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Dan Morgan Born
Dan Morgan's real name was probably Jack Fuller. He was born in 1830, the illegitimate son of Mary Owen and George Fuller. -
Dan Morgan Arrested for Highway Robbery
Using the name "John Smith', Dan Morgan is arrested for highway robbery in Castlemaine and sentenced to twelve years hard labour. -
Ned Kelly Born
In June 1855, Ned Kelly was born at Beveridge, Victoria. He was the eldest son of Ellen and John, an Irishman who had been sentenced to seven years' transportation to Van Diemen's Land for stealing two pigs. -
Morgan Escapes
Dan Morgan is given a 'ticket-of-leave' (permission to live and work in a certain area, even though he had not finished his hard labour sentence) for good behaviour; however, he fails to report to police in the Ovens district.
He becomes known as 'Down-the-River Jack', and works as a station-hand and horse-breaker in the area. -
Morgan Steals Horse
In August 1860, Morgan steals a prize racehorse belonging to the prestigious Evans family at Whitfield. Evan Evans, the horse owner, tracked Morgan to his camp to confront him. Morgan was wounded, but escaped. -
Morgan Involved in Numerous Hold-Ups
Dan Morgan, now known as "Billy the Native", is sought by police for his involvement in several major hold-ups.
Even though he had not been charged as a murderer, a reward of 200 pounds was set for his capture, dead or alive. -
Morgan Shoots Overseer
Dan Morgan shoots dead the overseer of Round Hill Station during a raid on the property. -
Morgan Kills Police Officer
Morgan shoots and kills a police officer near Tumbarumba in NSW.
The reward for his capture is increased to 1000 pounds. -
Morgan Torments Squatters
In late 1864 and early 1865, Morgan takes great pleasure in targetting 'squatters', people who commanded large areas of land for cattle grazing. Morgan torments the head of the property, and makes sure that his workers get paid a decent wage. He insists that workers are given food and drink while he is there. -
Morgan Strikes Frequently
Between January and March of 1865, Morgan commits six major robberies and one attempted murder. -
Morgan Tries to Setlle Score
Morgan heads back to the Wangaratta area to try to settle his old score with Evan Evans, who wounded Morgan after he stole his horse.
He holds of Evans' station; hoewver, Evans is not at home. -
Peechelba Homestead
Morgan holds up the Macpherson Homestead at Peechelba, just north of Wangaratta. The owner of the property, George Rutherford, lives less than half a kilometre away. He is warned about Morgan's attack, and he rounds up his entire workforce along with police and armed citizens. They set out to the Macpherson homestead and hide in waiting. -
Morgan Killed
As he walks from the homestead to the stables to choose a horse to make his escape, Morgan is shot in the back by one of the men sitting watch, John Wendlan. He died at around 1:45pm. -
Morgan's Body Desecrated
Morgan's body is put on display in Wangaratta due to public demand to see that he is dead. Locks are cut from his hair and his beard was cut off as a souvenir of his death. Coin pouches are supposedly made from parts of his skin, and his head is cut off and sent to the University of Melbourne for study. -
Morgan Buried at Wangaratta
The remainder of Morgan's body is buried at the Wangaratta Cemetery. -
John Kelly Dies
Ned Kelly's father, John, dies. Left with no money, the family (Kelly's mother and four siblings) moved to a hut at Eleven Mile Creek, between Greta and Glenrowan, to be near his mother's family. Her brother and two brothers-in-law, the Lloyds, were known as horse and cattle thieves. -
Ned Arrested
In 1869, Ned is arrested for assaulting a Chinaman. He is kept in custody for 10 days, but released without charge. -
Ned Arrested Again
In 1870, Ned is arrested again, this time for being the accomplice of the notorious bushranger, Harry Power. He is held for seven weeks, but again, the charge is dismissed. -
Ned Jailed for 3 Years
Ned Kelly is sentenced to three years' imprisonment for receiving a horse that he knew had been stolen. -
Kelly Released from Prison
Ned Kelly is released from prison after three years. His mother marries George King, who convinces Kelly to join him in stealing horses. -
Mrs Kelly Arrested
A police trooper named Fitzpatrick goes to Mrs Kelly's home, supposedly to arrest her son Dan for stealing horses. Fitzpatrick claims that Ned Kelly shot him while he was at the home (although records indicate that Ned was not even at home.) Mrs Kelly is arrested and sentenced to three years' imprisonment for assisting in the attempted murder of Fitzpatrick. -
Ned & Dan Kelly go into Hiding
After their mother's arrest, Ned & his brother Dan go into hiding at Wombat's Creek, near Mansfield. They are joined by Joe Byrne, from Beechworth, and Steve Hart, a horseman from Wangaratta. -
Stringybark Creek
Four policemen (Kennedy, Lonigan, Scanlon and McIntyre) stop to camp at Stringybark Creek on a quest to capture Ned and Dan Kelly. Ned spots them camping, and reports back to the rest of the Kelly gang.
The next day, the Kelly Gang ambush the group. When Lonigan draws his gun, Ned shoots him dead. Kennedy and Scanlon also attack, and Ned shoots dead Scanlon and seriously wounds Kennedy, who he later shoots in the chest as an act of mercy. McIntyre runs away and alerts police in Mansfield. -
Dead or Alive
The Victorian Governmet offer a reward of 500 pounds for every member of the Kelly gang, alive or dead. -
Faithfull's Creek
The Kelly gang take possession of a sheep station near Faithfull's Creek, about 6 kilometres out of Euroa. They lock 22 people in a storeroom, and while Byrne guards the hostages, the other three travel into Euroa and rob the National Bank. They take 2000 pounds in gold and cash.
Police double the reward for each Kelly gang member to 1000 pounds. -
Kelly Gang Strike Again at Jerliderie
Despite the high reward now on their heads, the Kelly gang seem unstoppable. They strike again at Jerliderie in NSW, taking possession of a police station and locking up the two police officers who were there. The gang stayed there for 2 days. -
Bank of NSW, Jerilderie
Wearing police uniforms stolen from the station, the gang rob the Bank of NSW in Jerilderie. They steal 2,141 pounds.
Kelly dictates an 800 word letter to a secretary at the bank, justifying his actions.
Police increase the reward to 2000 pounds for each of the Kelly gang members. -
Siege at Glenrowan
The Kelly gang take possession of Mrs Ann Jones' hotel at Glenrowan, keeping about 60 people hostage.
They fitted themselves with heavy armour, barely slept, and drank a lot of alcohol, which severely affected their judgement. Because of their heavy armour, they began to think that they were invincible.
Police surrounded the hotel and began to shoot. Ned Kelly was wounded in the hand, arm and foot. He fled into the bush, while the others stayed inside the hotel. -
The End of the Kelly Gang
As police continued to fire on the hotel, Byrne was shot in the leg and bled to death.
At about 5am, Ned returned from the bush, and was shot in the legs.
Dan Kelly and Hart, realising that they could not escape, took poison to kill themselves. The building was set on fire, and their bodies were badly burned.
Two civilians were killed in the shootings. -
Ned Kelly Sentenced to Death
Kelly was sentenced to death for the murder of police officers. There was much public outcry about his sentence, and many people campaigned for his sentence to be changed. -
Kelly Hanged at Old Melbourne Gaol
Ned Kelly is hanged at the Old Melbourne Gaol. He meets his end without fear, saying "ah well, I suppose it had to come with this". Another popular version of his last words is "such is life".
