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July 28, 2026Short & citedBlog
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People File • Outlaw

Ned Kelly

Ned Kelly (c.

Updated July 28, 20261 min readCited sources

Ned Kelly (c. 1854/1855–1880) was an Australian bushranger and gang leader who became the most famous outlaw in Australian history. He led the Kelly Gang in robberies and armed confrontations before being captured and executed.

Early life

Kelly was born in Beveridge, Victoria, to John 'Red' Kelly and Ellen Quinn. Sources disagree on whether he was born in December 1854 or June 1855, and his exact birth date is not known.

Bushranging career

After earlier convictions for assault and receiving stolen property, Kelly became the leader of the Kelly Gang. The gang’s robberies and violent confrontations with police made him nationally notorious.

Capture and execution

Kelly was wounded and captured after the Glenrowan siege in 1880. He was later tried in Melbourne, found guilty, and hanged at the Old Melbourne Gaol on 11 November 1880.

In short

  • Leader of the Kelly Gang, Australia's most famous bushranger.
  • Wore homemade metal armour in final shootout at Glenrowan.
  • Captured after siege and executed by hanging in 1880.
  • His Jerilderie Letter attempted to justify his outlaw actions.

Quick questions

Who was Ned Kelly?
Ned Kelly was an Australian bushranger and outlaw who led the Kelly Gang in the late 1870s and early 1880s.
Why is Ned Kelly famous?
He is famous for leading the Kelly Gang, robbing banks, confronting police, and becoming Australia’s best-known outlaw figure.
How did Ned Kelly die?
He was convicted in Melbourne and executed by hanging at the Old Melbourne Gaol on 11 November 1880.

Sources

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ned-Kelly-Australian-bandit
    Supports: Birth place and date range, bushranger status, police shooting incident, Kelly Gang robberies, capture, and execution.
  2. State Library Victoria — https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/explore-collections-theme/australian-history/ned-kelly/ned-kelly-fact-sheet
    Supports: Approximate birth details, family background, prior convictions, Jerilderie Letter, trial, and execution.
  3. Australian Dictionary of Biography — https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/kelly-edward-ned-3933
    Supports: Birth and death details and execution in Melbourne.
  4. National Museum of Australia — https://digital-classroom.nma.gov.au/learning-modules/colonial-australia-defining-moments-1788-1900/112-ned-kelly-hero-or-murderer
    Supports: Definition of bushranger, police killings, cultural legacy, and public reputation.
  5. Visit Victoria / Visit Melbourne — https://www.visitmelbourne.com/see-and-do/art-and-culture/history-and-heritage/victorian-stories/ned-kelly
    Supports: Born near Beveridge, preliminary hearing, execution at Old Melbourne Gaol, and famous last words tradition.