During the early days of Australia, countryside bushrangers consisting of convict escapees and adventure-seekers survived by committing crimes such as stealing horses, holding up farms and travelers, and robbing banks and stores. The reasons for choosing this path varied, as some were convicts on the run while others did so to acquire necessary supplies.
Spanning almost a century, Australia witnessed a period of bushrangers starting with the first convict bushrangers who were active from 1790 until the 1860s. This continued with outlawed bushrangers in the 1860s and 1870s who were shot on sight, and ended with the shooting of the Kelly Gang in 1880. One famous bushranger was Jack Donohue, an Irishman who was sent to Sydney for a life sentence for theft. Donohue spent the first two years as an assigned convic
...t in 1825, and later joined a road gang. In 1828, he escaped with two other convicts and went on to steal and rob from bullock drays. Although Donohue's accomplices were caught and hanged, he managed to escape the same fate.
Frank Gardiner started his outlaw life by stealing horses when he was twenty, for which he received a 5 year jail sentence. He then led another gang for six months, receiving assistance from the villagers who informed them of the whereabouts of their targets. In 1829, a reward of £50 was offered for his capture and in September 1830, he was shot by a policeman.
After escaping and returning to stealing horses, the protagonist was captured and sentenced to 7 years in jail but was released after only 3 years. He then turned to butchering, but it was discovered that he sold stolen meat.
warrant was issued for his arrest, but instead of facing trial, he fled into the bush and formed a gang. Tired of small robberies, he and 6 others waited in the bush to ambush a stagecoach carrying a large amount of money and gold. While waiting, they forced two bullock drivers to abandon their teams and used the drays to create a blockade.
Upon the arrival of the stagecoach, it was intercepted and robbed, resulting in the division of its gold before the assailants departed. Four members of the gang were later apprehended, while Gardiner opted to relocate to Queensland and adopt an alternate identity. Nonetheless, he was incarcerated after two years and subsequently received a 34-year jail term.
After spending 10 years in prison, Ned Kelly, an Irish bushranger, was only released on the condition that he relocate from Australia. Therefore, he settled in San Francisco. Ned Kelly is widely recognized as one of Australia's most notorious bushrangers and began his life of crime by killing three police officers.
Joining him shortly after were Joe Byrne, Steve Hart, and Dan Kelly, his brother. He gained notoriety for the self-fabricated armor he wore during his criminal activities. Though he had been arrested multiple times before, he eventually sought refuge in the bush. After being shot in the leg, he surrendered and was hanged, famously uttering the words "Such is life" as his final statement.
Despite their transgressions, bushrangers hold a permanent place in the affections of Australians and will always be an important part of Australia's multifaceted past.
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