly worth reading.
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Reply
- GilWarzecha GilWarzecha Aug 23, 2009 @ 2:08 pm
- I didn't know anything about Ned before reading your lens. This is really interesting!!!!!
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- D.I.C D.I.C Apr 1, 2009 @ 6:54 am
- As everyone says he was a hero who was concerned about everyone's lives.Great job Ned
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- dalio dalio Apr 1, 2009 @ 1:55 am
- hi i think ned kelly is a hero
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- draik draik Mar 31, 2009 @ 10:05 pm
- Thanks for joining Famous People Group.
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