State
Library of Victoria
Online Resources
 While I'm sure everyone is aware the State
Library of Victoria holds Ned Kelly's armour and the Jerilderie
Letter you may not be aware of their latest online
resources relating to Ned. Here are some you should
take time out to explore:
An interactive version of the Jerilderie Letter
Read the letter and transcription either individually
or side by side.
Link: slv.vic.gov.au/collections/treasures/jerilderieletter/index.html
Jerilderie Letter Soundscape
Immerse yourself in the drama of the Jerilderie siege,
when Ned Kelly and his gang took over the small Riverina
town in February 1879. Using voice, sound effects
and music, this 7.54 minute soundscape recreates
the events that led to Kelly handing over his Jerilderie
letter to Edwin Living. This soundscape, directed
by John Paul Fischbach, is a fictionalised version
of real incidents drawn from historical sources.
Link: slv.vic.gov.au/collections/treasures/jerilderie_letter/sound_jerilderie.html
Feature on Bushrangers (for Secondary School
children)
In the Victorian bush, one type of
criminal reigned supreme: the tough and ruthless bushranger.
Despite all their crimes against police and the general
population, Victoria's outlaws have always ignited
public fascination and sometimes sympathy. From Dan ‘Mad
Dog' Morgan to Ned Kelly, the bushranger is an icon
of 19th century life in the bush. Learn who these men
(and occasionally women) were, what they did, and why
they had such a huge impact on Victoria's criminal
history.
Link: slv.vic.gov.au/ergo/bushrangers
On Foot Resources
The Kelly Gang 1880 Pictures
Collection
328 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Take the free Ned Kelly tour with Airi Repetti
every Tuesday and Thursday starting at 10.30am. Visit
the permanent Ned Kelly display featuring his full
set of armour and an impressive mini-exhibition of
archives open daily at the State Library of Victoria.
Ned Kelly and his gang are Australia's most famous
bushrangers. Pursued by police for robbery and murder,
Ned Kelly was finally captured after a gun fight with
police at Glenrowan. His gang members died during the
siege and Kelly himself was later hanged at the Melbourne
Gaol on 11 November 1880. The armour held by the State
Library includes Ned Kelly's helmet, backplate, breastplate
and shoulderplate. Crudely constructed from parts of
ploughs, pieces of leather, and iron bolts, the armour
was assembled and tested by the gang in the year before
the Glenrowan raid.
Link: slv.vic.gov.au/collections/treasures/kelly_armour/kellyarmour1.html
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Steve
Hart descendant Paul O'Keefe has alerted me to yet
another ridiculous Kelly Gang claim (the latest in a line
of many). Not just content to see Dan escape, this time
around Steve also made a bolt from the Glenrowan Inn
fire (so why was Ned heading back when they had both left?).
Lucky Steve also headed north where he lived a long and
happy life in Queensland under the name of Billy Meade. Apparently
this Meade character confessed about his double identity
on his deathbed in 1938. Well, in that case, it
