Glenrowan, 2004

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Tuesday, 27 July 2004
I spent the first two days of this week working in Scoresby. It was a Day Care Centre. Three rooms with as you can guess, lots of children. On both days I had to swap from room to room to photograph children as they became available. Ten spools of exposed film went back to the studio on both days.
When todays session was finished I drove to Glenrowan. Ned Kelly was a bushranger who roamed the local hills in the 1800's. His career ended in a dramatic shoot out, unfortunately in an effort to end the stand-off the Jones's Glenrowan Inn was burnt to the ground by the troopers. Only a sign indicating the historical event can now be viewed.
It was mid afternoon when I arrived and after booking into the local motel decided to photograph the main street. I remember years ago when I was just a teenager, my parents brought me to this area and they made inquiries about this infamous bushranger. It was the 1960s and the tourist industry here in Glenrowan had not taken hold. In fact the local publican almost was ashamed that Ned Kelly was associated with this area. How things have changed! Now a large replica stands proud in the street, also there is a theatre acting out "Kelly's Last Stand" I took my children to the show many years ago and thought it was pretty good but decided a return visit was not warranted.
Instead, spent $4.50 in a museum further up the street and was rewarded with a few opportunities to try out still life shots.
I had heard about the Kelly Homestead and got directions from the museum owner. The map was drawn out on a piece of paper, the directions looked straight forward enough. It's amazing how much of a mess up I could make of a short trip to the site. I got to see quite a bit of Kelly country, both dirt tracks and "black top".
After flagging down a local and asking how close I was. I realised I had passed the site a few times as I travelled up and down the dirt track. The ruins of the Homestead lies a few hundred meters off the track.
Not much has survived and with failing light I set about photographing the scene from every angle I thought was interesting. Got the video out as well, just to make sure the discovery was recorded.
Later back at the motel I ordered a meal and did my book-work. Didn't bother with TV. There was no phone in the room so I couldn't connect to the internet.
The morning session, the drive to Glenrowan, the sight seeing trip to the homestead. I think I have jammed enough into the day and an early night was in order. Tomorrow only a morning session was scheduled and then back to Melbourne.

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Comments

[anonymous]

the best
I mean it when I said that that was actually a very interesting blog. Well written and all. I can only just remember glen rowan. I remember when you took me and stace to the train line where he was apparently shot or something. It didn’t mean much to me at the time. But now I'm grown up I may be able to appreciate it more. Seeing that picture you took of the or rather what’s left of the Kelly homestead fascinated me. something about preserving a part of history. I don’t recall ever going there. But being at that spot knowing what things that land had witnessed must send shivers down your spine. That photo did. You do take a lot of pictures of history. Maybe I should look closer next time. I’ll learn your craft yet. Thx for that. Believe it or not. But I feel all the better from reading your blog. Your friend in time blue J - rhys