Skip to main content
Menu

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The outlaws coolly disported themselves

Ned Kelly & co at Euroa, 9 and 10 December 1878

by Joanna Gilmour, 9 December 2015

Prison photograph of Ned Kelly c.1873, image courtesy National Museum of Australia.

The Felons Apprehension Act was something a colonial government could keep up its sleeve in the event of an especially formidable criminal adversary. The Victorian parliament accordingly passed the legislation in late October 1878, within days of the killing of three police officers by Ned Kelly and his gang at Stringybark Creek. The bushrangers ignored the official order to hand themselves in and thus were declared outlaws, meaning that any citizen with the gumption to do so could shoot or apprehend them without fear of having to account for such actions in court.

Ned, his brother Dan and mates Steve Hart and Joe Byrne consequently went to ground, resurfacing on 9 December 1878 at a sheep station a few miles from Euroa. There, they engaged in what seems to have been standard station hold-up procedure: taking and detaining hostages, brandishing firearms, demanding refreshments for themselves and their horses, and allegedly sampling items from a hawker’s wagon load of merchandise. 'Each man arrayed himself in a new rig from head to foot, and even such luxuries as soaps and perfumery were not despised, the bushrangers pouring bottles of the latter over themselves, and pocketing the former for future use', or so The Age said.

The next morning they sabotaged telegraph wires, facilitating the hold-up of the Euroa branch of the National Bank later in the day by Ned, Dan and Steve. 'The robbery was altogether a most audacious one, and at the same time was cleverly planned, for although it was committed in broad daylight, everything was so well-managed that the residents of the township had not the slightest idea of what was being done'. The outlaws, who had scored close to £2000 from their efforts at the bank, then 'returned to their haunts in the ranges', Ned Kelly and Joe Byrne having taken the opportunity to pen a letter in which Ned largely attributed to police persecution and cowardice his recourse to arms and bushranging. 'I was outlawed without any cause and cannot be no worse & have but once to die', Kelly stated, '& if the Public do not see justice done I will seek revenge for the name and character which has been given to me and my relations while god gives me strength to pull a trigger'. One copy of the letter was sent to a police superintendent, and another to a member of parliament whom Kelly hoped would help lend credence to his claims. Meanwhile, 'great excitement and a general feeling of insecurity prevails all over the district', no one knowing where or when the gang would next make an appearance. 

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency