KELLY GANG CAMP SITE

OLD TOLMIE ROAD ARCHERTON, BENALLA RURAL CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register

Kelly Camp site H2123 IMG 0804

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    KELLY GANG CAMP SITE - History

    HISTORY:

    CONTEXTUAL HISTORY

    The events at Stringybark Creek and ultimately at Glenrowan were the culmination of pressures that developed between the police, the Kellys and their associates throughout the 1870s. From late 1876 onwards, Ned, Dan and their friends frequently headed to the camp in the Wombat Ranges to lie low and avoid the attention of the police.

    As well as being a hidden bush retreat, the camp was a source of income for the Kellys and their friends. The camp was used for gold panning and sluicing, growing crops and distilling whisky.

    Following the wounding of Constable Fitzpatrick at the Kelly homestead on 15 April 1878, warrants were issued for the arrest of Ned, Dan, Ellen Kelly and others for Attempted Murder. By mid October, Ned and Dan together with Joe Byrne and Steve Hart were in hiding at the camp when word came that police search parties were being prepared. Three police parties set off from different locations late in October, with the party from Mansfield reaching Stringybark Creek, approximately 2km southeast of the Kelly camp, on Friday 25 October.

    HISTORY OF PLACE

    It is likely that the log hut was first constructed by gold prospectors during a rush to the area in the 1860s. Ned may have discovered the site when travelling through the area with bushranger Harry Power in 1869. The site was used by the Kelly Gang intermittently between 1876 until the events at Stringybark Creek in October 1878.

    A saw mill was constructed on the site around 1930, which operated until the mid 20th century.

    Assessment Against Criteria

    KELLY GANG CAMP SITE - Assessment Against Criteria

    ASSESSMENT AGAINST CRITERIA

    a. Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria's cultural history

    The Kelly Gang Camp site is important to Victoria's cultural history as the place where the gang members retreated to avoid the attention of police, particularly following the issuing of warrants for Attempted Murder in April 1878. The Kelly Gang travelled from the camp to Stringybark Creek on 26 October 1878.

    b. Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria's cultural history.

    N/A

    c. Potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Victoria's cultural history.

    The Kelly Gang Camp site has the potential to contain historical archaeological deposits and artefacts that relate to the occupation and activities of the Kelly Gang members.

    d. Importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural places or environments.

    N/A

    e. Importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics.

    N/A

    f. Importance in demonstrating a high degree of creative or technical achievement at a particular period.

    N/A

    g. Strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. This includes the significance of a place to Indigenous peoples as part of their continuing and developing cultural traditions.

    N/A

    h. Special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in Victoria's history.

    The Kelly Gang Camp site is strongly associated with the members of the Kelly Gang (Ned Kelly, Dan Kelly, Joe Byrne and Steve Hart) who lived at the site at various times from late 1876 onwards.

    Plaque Citation

    KELLY GANG CAMP SITE - Plaque Citation

    This area was used by the members of the Kelly Gang as a remote bush camp and hideaway. The Gang travelled from this site to nearby Stringybark Creek on the morning of 26 October 1878.

    Permit Exemptions

    KELLY GANG CAMP SITE - Permit Exemptions

    General Exemptions:

    General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

    Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

    Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

    Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

    Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

    Specific Exemptions:

    Regular Site Maintenance

    The following site maintenance works are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995,

    a) Regular site maintenance provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits;

    Fire Suppression Duties

    The following fire suppression duties are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995,

    a) Fire suppression and fire fighting duties provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits;

    Weed and Vermin Control : The following weed and vermin control activities are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995, a) Weed and vermin control activities provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits; Note: Particular care must be taken with weed and vermin control works where such activities may have a detrimental affect on the significant fabric of a place. Such works may include the removal of ivy, moss or lichen from an historic structure or feature, or the removal of burrows from a site that has archaeological values. Landscape Maintenance : The following landscape maintenance works are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995, a) landscape maintenance works provided the activities do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground features or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits; Public Safety and Security : The following public safety and security activities are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995, a) public safety and security activities provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground structures or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits; Signage and Site Interpretation : The following Signage and Site Interpretation activities are permit exempt under section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995, a) signage and site interpretation activities provided the works do not involve the removal or destruction of any significant above-ground structures or sub-surface archaeological artefacts or deposits; b) the erection of non-illuminated signage for the purpose of ensuring public safety or to assist in the interpretation of the heritage significance of the place or object and which will not adversely affect significant fabric including landscape or archaeological features of the place or obstruct significant views of and from heritage values or items; c) signage and site interpretation products must be located and be of a suitable size so as not to obscure or damage significant fabric of the place; d) signage and site interpretation products must be able to be later removed without causing damage to the significant fabric of the place; Note: The development of signage and site interpretation products must be consistent in the use of format, text, logos, themes and other display materials. Note: Where possible, the signage and interpretation material should be consistent with other schemes developed on similar or associated sites. It may be necessary to consult with land managers and other stakeholders concerning existing schemes and strategies for signage and site interpretation. Minor Works : Note: Any Minor Works that in the opinion of the Executive Director will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the place may be exempt from the permit requirements of the Heritage Act. A person proposing to undertake minor works may submit a proposal to the Executive Director. If the Executive Director is satisfied that the proposed works will not adversely affect the heritage values of the site, the applicant may be exempted from the requirement to obtain a heritage permit. If an applicant is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that the permits co-ordinator be contacted.

    Permit Exemption Policy

    KELLY GANG CAMP SITE - Permit Exemption Policy

    The purpose of the Permit Policy is to assist when considering or making decisions regarding works to the place. It is recommended that any proposed works be discussed with an officer of Heritage Victoria prior to them being undertaken or a permit is applied for. Discussing any proposed works will assist in answering any questions the owner may have and aid any decisions regarding works to the place. It is recommended that a Conservation Management Plan is undertaken to assist with the future management of the cultural significance of the place.

    The significance of the place includes the potential of the place to contain historical archaeological material. It is likely that a permit will be required for any works that may involve the disturbance of the ground or sub-surface component of the site.

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