The Importance Of Bushrangers In Australia's History

Bushrangers are outlaws and ex-convicts that lived in the bush far from civilisation. Bushrangers ruled the roads and many of these people were escaped British and Irish convicts who preferred to risk starvation than serve their sentences of hard labour for their crimes (Wilkins, 2006). Many of these bushrangers were also originally born in the bush where they had received their knowledge of horses and firearms (Smit, 2014). Bushrangers were praised for fighting before surrender and are commemorated in Australian folklore.

There were some particular bushrangers that have made a significant impact in Australia 's history due to their rebellion towards authority and law. One of these bushrangers was 'Mad Dan ' Morgan, who went by many

He had been caught for robbery around Tasmania quite regularly and when he was sent to Port Arthur, he met two bushrangers, George Jones and Lawrence Kavanagh. The two offered to teach Martin about the business of bushranging in exchange for him to lead them in an escape plan. After their successful escape, the three built a life together near New Norfolk. When they had settled, Martin sent a letter to his beloved who later joined him (Scott, 14). The three men began their bushranging career, robbing inns, houses and travellers without necessary violence, earning them the title of ‘gentlemen bushrangers’ (Robson & Russel, 1966). Search parties were sent after Martin and his partners and upon hearing this, he demanded Mrs Cash to go back to Hobart where it was safe for her, only to get caught trying to sell stolen jewellry. Martin was furious as he discovered that his wife had been taken and during a hold up, he wrote a threatening letter to the governor telling him to unhand his wife. His wife was released, the police hoping that she would lead them to Cash but was surprised as she took refuge with an ex-convict. No word about this had gotten to Cash and as word got back to him, he was livid and decided to enter Hobart to seek revenge on her, not knowing that police officers were waiting for him. He was caught and

Donohoe was known as ‘Wild Colonial Boys’ from his gang. Jack’s former gang was sentenced to death and he escaped custody and produced and led another gang. The next two years after his escape, him and his group robbed the rich and sided with the poor which attracted positive reactions from ex-convicts and sympathetic settlers and became the most celebrated bushranger in Australia at that time (Aust. Gov., 2015). In the late 1830’s, Donohoe’s gang was constrained by a large amount of soldiers and police officers, sparking a fight. Donohoe’s last words before he died were ‘come on’, urging the police to make a move, using insults and indecent epithets (ADB, 1966). Jack Donohoe’s courage and kind act towards the poor gained him admirers, resulting in songs and stories being told about his life. In people’s eyes, Donohoe was a hero who assisted them rather than treating them poorly like other bushrangers. His courage was an attribute worth