Bushrangers
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In the 1800s, in England, a popular punishment for a violent crime was to send the convicted criminal to Australia to live in a detention type camp, rather than putting these people into prisons in England. A bushrangers was the nickname of convict who, once they reached Australia, escaped from the detention camp and used the dangerous outback as a refuge to hide from the authorities. By 1820, this nickname has grown to include anyone who took up robbery or another crime as a way of lie, and used the outback as their home base.
Not all bushrangers committed violent crimes in Australia. Some were only thieves. And some, like Martin Cash, were actually popular, and although he still hid in the outback unless he was robbing someone.
The entire bushranger lifestyle ended around 1865.
For Kids
In the 1800s: Bushrangers National Museum of Australia - The story of several different bushrangers for kids
Glenrowan - Ned Kelly's Last Stand
The dangerous animals of Australia (some of them anyway)
Australia Games, Activities,
Stories for Kids