Woodcut of Ned Kelly, The Illustrated London News

Murderer and self-confessed stock-thief, Ned Kelly is arguably Australia’s most recognised historical character, at least superficially. Born in December 1854, he was in trouble with the police of north-eastern Victoria from an early age. His ‘troubles’ quickly escalated through indecent behaviour, assault and stock theft to killing police and robbing banks. Finally, at Glenrowan in June 1880, he and his gang donned suits of armour to make a dramatic, but doomed, stand against the Victorian police. Kelly was taken prisoner, tried and found guilty for the murder of Constable Scanlon at Stringybark Creek. He was hanged at Melbourne Gaol on 11 November 1880.