Glenrowan-Home of Ned Kelly can be found in the state of Victoria.
Are you familiar with our US History? Specifically do you recall in your history lessons the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral? It was an infamous shootout in the American West during the late 1800s in the town of Tombstone, Arizona. I mention it because it was exactly what I thought of when I was introduced to Ned Kelly on my first visit to Australia. The whole trip was a reminder of how closely tied our histories are with Australia despite being located on opposite ends of the world.
Like our own famous “Cowboys” from the Gunfight, Australia had its own shootout with its “Bushrangers”, led by the outlaw Ned Kelly.
Ned and his gang had been alluding the police for two years, but in 1880 they had their final showdown in Glenrowan. Kelly was not shot, but taking into custody. He was convicted and sentenced to death. His last words are reportedly said to have been “such is life.”
He still stands as a cultural icon and one of the most written about Australians in Australia. Some sympathizing and seeing him more of Robin Hood then the outlaw and murderous villain he was convicted of being.
Journalist Martin Flanagan wrote:
“What makes Ned a legend is not that everyone sees him the same—it’s that everyone sees him. Like a bushfire on the horizon casting its red glow into the night.” From <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Kelly>
What else is great about making a stop in Glenrowan to see Ned?
You can tie your history lesson to one of Australia’s well known and oldest wine regions dating back to 1870. The area has 13 growers and 7 cellar doors. Shiraz is the main wine produced along with delightful fortified wines. A winery worth making a stop and taste at is Baileys of Glenrowan. They have been in the wine business for 145 years with a spectacular site in the Warby Ranges. If you enjoy these wines and consider yourself a true wine drinker, you may be interested in joining their 1870 wine club. So, let’s raise a glass to Ned Kelly and the other the legend makers that have shaped our country’s histories.
Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI.
She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds. Her agency’s focus is on creating custom itineraries with their client’s wants, desires, and budgets in mind. She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember. With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide variety of leisure vacation planning.
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