Bushrangers
Australia was a penal colony and life in the colony was anything but easy.
Convicts endured hard work, long hours, poor accommodation and shortages of food. As a result, many of them became 'bolters', preferring to take their chance in the bush rather than live a convict life.
These men became the first bushrangers, robbing travellers and farmers for food, money, guns and horses. The attacks were often brutal, since the convict bushrangers had nothing to lose and bushrangers became greatly feared throughout the colony.
More and more men took to bushranging as the gold rush brought large numbers of immigrants and much wealth to the bush. There were no banks on the goldfields so those who found wealth had to keep their treasure with them. This meant that they became easy targets for thieves who preferred stealing to working.
Gold was transported to Sydney on three heavy coaches once a week. These coaches, as well as travellers on lonely roads, became the chief prey for bushrangers.
Police had almost no chance of stopping the attacks and they were heavily criticised for their incompetence.
Convicts endured hard work, long hours, poor accommodation and shortages of food. As a result, many of them became 'bolters', preferring to take their chance in the bush rather than live a convict life.
These men became the first bushrangers, robbing travellers and farmers for food, money, guns and horses. The attacks were often brutal, since the convict bushrangers had nothing to lose and bushrangers became greatly feared throughout the colony.
More and more men took to bushranging as the gold rush brought large numbers of immigrants and much wealth to the bush. There were no banks on the goldfields so those who found wealth had to keep their treasure with them. This meant that they became easy targets for thieves who preferred stealing to working.
Gold was transported to Sydney on three heavy coaches once a week. These coaches, as well as travellers on lonely roads, became the chief prey for bushrangers.
Police had almost no chance of stopping the attacks and they were heavily criticised for their incompetence.
A New Breed of Bushranger
After the convict bushrangers came a new breed of thief.
They were wild colonial boys, born and brought up in the bush. They were usually the sons of poor free settlers and were often from Irish families who hated the English. The English had controlled Ireland for many years and had treated the Irish very badly and this hatred persisted even though the families had left Ireland so long ago.
These new bushrangers were skilled horsemen and stronger and healthier than the convict bushrangers. Some of the most famous of these bushrangers were Frank Gardiner, Ben Hall and Ned Kelly.
Some bushrangers were violent and cruel. Others stole but treated women courteously and were not violent. Some were even friendly and good-humoured while they were robbing their victims!
They were wild colonial boys, born and brought up in the bush. They were usually the sons of poor free settlers and were often from Irish families who hated the English. The English had controlled Ireland for many years and had treated the Irish very badly and this hatred persisted even though the families had left Ireland so long ago.
These new bushrangers were skilled horsemen and stronger and healthier than the convict bushrangers. Some of the most famous of these bushrangers were Frank Gardiner, Ben Hall and Ned Kelly.
Some bushrangers were violent and cruel. Others stole but treated women courteously and were not violent. Some were even friendly and good-humoured while they were robbing their victims!