The story of the Kelly family is a very tragic one, a story quite common in those early days where the police of the time, harried, harassed and pursued individuals or groups until they retaliated and were forced into a life of crime in order to survive. The police often wrongfully accused and arrested people sometimes on hearsay, in order to be seen to be doing their job, being under pressure from their superiors. Many, including the Kelly's were not angels, as you will see!!

Mr. Kelly Snr was transported from Ireland around 1850 and with his wife Ellen (nee Quinn) raised 7 children. Edward (Ned) Kelly was born in Wallan Wallan in 1854, James (Jim) in 1856 and Dan in 1861 and also 4 Daughters. The first to break out was Jim, who at age 15 got 4 years jail for horse stealing. He was released but was arrested again for robbery and sent down for another 10 years, thus he was in jail at the time the Kelly gang were in their hay-day.                          

Ned (left) and Jim (right) were very much alike in looks but Jim was well over 6ft tall and weighed 12 stone. Ned Kelly was first arrested in 1870 and charged with aiding and assisting the Bushranger Harry Power in his exploits. Horse stealing was the principal industry for them along with cattle duffing (faking brands). The Kelly's, the Harts and the Byrne families were all adapt at both these activities. In 1876 Dan the youngest, was jailed for 3 months for horse stealing, by 1877 he was wanted for 6 other horse stealing charges, but he was too elusive and could not be found. On 18th April 1878 Constable Alex Fitzpatrick was passed information putting young Dan at home in Greta. He knew that Harry Power often frequented the Kelly home and went to the house. Dan actually answered his knock at the door and agreed to go with the trooper into custody. Mrs. Kelly invited Fitzpatrick to share the evening meal with them before leaving, he reluctantly agreed. When his attention was diverted at the arrival of Ned, Mrs. Kelly whacked him over the head with a shovel and in the scuffle Ned fired a shot which accidentally hit the trooper in the arm. He promised to say nothing and he was told he was free to go. The word soon got out that there was a big push on to take the Kelly boys, Ned and Dan fled into the bush to hide, while 25 men with black trackers searched for them.

All that remains of the Kelly homestead today, it still remains a reminder of their defiance against a cruel and unjust penal system. Below is the old homestead as it was back then in the 1800's.

The Kelly home at Greta.   On the 26th October 1878 at Stringy Bark Creek, Ned & Dan came across a police camp and Constables Lonergan and Scanlan were killed in the fight. The third man Constable McIntyre hid in a wombats hole and escaped to give the alarm, walking 20 miles even though he had been shot. The Victorian Government quickly put a 100 pound bounty on their heads, also on the heads of Steve Hart and Joe Byrne who had by this joined the gang. So from here on there was no going back, the future was all they had. They roamed far and wide robbing stage coaches, banks, traveller's and even whole towns. They took control of a town called Jerilderie in New South Wales and actually held up the Police Station on 6th Feb 1879, holding the town of 300 hostage.

Joe Byrne (left) and Steve Hart  were now an integral part of the gang. Joe's sister was engaged to Aaron Sherritt the son of a policeman who tried to keep his alliance with the Kelly's quiet.

By this time the bounty offered for their capture had risen to 8000 pounds, a huge sum for that day, and the police were pressuring Sherritt for information leading to their arrest, in exchange for the whole sum of 8000 pounds. This news soon got around, he even led the police to campsites used by the gang. When Mrs. Byrne found out she kicked him out and the engagement was broken off. On the 27th June 1880 there was a knock at the Sherritt's door and when he opened it he was shot dead by Joe Byrne in retaliation. As a result of this action the Kelly gang went very quiet in the later half of 1879 until mid 1880 when they came out of hiding and commenced their operations. On hearing this Superintendent O'Hare and other high ranking police left on a special train for the Glenrowan area with many his troopers, also troopers from the Wangaratta area came to Glenrowan. As the train was approaching Glenrowan the school teacher Mr. Curnow waved down the train and warned them that the gang had torn up the rails just ahead. Constable Bracken arrived to tell O'Hare that the gang had taken control of the 'Glenrowan Inn' and taken 63 people hostage inside. The order was given and the Inn came under intense fire from the troopers, the gang returned fire and indicated that they were making a last stand and intended to wipe out the colony's police force.

 At 5pm  the owner Mrs. Ann Jones came out of the Inn and pleaded for help for the wounded which included some children. This allowed the wounded to be removed from the scene. O'Hare who had his wrist shattered by a bullet, also left for treatment. Not long afterwards a figure clad in armour stepped out from behind a tree and yelled "You'll never take me alive". The troopers could not understand the ringing sound that was going on, then Sergeant Arthur Steele realised what it was and got behind him and started shooting at his legs as they were the only part of him uncovered. He was finally brought down and captured.

Ned Kelly and Joe Byrne both wore suits of armour which were incredibly heavy and were made from Plough Share steel which was .25" or 5mm thick.  

The fight continued until 3pm when Constable Johnson under cover of a savage volley carried a pile of straw up to the side of the Inn and set fire to it. It soon died down and the ruse was considered to be a failure, the Mrs. Skillian a sister of Ned Kelly rode up to the Inn and intended to try and talk her brother Dan into giving up, but before this could happen flames burst out of the roof. When the flames died down a priest Father Gibney from Perth Western Australia and some police entered the Inn and saw the carnage before them. The scorched body of Joe Byrne, was removed from the scene.

Suddenly a gust of wind fanned the flames again and the whole Inn was engulfed in fire. After the fire went out the charred bodies of Steve Hart and Dan Kelly were given to Mrs. Skillian for burial, the body of Joe Byrne was reserved for the inquest. 

Many of Ned Kelly's followers and supporters, and including Ned, Jim and their mother all did time in the terrible 'Beechworth Jail'.

Many other criminals, bushrangers and all around 'Bad Boys' spent many a vacation in this goal.

The trial of Ned Kelly began at Beechworth  on the 28th October 1880 and by the second day had been found guilty.

He spoke quite freely blaming no one but himself, he said it is too late for me to talk now, but if I had been allowed to question the witness's, it would have shown things in a different light.

I do not fear death, no more than drinking a cup of tea, I don't care one straw about my life, on the evidence that was given, no juryman could have given any other verdict.

This picture of a much older Ned Kelly was taken when he was in chains in Melbourne Goal, on the day before his death by hanging. Ned was relaxed, still stubborn, defiant and ready to face his destiny. 

He looked in good health, but his left arm was paralysed, he had a bruised forehead and body bruises caused by his captors. He was assisted in standing up for this picture by a wooden stand which can be just seen between his legs.

Ned Kelly was hanged in Melbourne Jail at 10.00am on the 11th November 1880, his last words were" So life has come to this.... such is life!!"

As a result of the siege at Glenrowan, in 1881 a Royal Commission was called to investigate the Victorian Police Force, which could indicate that there may have been a lot of truth in what the under privileged were saying. Many of the so called "Outlaws" were harassed by the Police into the life they were forced to lead. Ned, on more than one occasion wrote to the authorities, trying to plead his case and explain the reasons for his actions. They were never published until 'after' his death.

Left is a plaster 'Death-Mask' made soon after Ned's death, his body was dismembered and given to a University for examination.

Above right, is  the stock of Ned's carbine with his initials 'NK' carved in the handle. This rifle is also on show at the Victorian State Library in Melbourne.

It is incorrectly to label the 'Kelly's' as the last bushrangers because the last Cobb & Co coach to be 'Bailed up and Robbed' happened in 1910, the last 'Robbery under Arms' was recorded in 1932.