HASS · Year 5 · Bushrangers and the Bush · Term 2

The Life and Times of Ned Kelly

Examine the early life, family background, and formative experiences of Ned Kelly.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9HASS5K01

About This Topic

This topic explores the daily realities of life in the Australian bush during the 19th century. Students look beyond the romanticized legends to see the hard work of squatters, selectors, and their families. The curriculum covers the challenges of isolation, the unpredictability of the climate, and the physical labor required to build homes and farms from the ground up.

Understanding life in the bush is essential for grasping the development of the Australian character and economy. It highlights the 'Selection Acts' and the conflict between wealthy 'squatters' who had claimed large tracts of land and the 'selectors' who tried to establish smaller farms. This study provides a practical look at how the environment shaped human settlement and social structures.

Students grasp this concept faster through structured discussion and peer explanation, particularly when comparing the resources available to different types of bush settlers.

Key Questions

1. Explain the social and economic context of Ned Kelly's upbringing.
2. Analyze the events that led to Ned Kelly's first encounters with the law.
3. Predict how Kelly's early experiences might have shaped his later actions.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the social and economic conditions in 19th-century Victoria that influenced Ned Kelly's family life.
• Analyze primary source accounts to identify key events leading to Ned Kelly's initial conflicts with the police.
• Classify the types of hardships faced by selectors and their families in the colonial Australian bush.
• Compare the perspectives of law enforcement and outlaw figures in the context of Ned Kelly's early life.
• Predict how specific formative experiences, such as land disputes or family arrests, may have shaped Ned Kelly's later actions.

Before You Start

Life in the Australian Bush (Year 5)

Why: Students need a foundational understanding of the general living conditions, challenges, and social structures of 19th-century rural Australia before examining the specific circumstances of the Kelly family.

Colonial Settlement and Land Use (Year 4)

Why: Prior knowledge of the 'Selection Acts' and the conflicts between squatters and selectors provides essential context for understanding the Kelly family's economic struggles and legal disputes.

Key Vocabulary

Selector	A person who selected or took up land under the terms of the Land Acts, intending to farm it. These settlers often faced difficult conditions.
Squatter	A person who occupied and grazed stock on large areas of Crown land, often before it was officially opened for selection. They held significant social and economic power.
Land Act	Legislation passed in the 19th century designed to encourage settlement and farming by allowing individuals to select and purchase parcels of land, often with specific conditions.
Constabulary	The police force, particularly in colonial Australia. Encounters with the constabulary were frequent for those living on the fringes of the law.
Bushrangers	Outlaws, often mounted, who roamed the Australian countryside, typically robbing travelers and mail coaches. Ned Kelly became one of the most famous.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Life in the bush was a constant, exciting adventure.

What to Teach Instead

For most, it was a life of repetitive, back-breaking labor and extreme loneliness. Reading diary entries from bush women, in particular, helps students understand the emotional toll of isolation.

Common Misconception

The bush was a 'wilderness' that no one owned.

What to Teach Instead

The land was the traditional Country of First Nations peoples, who were often forcibly removed to make way for farms. A mapping activity showing overlapping land use helps students see the reality of dispossession.

Active Learning Ideas

Stations Rotation: Bush Survival Skills

Stations include 'The Slab Hut' (building techniques), 'The Bush Doctor' (natural remedies), and 'The Campfire' (cooking with rations). Students learn about the ingenuity required to survive without modern shops or services.

60 min·Small Groups

Simulation Game: Squatters vs. Selectors

The classroom is divided into large 'runs' owned by squatters. 'Selector' students must try to claim small blocks of land within those runs, leading to a simulation of the legal and social conflicts that occurred in the 1860s.

45 min·Whole Class

Think-Pair-Share: A Letter Home

Students imagine they are a child living in a remote bush hut. They discuss with a partner three things they miss from the city and three things they have learned to do in the bush, then draft a short letter to a cousin.

30 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Historians studying the colonial era use land titles, court records, and newspaper articles from the period to reconstruct the lives of individuals like Ned Kelly and understand the societal pressures they faced.
• Genealogists tracing family histories in Australia often uncover stories of ancestors who were selectors, dealing with similar land challenges and legal entanglements as the Kelly family.
• Documentary filmmakers researching Australian history use archival materials and expert interviews to present factual accounts of figures like Ned Kelly, distinguishing legend from reality for modern audiences.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Based on what we've learned about life for selectors, why might a young person like Ned Kelly have developed a distrust of the authorities?' Encourage students to cite specific examples of economic hardship or legal conflicts discussed in class.

Quick Check

Provide students with a short timeline of key events in Ned Kelly's early life (e.g., birth, father's death, mother's arrest). Ask them to draw a line connecting each event to a potential consequence or influence on his later life, explaining their reasoning in one sentence.

Exit Ticket

Ask students to write down two specific challenges faced by the Kelly family or other selectors in the 1860s and 1870s. Then, have them write one sentence predicting how these challenges might have contributed to Ned Kelly's decision to become an outlaw.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a squatter and a selector?

Squatters were early settlers who 'squatted' on large areas of Crown land to graze sheep or cattle, often becoming very wealthy. Selectors came later, after laws were passed to break up these large holdings, allowing people to 'select' smaller blocks of land for farming.

How did people in the bush get their food and water?

They relied on basic rations like flour, tea, and sugar, supplemented by what they could grow or hunt. Water was a constant struggle; they dug wells, built dams, or collected rainwater in barrels. During droughts, many families faced extreme hardship.

What was life like for children in the bush?

Children were expected to work from a young age, helping with chores, minding livestock, and clearing land. Schooling was often done at home or in tiny 'one-teacher' schools that required long walks or horse rides to reach.

How can active learning help students understand life in the bush?

Active learning, such as 'Station Rotations' or 'Simulations,' allows students to experience the practicalities of the era. By trying to solve the problems of a selector or a bush doctor, they move from being passive observers to active problem-solvers. This builds a deeper appreciation for the resilience and resourcefulness of people in the 19th century.