Why Did Bushrangers Become An Outlaw

The convicts did not follow this conduct and most believed that the Australian natives were ‘barely human’ (MacDougall .A.K 2004). The population ratio of British settlers in Australia to the natives, drastically altered over the century in the result of rapid colonisation and the conflicts which the Commonwealth of Australia Official Year Books explicitly depicts. The British settlers came in masses bringing a new society and culture to the land. The indigenous people were not familiar with an individual possession society and believed that the stock on the land was to be hunted and used as a food source. This is epitomised in a letter sent to the editor of The Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser by Daniel Eaton in 1838, stating that ‘five horses [were] killed, and four others were wounded… a hundred head of cattle killed and the flocks and herds were driven away in all directions by the blacks’ (Convict Creations, 2013). Newspapers from the time showed that the British reacted to the natives by killing them off the land and believed that the ‘Natives should be slaughtered…[because] they are baboons, blood thirsty dogs and black animals’ (Stewart D,1986). The British were not interested in negotiating with the natives of the land and believed their culture was inhuman wasting the land. Governor Gawler stated in a newspaper article, ‘Black men- we wish to make you happy, but you cannot be

Stenders continues to create an idealised representation of the Australian identity through his representation of conflict with authority. Conflict of authority is traditionally identified as an aspect of Australian identity when an authority figures is seen to be using power unfairly and in corrupt ways. Stenders is clearly drawing on the historical context of Australia as a penal settlement where mistreated convicts developed a hatred for authority figures that unnecessarily treated them with cruelty. Stenders uses the characters of the Cribbages, the caretakers of the caravan park to embody the notion of the corrupt misuse of power. This is evident in Stenders’ portrayal of them as intimidating and unreasonable in their response to Nancy keeping Red Dog in the park. Stenders positions us to participate in the disregard for authority through his negative representation suggested by their mug and arrogant facial expressions and abrasive tone in, “I don't care if he is the Queen’s bloody corgi.” We are further compelled to align our perspective of them with Nancy’s through the high angle point of view shot focalised through Nancy’s eyes which makes them appear small and powerless.

Australia was first claimed by Captain Cook in early 1770, but it wasn’t settled until 1788 when the first fleet of 11 ships arrived at Botany Bay, carrying 1,530 passengers - mostly convicts, as well as some marines and officers. They moved to Port Jackson to begin establishing a settlement. Specific prisoners were chosen for the trip, the ones with skills in building, farming and other things that would have been useful to create a “liveable” environment for the new inhabitants. The first “free” settlers only arrived in 1793, thus beginning the colonisation of New South Wales.

Thomas Blackwood’s opinion of the Aborigines is a rear viewpoint to many men in the 19th century as he lives in peace with them. Blackwood’s relationship with Williams’ son Dick is also one that reflects social expectations of that same era. Both characters personal views can be strongly contrasted to that of Smasher Sullivan’s. Sullivan’s outlook of native Australians is based on looks rather than personality.

Wright’s 1945 poem, The Hawthorn Hedge, is a representation of the predatory power of the Australian landscape over those who refuse to unite with it. It details an unspecific persona’s attempts to establish security by planting a hawthorn hedge, separating her from a harsh, imagined landscape. The specificity of “the hawthorn hedge” reveals that this is introduced British species. As the hawthorn hedge is traditionally used as a natural fence, this clarifies that the persona is attempting to block out the landscape around her. Secondly, the fact that the hawthorn hedge is a British species suggests that the persona is also attempting to establish a reminder of her homeland, Britain. A tenet of Wright’s poetry is the strength of the true Australia and the concept of Australia’s break-away from Britain, exemplified in

A comparison of the text, ‘Us Mob, Walawurru’ written by David Spillman and Lisa Wilyuka and the film “Rabbit Proof Fence” directed by Phillip Noyce reveals that social attitudes in Australia between the 1930’s and the 1990’s have changed enormously. In the film ‘Rabbit Proof Fence’ set in 1931, Aboriginal children, more specifically half-castes –who are children with an Indigenous and Caucasian descent- are taken away from their families and to ‘Moore Rive Settlement’, where they are trained to fit into mainstream Australian society and be domestic servants. Later, the novel “Us Mob Walawurru” which takes place over the time period between the 1960’s to the 1990’s, demonstrates the changes that have taken place over the last fifty years. European Australians are more accepting and respectful of indigenous culture and the government has changed the laws regarding Terra Nullius to give the Aboriginal

In 1788 the colonists had to follow Governor Phillip’s instructions, which declared that “the Aboriginals were to be protected and friendly relations were encouraged.” Phillip had to follow and pass on these instructions as they were given to him in the document labelled today as the ‘Draught Instructions for Governor Phillip,’ which can be seen in Source 2. However, as the British began to settle they cleared the land and fenced waterholes. They showed no respect for sacred sites and broke laws the Indigenous people had followed for many ages. The Europeans did not understand their way of life but as they gained knowledge they continued taking land and breaking indigenous laws. Slowly more encounters between Europeans and Aboriginal people occurred. In May, 1788, two convicts were found dead in Rushcutters Bay, killed by Aborigines. In Source 1, the proclamation to the Aboriginal people can be seen. It gives an example of how the British were still planning to treat the Aboriginal people equally, if they obeyed the law. However, it stated that the law was for the Aboriginal people to live in the European ways, which took away their own traditional customs. This illustrates conflict that arose, but peace was still trying to be made through positive relationships between

Ben Hall had a reputation as a hard-working upright citizen, well respected and who was liked by all, soon a dark shadow emerged in the Wheogo district that would change the dynamics of the serene farming communities when the well-known bushranger, Frank Gardiner also known as 'The Darkie', the scourge of the NSW police and the man singularly responsible for the ruination of many a young colonial boy, commenced using the Wheogo district as a harbourage. Frank Gardiner had formed an intimate relationship with Ben Hall's sister-in-law Catherine Browne nee Walsh, Bridget Hall's younger sister, 18yrs of age, who resided with her husband John Browne in a hut a short distance from the Wheogo homestead, Gardiner was 14 yrs Catherine's senior.

Haskins notes that the Aborginial men were misapprehend about the way they treated their families and as known as they were violence, hunters and rapist to their children. In that way the ‘NSW Aboriginal Protection Board’ legislation find

From the 1850’s to the 1880’s bushranging was at its height in Australia akin to America’s wild-west. Easy money was the go on the end of a gun. Desperadoes such as the likes of Jesse James, Butch Cassidy, Billy the Kid etc. unknowingly followed in the footsteps of Australia’s Ben Hall, Frank Gardiner, Johnny Gilbert, John O'Meally, Daniel Morgan, Captain Thunderbolt etc. and later Jesse James contemporary, Ned Kelly. Ben Hall had his own Robert (Bob) Ford - betrayed for blood money by Mick Coneley.

Ned Kelly is a renowned Australian Bushranger, known for his courage when rising against the colonizers of Australia. However, it is still argued whether Ned Kelly is a hero or villain from the perspectives of the modern society. Ned Kelly is more commonly depicted as the Robin Hood of Australia considering his purpose for his malicious deeds rather than a murderous villain having done criminal deeds. There are visual representations that deliver Ned Kelly’s intentions on being a criminal and these representations help people to make judgements based on whether he is an Australian folk hero or a murderous villain. There are key scenes in the film ‘Ned Kelly’ (2003) on the interpretation of Ned Kelly’s life and a documentary reviewing differing

The treatment towards Aboriginals from when the First Fleet arrived in Australia until the early 19th century was inhumane and heartless. The appalling mistreatment of Aborigine’s is explored in the motion picture “Rabbit Proof Fence”, Paul’s story and my visual.

Two-thirds of these free settlers were brought to Australia with assistance. This meant that they were part of a deal to help populate the new colonies. Ninety percent of the migrants were put into “Steerage Class”, which was marginally better than the conditions for the convicts on the hulks. There was no privacy, no light in storms (for safety reasons), rats were abundant and the smells were supposedly bad enough to make you like the scent of blue cheese. Of course, they didn’t know the conditions were like this no the boats. Had they known, they most likely wouldn’t have chosen to travel to the New World. The reasons they left were either because of these shady deals, or because of one or more of the “Push” and “Pull” factors. Those who weren’t part of these deals paid their own way, while only a slice of them could pay for a private cabin. Some of the things that would have made these citizens want to leave the Old World include the Industrial Revolution, which caused a flood to the cities, slums, unemployment, rising prices and taxes, disease and worst of all, death. The people desperately wanted to get out of there, and with good reason. Across the sea, there was a fortune to be found in the gold fields, land grants, where they were given convicts to help them around on their new land and with a chance to start a new life, it was an opportunity that everyone jumped at. However, once they

Australia has always been centered around diversity and change, specifically with the vast multiculturalism and migrant culture throughout the nation. The specifics of Identity hold an important role in shaping our identity as students and as a nation. Australians pride themselves on being a land of the free and full of diverse culture. This is specifically referred to in our national Anthem; “For those who've come across the seas, We've boundless plains to share; With courage let us all combine,”(McCormick, 1984). Displaying Australia’s open attitude towards immigrants and contributes to the diversity present within our society today. Even before this, much of Australia’s Identity was associated with caucasian culture (Originating from British Settlers). Which is the dominant perception of Australia through the media with australian representation being present through the stereotypes of Bogans, which was made popular through shows like Kath and Kim (ABC, 2007). Also, represented through the popular depiction of Australian people - the bushman made popular by movies like Crocodile Dundee (Faiman, 1986) and through famous real life bushman; Steve Irwin. An important aspect of Australian identity which is consistently neglected is the culture and representation of the initial owners of the land; the aboriginal people. Throughout history the constant mistreatment and neglect of the indigenous, has lead to a massive gap in privilege between the aboriginal people and our

Just before boarding a boat to Alcatraz, I noticed a sign that said that in 1933 Sanford Bates, the director of U.S. Bureau of Prisons, said, “Alcatraz should be reserved for desperate or irredeemable types of individuals.” I immediately came to the conclusion that this had to be true after my first glance at the island as I could not possibly imagine standard criminals being deplorable enough to be sent to rot in the miserable place they call Alcatraz. No, these had to be the criminals that were so appalling they could not even reside in normal prisons. The killers and the kidnappers and the robbers may have had their fun terrorizing the real world, but this was not the real world, this was Alcatraz and they were in