Bushrangers were outlaws in Australia in the 19th century who robbed, killed, and disrupted society. Many of them were former convicts who had escaped the rough penal system, turned towards crime, and operated in the Australian bush. They were infamous for their daring robberies of travellers and stages, stealing of cattle and horses, and violent activities. The peak of the bushranger phenomenon was in the 1850s and 1860s due to the gold rush in the country. Some of the most notorious bushrangers include Ned Kelly, Ben Hall, and Captain Thunderbolt. The bushranger era ended thanks to improved law enforcement and harsher punishments.
The Infamous Bushrangers of Early Australian History
Australia’s early history is filled with tales of bushrangers, those outlaws or bandits who roamed the countryside, eluding the law and stealing from the wealthy. The bushrangers played an important role in shaping the country’s national identity and folklore, and their stories are still told and retold to this day.
Who were the Bushrangers?
Bushrangers were the outlaws who operated in the Australian bush during the 19th century, when the country was still a young colony. They were usually men who had been convicts, escaped from the harsh penal system or free settlers who turned towards crime. The bushrangers were notorious for robbing travellers and stages, stealing cattle and horses and, sometimes, even engaging in violent activities.
The bushranger phenomenon started in the late 1700s but reached its peak in the 1850s and 1860s, during the gold rush era. The discovery of substantial gold mines attracted tides of adventurers and prospectors and, with them, came crime.
Some of the Most Notorious Bushrangers
Ned Kelly, the Kelly Gang
Perhaps the most famous and enduring of all the bushrangers was Ned Kelly. The leader of the Kelly Gang, he was born in 1854 and grew up in Victoria. Kelly and his gang were involved in a series of audacious robberies and took on the police in a series of shootouts. Kelly was eventually captured and hanged in Melbourne in 1880, but his story has inspired countless books, films and plays.
Ben Hall
Another famous bushranger was Ben Hall. He and his gang were known for their daring daylight robberies, which saw them taking from the wealthy and giving to the poor. Hall was shot dead in 1865, but the legend of the brave “gentleman bushranger” has persisted.
Captain Thunderbolt (Frederick Ward)
One of the most notorious bushrangers in New South Wales was Captain Thunderbolt (real name, Frederick Ward). He eluded the police for several years before being killed in 1870, in a shoot-out.
HTML Headings
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– Who were the Bushrangers?
– The Infamous Bushrangers of Early Australian History
– The Kelly Gang: The Most Famous Bushrangers
– The Story of Ben Hall: The Gentleman Bushranger
– The Notorious Captain Thunderbolt
FAQs
Here are some FAQs about bushrangers:
Q: When did the bushranger phenomenon start?
A: The bushranger phenomenon started in the late 1700s but reached its peak in the 1850s and 1860s.
Q: Who were the bushrangers?
A: Bushrangers were outlaws or bandits who roamed the Australian countryside, eluding the law and stealing from the wealthy.
Q: Why did the bushranger phenomenon occur?
A: The bushranger phenomenon occurred due to the harsh penal system in the country, the gold rush era, and the lack of law enforcement in the outback.
Q: Who were some of the most famous bushrangers?
A: Some of the most famous bushrangers include Ned Kelly, Ben Hall, and Captain Thunderbolt.
Q: How did the bushranger phenomenon end?
A: The bushranger phenomenon came to an end thanks to better law enforcement and harsher punishments. By the early 1900s, the era of the bushrangers had come to a close.
