Restoring
the Glenrowan Siege Site
Since the late nineties, local volunteer
group the Glenrowan Improvers have been holding funraisers
to further their work at the Ned Kelly Siege Site in
Glenrowan. The
Improvers have been developing the Ned Kelly Siege
site for a number of years now with an authentic
replica of the 1880 Railway Station almost complete.
“During
the Siege more than 500 spectators watched the action
taking place from the Station; they sat along the
roof and along the platform and we are trying to
make the site as it was back in the 1880’s during
one of Australia’s most colourful and historic
events,” said Terry Kay, project manager with
the Improvers.
 Spectators
and plainclothed police pose on the railway platform
in the late stages of the siege. Fifth from the
left is Father Gibney. Note the group at right
with their backs to the camera as they crowd around
the door of the office where Ned Kelly lay.
The
Station also housed a badly bleeding Ned immediately
after he was caught and before he was taken to Benalla
and on to Melbourne. Terry added, “Proceeds
of this novel raffle of Ned Kelly’s suit of
armour will help us to develop the site further for
visitors and residents of Glenrowan.”
“Along
with the replica 1880 Railway Station, we have
also produced freely available self-guided walking
maps for visitors that outline where events took
place during the Siege and generally improved
the area of the site.”
“We
have erected interpretative boards at significant
locations around the 2 hectare site. Some of the
locations are where Ned Kelly was shot down (previously
an unmarked and generally unknown site), where Ann
Jones’ The Glenrowan Inn stood before it was
burned down by police incinerating Dan Kelly and
Steve Hart and other locations where fascinating
events took place,” said Mr Kay.
For
further information:
Glenrowan Improvers Inc
Neil Aird
c/o Glenrowan Post Office
Glenrowan
Victoria 3675
Email aird@whitecottageherbs.com.au
Telephone 03 5766 2285 |
