Last modified on 20 November 2015, at 16:50

Social Events

Importance of social events

There were annual ploughing matches and agricultural shows. Churches also had picnics and dances. Occasionally a circus would come to town. The members of the KellyGang attended functions in Moyhu, Greta, Glenrowan and Winton in the immediate area around the Kelly homestead.

Hotels were often the centre of social activity in a community. Many of them had a hall for talks, local meetings, balls and other gatherings

Race meetings were very popular but there were a lot of other forms of public entertainment including coursing, football and cricket matches.

Bare knuckle fighting was very popular, but seldom reported (Argus20/3/79)

Ploughing matches were held at Greta, Milawa and in many other towns. (RC17691)

A Show was held at Kyneton (Alexandra6/12/1873) Albury (Argus14/9/78) , Wangaratta (Argus23/9/81) (Argus24/9/81) , Benalla (Argus6/9/78) , Chiltern (Argus21/9/81) , Jerilderie (Argus2/5/79) and many other towns

Beechworth held a big carnival each year at new year. (Argus23/8/66)

Almost every week the local papers reported picnics, parties and dances.

There were many entertainers who travelled the country including magicians, jugglers, singers, muscians and circus acts (Alexandra2/7/1869) (Ensign26/4/1872)

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The KellyGang's involvement with social events

The KellyGang gave the captives at Faithfull's Creek Station a show of riding skills as they showed off for the at the time of the Euroa robbery in December 1878.

The Whorouly played a significant part in the story of the KellyGang.

The Ned Kelly and some of the other boys went to a picnic near Violet Town when they were resting in the Strathbogie Ranges (JJK)

"Catching the Kellys" was a popular theatre performance in Melbourne and Sydney (Argus7/4/79) (Argus9/4/79) (SMH19/5/79)

Ass Com Nicolson met Jack Sherritt at the Wangaratta show on 12/9/1879. (RC15225)

A circus passed through Glenrowan on 27/6/1880 , the day before the siege.