Ned Kelly: True Folk Hero or Australian Outlaw?

• Tweet
• Share
• Email

Irish-Australian Bushranger (outlaw), Edward “Ned” Kelly, was considered by many as nothing more than a thief and cold-blooded killer. However, there were others who considered him to be a true hero and symbol of strength for his defiance of the colonial authorities and British ruling class. Similar to America’s Jesse James, England’s Ronnie Biggs or Canada’s Paddy Mitchell, Ned Kelly is a name that will forever live on in Australian history.

Image By yewenyi

Ned Kelly’s criminal roots seemed to trace back to his father, “Red” Kelly, who was a convict in his own right. Red was what they called a “transported convict”. One that had been transported to Australia and then remained there as a free man, after he served his time.

Because he had served his time, Ned’s father was entitled to a piece of land. It was on this piece of land that the Kelly family made its living. They raised, rustled and traded horses. As a result of their activities, criminal charges were not uncommon. Ned, his brother and other members of the family would often escape into the bush in order to avoid being prosecuted.

Ned Kelly’s ability to run from the law didn’t last long though. In 1878 he was hiding out in the bush, when his mother was sentenced to three years in jail as a result of what was apparently a trumped up murder charge. Despite the 100 pound bounty on his head, Ned headed home in order to avenge his mother.

Police came close to catching the Kellys when they ended up setting up camp close to the Kellys’ hideout. It was this unfortunately circumstance however that ended up costing  3 out of the 4 policeman their lives. Needless to say, the Kellys fled. They were responsible for a string of robberies to “finance” their escape and as a result, the bounty on the Kellys increased to 8000 pounds.

For almost a year and a half, there was no sign of the Kellys. Then, Ned Kelly’s final confrontation took place in June 1880 at Glenrowan. This epic battle is as famous in Australian history as the gunfight at the OK Corral.

Ned Kelly and his gang were dressed in home-made metal armor and attempted to defend themselves from the safety of a local hotel, where they had also taken about 30 hostages. Ned managed to escape the hotel, but in the end returned, guns blazing, in an attempt to rescue his brother. It was then that he was caught and shortly after, sentenced to hang.

Since that time Ned Kelly has been carved in Australian history as a folk hero and has been immortalized through books, songs, movies, museums and more. The phrase “as game as Ned Kelly” has even been accepted as a common expression throughout Australia and is recognized to mean being very brave or courageous.

Image By aunwin

Image By Johnsyweb

Image By willposh

Image By SplaTT

Image By yovanoff

Image By kleinmatt66

Image By ozjimbob

Image By vfowler

Image By Skyco

Image By rex libris

Image By celineon

Image By Kaptain Kobold

Image By mike lowe

Image By louisa_catlover

Image By michaelpickard

Image By superciliousness

Image By superciliousness