The Kelly Gang Kids Book Tour

To celebrate the release of our new book - The Kelly Gang Kids, illustrator Deb Hudson and I took a two day journey through Kelly Country in regional Victoria, exploring iconic landmarks and visiting historical places significant to Ned Kelly’s story.

We began our journey in Beveridge, where we visited the first home Ned Kelly lived in.

We then travelled to Avenel, to see Mangalore Hill and Hughes Creek. It was Hughes Creek that a young Ned Kelly saved Richard Shelton from drowning. Ned was praised as a hero and was given a green and gold sash as a reward. It is assumed that Ned treasured the sash, as he continued to wear it, even as an adult, and it was found under his armour during the famous the Siege at Glenrowan.

We then continued on to Benalla, where we saw the green and gold sash #IRL on display at the Benalla Visitor’s Centre/ Costume and Museum.

We loved exploring Kate’s Cottage and Museum in Glenrowan. It overflowed with amazing artifacts, antiques, letters, transcripts and so much history.

We made a quick stop into the famous Beechworth Bakery, before taking a tour of the Old Beechworth Gaol, where Ned spent two weeks before his conviction.

Deb and I loved meeting booksellers, signing lots of books, taking interviews for the local newspaper and the local YouTuber, and learning so much about Australian history on our journey.