Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Wanted for murder

Wanted for murder

1878

Printed ephemera on cloth
Bequest of Sir William Dixson, 1952
DLADD 76 / item 19

From October 1878 until late June 1880, Ned Kelly and his gang were the most wanted men in the Australian colonies. By the time they were captured, the price on each of their heads had risen from £500 to £2000, and with their deaths they claimed a place in the national consciousness that remains unrivalled. Since then, they have been memorialised by painters, writers, musicians and filmmakers alike. More books, songs and websites have been written about Ned Kelly and his gang than any other group of Australian historical figures.

The Kelly Gang’s crime spree included several large bank robberies at Euroa and Jerilderie, before coming to a fiery end in a siege at the Glenrowan Hotel in late June 1880. Dan Kelly, Steve Hart and Joe Byrne all died in the siege. Ned Kelly was shot and wounded but survived to be tried in October that year and sentenced to death by hanging.

Details of this poster

Dated 13 December 1878, this poster increases the reward for the capture of Ned Kelly from £500 to £1000, with £500 for each of the other three gang members. It was purchased by Sir William Dixson from Melbourne bookseller A H Spencer in 1939; Spencer had acquired it from the nephew of ‘one of the pioneers of moving pictures in Melbourne [who] decided to do a film about Ned Kelly and after months of searching he was able to purchase this proclamation.’* The poster is of particular interest as it is annotated on the back with details of the number of posters printed and their distribution:

940. 13 & 14/12/78

₤2 500. / ₤1 000 Ned Kelly / & ₤500 each of others. / Murder of Police / 200 sent by Detectives to CC @ Benalla / night of 13/12/78 / Balance distributed from this office. 14/12/78 / 1010 said to be supplied / but 940 only received

Footnotes
 * Albert Henry Spencer letters to Sir William Dixson and invoices, receipts, etc, 2 September 1922 – 28 July 1952, DLADD 889 Letter 107, dated 10th June 1939