Ned Kelly Significance

Q. account for the lasting significance of Ned Kelly in Australian folklore.

The Australian outlaw Ned Kelly is a controversial figure in history whose character has transcended time to significantly impact Australian folklore. However, the context of Ned Kelly was likewise important to his longevity, as he stood against the injustice of the era. Consequently, this stance against injustice provided a legend for the lower classes of society. The rise of both technology and media have preserved Ned Kelly’s story and prevented it from disappearing through time. This endurance has caused Ned Kelly to have a significant impact in history.

The circumstances that Ned Kelly was raised in are crucial to his prolonged existence as an Australian icon. His father John Kelly was Irish and was sent to Australia as a convict for stealing two pigs. Ned’s mother Ellen Quinn, also Irish, came to Australia due to the potato famine in Ireland and was a free settler. Together they lived in the north east of Victoria, near Glenrowan, on 88 acres. This land was hired as they were to poor to own land. During the 1970’s land owning and location was important as there was a rise in both the manufacturing industry and railway development. This contributed to the success of farmers and skilled workers. However, the Kelly family as well as other families in the area were deficient in farming skills because they were unable to buy their own land. This was due to the Robertson land acts which was intended to allow more lower class people to own land. However, the Robertson Land act did not work in favour of the squatters. It was unintendedly a corrupted plan that prevented the poor from gaining land and wealth . Furthermore the poor squatters had limitations and restrictions towards what they could grow and own on the rented land. To ensure these limitations were meet the police would come around and take what the squatters had on their land continuing them in poverty. Consequently this...