Almost every town had its own paper during the time of the KellyGang. They with the major Melbourne papers, The Age, The Argus, and The Herald reported the events of the KellyGang story and lots of local news. The police were present on a number of their activities.
Journalism could be a rough business (Argus11/6/72)
Two or three gentlemen of the Melbourne press came to the Sebastopol cavalcade with Ass Com Standish on 6/11/1878. (RC1769)
The actions of the press influenced the way the police acted. Ass Com Nicolson told the Royal Commission, up to the time of the Euroa bank robbery that the police galloped around the country in large search parties because there was such an outcry, and concern about the police not doing anything. At that time it was no use attempting to confine the efforts of the police to secret work because they needed to make some demonstration because of public opinion. (RC561)
Sup Hare and his search party came across a newspaper that reported on the KellyGang had been left in the bush for the gang. (FH)
The newspapers published many reports ast to where the KellyGang might be and they reported each of the major events such as the Stingybark Creek murders, Euroa robbery, Jerilderie robbery and Glenrowan siege. The Age (McWhirter), The Argus (Melvin), The Daily Telegraph (Allen) and The Sketcher (Carrington) were present at the Glenrowan siege.
While the newspapers usually supported the police and authorities, they also reported many letters from members of the community.
The government warned the newspapers against making public the movements of the police. (Argus28/1/79)
The newspaper accounts are a very important source of information about this story
The Newspapers in the KellyGang story
- Albury Banner
- Border Morning Mail
- Border Post (Argus10/3/79)
- Alexandra Times
-Alexandra and Yea Standard, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express
- Constitution
(Argus30/10/78) '
( Argus5/5/79 )
-Benalla Ensign (Argus)(Argus)
- Chiltern Standard no copies
- Chiltern Valley Advertiser no c
- Federal Standard (Argus16/11/78)
- Free Press no copies
- Pastoral Times
Echuca '
- Echuca Advertiser (Argus)
-Echuca and Moama Advertiser
- Riverine Herald
(Argus5/3/79) '
Cobur
- Godfrey's Creek Standard '
Hay
- Hay Standard
Kilmore '
- Kilmore Free Press
- Kyneton Observer
- Jerilderie Gazette
- [[../../documents/Newspapers/D_MansfieldGuar.html|Mansfield Guardian]]
- The Age
- The Australasian
- Illustrated Australian News
- Leader
- Pastrol Times
- Melbourne Punch
- Weekly Times
- Murray Gazette
- Rutherglen and Wahgunyah News
Seymour '
- Seymour Express
- Shepparton News
Sydney '
-Syndney Daily Telegraph
- The Sun
Wahgunyah
'Rutherglen and Wahgunyah News' (Argus10/3/79)
- Wangaratta News
- Wangaratta Star July 1872-Dec1874 George S Searle
- Hume Times
- Wodonga Herald
Woods Point
-Wood's Point Times and Mountaineer -1868
- Woods Point Miner
Goulburn Valley Advocate (Argus13/12/78) '
Jamieson Chronicle (Argus16/11/78) '
Ovens Spectator (Argus31/5/71) '
.
Newspaper reports of the KellyGang story
Fitzpatrick incident
Trial of Mrs Kelly
Deaths at Stringybark Creek
28/10/1878 The Age
Euroa Robbery
12/12/1878 Sydney Morning Herald
Ned Kelly's committal hearing
/ 8/1880 Age
Ned Kelly's Trial
16/10/1880 The Age
Ned Kelly's execution
/11/1880 The Age
Call for a Royal Commission
. Jerrilderie Robbery
11/ 2/1879 Sydney Morning Herald
Death of Aaron Sherritt
28/ 6/1880 The Argus
Glenrowan Siege
29/ 6/1880 The Argus
The Royal Commission
Commissioner Standish recommended that the proceedings of the Royal Commision should not be open to the press, for though the full details of what the police have been doing should be known to the Government, it would be obviously contrary to public policy that they should he published for general information.
The Royal Commission stated its position in the following words, " I suppose you are aware that all the members on this Board are more or less identified with the public, Members of Parliament, or otherwise; that they receive no remuneration; that they have been severely criticised on this Board; and do you think it would be fair to them that the press should not be present"(RC147)
Ass Com Nicolson did not want James Wallace's evidence published (RC14515)
28-feb-10