The Treacherous Thomas Kenton
Matthew Brady was not a killer by nature, but there was one man that pushed him to breaking point: a traitor who played both sides of the law for fools. Continue reading The Treacherous Thomas Kenton
Category: Tasmanian bushrangers
Articles pertaining to bushrangers that operated predominantly in Tasmania.
The most grisly bushranger stories
[Warning: The content in this article may be distressing for some readers. Discretion is advised.] Justin Kurzel’s hyper-stylised and ultraviolent interpretation of True History of the Kelly Gang received positive reviews when it debuted in Toronto in September 2019 and … Continue reading The most grisly bushranger stories
The Death of Captain Melville
Many bushrangers met grisly ends over the course of history, and a considerable portion of them met their end within prison walls. Yet very few can lay claim to such a gruesome end as Francis MacNeish McCallum, alias Captain Melville. … Continue reading The Death of Captain Melville
The Brady Gang take Sorell
“Gentleman bushranger” Matthew Brady had been at large for a considerable stretch after his escape from Macquarie Harbour, a fact that only emboldened him and his confederates. Brady was wanted for murder and a reward had been offered for his … Continue reading The Brady Gang take Sorell
The Murder of William Drew
In October 1817, the bushranger Michael Howe was finally captured. He had been on the run with a string of raids, murders and arson attacks in his wake. A former accomplice and an associate had conspired to catch him and … Continue reading The Murder of William Drew
Ten Bushrangers Who Deserve Their Own Movie
With multiple film productions about Ned Kelly underway, it’s clear that bushrangers are becoming a popular topic once more. However, there are many bushrangers who deserve their own films as well and here are some of the great stories waiting to be brought to life. Some have been brought to the screen before in silent films that have since vanished, some were slated to be filmed but the projects never got off the ground and some just had bad outings in the past. Continue reading Ten Bushrangers Who Deserve Their Own Movie
Spotlight: The Trial of Captain Melville
[This report of the trial of one of the most infamous bushrangers of the 1850s, Francis McCallum aka Captain Melville, gives a brief run down of the charge and the trial. McCallum was a Scottish convict who used a myriad … Continue reading Spotlight: The Trial of Captain Melville
Bradley and O’Connor: An Overview
There are scores of bushrangers whose names have faded from public consciousness over the decades, a phenomenon not entirely due to the nature of their activities. Henry Bradley and Patrick O’Connor are hardly household names now but their exploits in the 1850s are nothing short of astounding and even resulted in a geographical feature being named after them: Bushrangers Bay. Continue reading Bradley and O’Connor: An Overview
Spotlight: Relics of Cash and Co.
This innocuous image by C. Southey portrays a myriad of items purported to be linked to the bushrangers Martin Cash, Lawrence Kavanagh and George Jones, aka Cash and Co. The image is a mish-mash of convict paraphernalia sprinkled with weaponry of outlaws and constabulary. The items all tell a fascinating story about crime and punishment and life in the penal system in the 1800s. For example, the convict cap appears to be a half circle of material here, but what is not on show is the functionality of the piece. The cap was made of leather to trap heat in … Continue reading Spotlight: Relics of Cash and Co.
Bushranging: A Man’s World?
Without doubt the world of bushrangers is dominated by men. However there are three notable female bushrangers who more than hold their own with their male counterparts. Here are the three lady bushrangers of note who stand toe to toe with the best of them. Continue reading Bushranging: A Man’s World?
