It could not have been more Australian than visiting the towns of Euroa and Glenrowan in rural Victoria made famous by famed Bushranger  Ned Kelly and his gang.

Kelly’s legacy is controversial; many consider him to be a folk hero and symbol of Irish Australian resistance against the Anglo Australian ruling class, while others emphasise his involvement in killing.

Kelly was born in Victoria to an Irish convict father, and as a young man he clashed with the Victoria Police.

Following an incident at his home in 1878, police parties searched for him in the bush. After he and his colleagues killed three policemen, the colonial government proclaimed Kelly and his gang wanted outlaws.

Kelly and his gang  also held up a number of banks including the National Bank in Euroa

A final violent confrontation with police took place at Glenrowan on  28 June, 1878.

Kelly met the police in his now infamous home-made plate metal armour and a helmet but was captured and sent to gaol. He was convicted of three counts of wilful murder and hanged at the Old Melbourne Gaol in November 1880.

Driving into Glenrowan as we did on route to Sydney is remains clear his daring and notoriety still makes him an iconic figure in Australian history, folklore, literature, art and film.

Back on the Hume Highway that links Australia’s two biggest cities and five miles north of the New South Wales town of Gundagai is another Australian landmark.

The Dog on the Tucker Box this week celebrated it’s 81st anniversary since the then Australian Prime Minister unveiled the statue.

* Click on photographs to enlarge.