Glenrowan

Overview

Glenrowan is a world famous town, diminutive in size but shining with character as the location that brought to an end the reign of Australia's most famous bush ranger, Ned Kelly. Glenrowan is a beautiful town, close to Lake Mokoan and easily accessible to film crews.

History

It is thought that the Pallanganmiddang Aborigines occupied the area prior to white settlement which commenced with the Rowan brothers in 1846 (hence the town's name). The townsite developed as a service centre to the pastoral and agricultural enterprises of the area. It was proclaimed in 1861 and received a boost with the arrival of the railway in 1873.

In 1867 the Kelly family moved to a wooden hut at Eleven Mile Creek, not far to the south-west of Glenrowan.

Ned's last stand came when the gang returned to the hotel which was soon surrounded by the police who fired indiscriminately, killing two detainees (and wounding another two) in the process. Reinforcements arrived bringing the number of police to 34.

Ned escaped into the bush, returning at 5.00am to attempt a rescue of his compadres, at which time he was brought down by bullets in the leg, receiving 28 shot wounds in all.

The police set fire to the hotel to smoke out Dan Kelly (aged 19) and Steve Hart (aged 20) but they appear to have taken poison, although local historian, Gary Dean (the owner of Glenrowan Cobb & Co), believes the pair escaped altogether .

After a preliminary trial at Beechworth (during which the police feared a public rescue attempt) Ned Kelly was tried in Melbourne for murder and sentenced to death.

A petition with 60,000 signatures called for a reprieve, a personal appeal was made to the governor and a public meeting the night before the proposed execution was attended by 4,000 supporters. However, Ned Kelly was hanged on November 11. Famously, his last words were either 'Such Is Life' or 'Ah well, I suppose it has come to this'. His head was removed for phrenological study.

Places of interest

Kellyland
Kelly Statue
Kate's Cottage and Kelly Museum
Glenrowan Cobb & Co Souvenir Gift Shop and Museum
The Kelly Walk
Baileys of Glenrowan
Auldstone Cellars
Booth's Taminick Cellars
HJT Vineyards
The White Cottage Herb Garden
Lake Mokoan
Warby Range State Park
Couttie's Strawberry Farm

Accommodation

For more information or to book accommodation contact the Wangaratta Visitor Information Centre:

Address: 100-104 Murphy Street, Wangaratta
Freecall: 1800 801 065
Email: tourism@wangaratta.vic.gov.au

 

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