Ned became famous in 1878 for murdering three policeman at Stringybark Creek in the Wombat Ranges near Mansfield. They were about to arrest him for stealing horses, but had angered young Ned by earlier arresting his mummy for aiding and abetting. While on the run, Ned did daring things like rob banks at those well-defended metropolises, Euroa and Jerilderie. He was eventually cornered in Glenrowan, in central Victoria, where he and his gang had a whopping big shoot out with a train load of police while prancing around in homemade armour fabricated from ploughshares. The police may have had the numbers but seem to have left their wits at the train station. It took them several hours, and a considerable percentage of Victoria's munitions stockpile, to realise that shooting at Ned's cast iron clad torso and head was not having the desired effect. Someone eventually aimed for his legs, Ned was captured and taken to Melbourne where he was tried and hanged on 11 November 1880. On her last visit, Ned's mummy told him to die like a Kelly. He met his end bravely, uttering famous last words such as, `Ah well, I suppose it has come to this'.
The village of Glenrowan now does its best to milk (albeit quite wittily) every last drop from the Kelly myth. Kelly's death mask, armour and the gallows on which he died are on display in the Old Melbourne Gaol. Sir Sidney Nolan's iconic bucket paintings grace the National Gallery of Victoria. It's only a matter of time before buckethead himself is on the national flag, both guns blazing.
Ned Kelly is arguably Australia's greatest folk hero, but he was, in fact, nothing more than a common horse thief. The elevation of this murdering petty crim to the status of national icon is bewildering, but balladeers, poets, Sir Sidney Nolan and Mick Jagger have all played a significant part. The result is a dire mythology which potently satisfies Australians' perception of themselves as rebellious and anti-authoritarian characters who love their mums.
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