Cultural depictions of Ned Kelly
19th-century bushranger whose life inspired extensive cultural works.
Ned Kelly, a 19th-century Australian bushranger and outlaw, remains a prominent figure in the arts and popular culture, particularly within Australia, where some regard him as a Robin Hood-like character. His story has been adapted across theatre, literature, visual arts, and iconography.
In theatre, the late 1890s saw the popular melodrama *The Kelly Gang* by Arnold Denham. Other early plays include *Catching the Kellys* (1879) by J. Pickersgill, *Ostracized* (1881) by E.C. Martin, *The Kelly Gang* by Dan Berry, and *Outlaw Kelly* (1899) by Lancelot Booth. Later works include Douglas Stewart’s *Ned Kelly*, first produced on radio in 1942 and staged from the mid-1940s; *Ned Kelly* by Harry Leader and Bernard Espinasse; and *Ned Kelly* by James Clancy, with a Joan Littlewood production in London in 1960. A large-scale musical by Reg Livermore and Patrick Flynn played in Adelaide and Sydney in 1977–78. In 2012, Matthew Ryan’s play *Kelly* premiered at Queensland Theatre Company, focusing on Kelly’s final night alive; it toured nationally in 2015 and received a Helpmann Award nomination. Another musical, *Ned: A New Australian Musical*, with book by Anna Lyon and Marc Mcintyre and music by Adam Lyon, premiered in Bendigo in 2015 and had a concert version in Melbourne in 2017.
In literature, A. Bertram Chandler’s novel *Kelly Country* (1983) presents an alternate history where Kelly leads a successful revolution, creating an Australian Republic that becomes a hereditary dictatorship. Robert Drewe’s *Our Sunshine* (1991) served as the basis for the 2003 film *Ned Kelly* starring Heath Ledger. Peter Carey’s *True History of the Kelly Gang* (2000) won the Booker Prize and Commonwealth Writers Prize. Terry Pratchett’s *The Last Continent* features a character loosely based on Kelly named “Tinhead Ned.”
Bush poetry and verse from the Kelly era (1878–80) included many poems and ditties about the gang’s exploits, some later set to music. One example, “Stringybark Creek,” was sung to the tune of “The Wearing of the Green” during the outbreak, and offenders caught singing it faced fines or imprisonment.
In iconography, the town of Jerilderie built its police station with structural elements mimicking Kelly’s distinctive face plate, including walls of differently toned bricks and storm drains cut to form his image. An image of Kelly based on Sidney Nolan’s work appear
- field
- Bushranger, outlaw
- nationality
- Australian
- known_for
- Inspiration for numerous works in arts and popular culture; viewed by some as a Robin Hood-like figure
Lore & Background
Ned Kelly was a 19th-century Australian bushranger and outlaw. His life has inspired numerous works in the arts and popular culture, especially in his home country, where he is viewed by some as a Robin Hood-like figure. The distinctive homemade armour he wore for his final unsuccessful stand against the police was the subject of a famous series of paintings by Sidney Nolan.
Reader's Guide
Ned Kelly's cultural significance extends across multiple media. In theatre, plays such as 'The Kelly Gang' by Arnold Denham (late 1890s) and 'Ned Kelly' by Douglas Stewart (first produced for radio in 1942) were early adaptations. Later works include Matthew Ryan's 'Kelly' (2012) and the musical 'Ned: A New Australian Musical' (2015). In literature, A. Bertram Chandler's 'Kelly Country' (1983) presents an alternate history, while Peter Carey's 'True History of the Kelly Gang' (2000) won the Booker Prize. Film depictions range from the world's first feature-length film 'The Story of the Kelly Gang' (1906) to the 2003 film 'Ned Kelly' starring Heath Ledger. Visual arts include Sidney Nolan's famous paintings and street artist Ha-Ha's stencils. Kelly's image has appeared in political cartoons, Olympic ceremonies, and even on a stamp/envelope set marking the centenary of his capture. His iconic armour and face plate have been replicated in architecture and advertising.
Did You Know?
- The 1906 film 'The Story of the Kelly Gang' is recognised as the world's first feature-length film, with a then-unprecedented running time of 60 minutes.
- Peter Carey's novel 'True History of the Kelly Gang' was awarded the 2001 Booker Prize and the Commonwealth Writers Prize.
- An image of Kelly, based on Sidney Nolan's imagery, appeared in the 'Tin Symphony' segment of the opening ceremony for the 2000 Olympic Games.
- A cartoon in Melbourne Punch (21 June 1900) titled 'BAIL-UP!' depicted the Kelly Gang capturing Boer President Paul Kruger's train.
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