The pursuit and capture of Ned Kelly

The University Melbourne Archives holds several collections relating to the bushranger, Edward (Ned) Kelly (1855 - 1880).

Portrait of the bushranger Ned Kelly
Portrait of the bushranger Ned Kelly, 10 November 1880, Howship Studios, 1988.0137.00272

There are comprehensive records relating to the pursuit, capture and trial of bushranger Edward (Ned) Kelly (1855 – 1880).

The Francis Hare collection comprises 54 letters and documents covering 1859-87 received by and relating to Superintendent Francis Hare, one of Kelly's pursuers and briefly in charge of the first stage of Kelly's capture. Nicely complementing his published memoir, The Last of the Bushrangers (London, 1892), the collection includes letters by some of the key figures of the Kelly gang story including the Police Commissioner Frederick Standish, Superintendents Nicholson and Sadleir, Detective M. Ward and John Sherritt, as well. They have been digitised and are available on our online digitised images catalogue.

Another important record in the narrative of Ned Kelly is the 'Brief for the Prosecution' (accession number 2011.0050) is the case of The Queen versus Edward Kelly for the Willful murder of Thomas Lonigan.  This document comprises witnesses accounts for the Prosecution from: Thomas McIntyre, Samuel Reynolds, George Stephens, James Gloster, Frank Becraft, Robert Scott, Robert McDougall, Henry Dudley, Edward Richard Living, John Kelly. At the conclusion of the case, Edward Kelly was found guilty of the murder of Constable Thomas Lonigan at Stringybark Cree and judge Redmond Barry sentenced him to death by hanging.

Two portraits and five scenes from the Glenrowan Railway Station shortly after the capture of Ned Kelly from the Howship Studio collection which are digitised and can be accessed online, using the search terms “Ned Kelly” via the University of Melbourne Image Catalogue.

Group of men standing on Glenrowen Railway station platform

A scene at Glenrowan Railway Station shortly after the capture of Ned Kelly, 1880, Howship Studios, 1988.0137.00427