Destination: Glenrowan

Victoria's iconic Ned Kelly town is worth more than a quick stop-over

Hold up! Are you looking to explore a historic part of Australia with your caravan in tow? Why not consider the site of the final stand of our most infamous bushranger, Ned Kelly?

We're talking about Glenrowan, a town steeped in Australian history and that has preserved the story of Ned Kelly's notorious siege and subsequent capture in 1880.

Getting to this iconic town is relatively easy for those based in Sydney or Melbourne. From Sydney it's just over a seven-hour drive and from Melbourne you're looking at approx. two-and-a-half hours. Why not incorporate it into a bigger trip, and take in some delightful rural towns like Milawa, Beechworth and Mansfield?

Bringing history to life

Glenrowan is a small town easily explored on foot, and there are many sites to see including the Ann Jones' Glenrowan Inn, Police Shelter Site, Gravel Contractors Encampment, Ned Kelly Capture Site and McDonnell's Railway Tavern. You can also arrange a guided tour along the Siege Site Walk.

Enjoy a theatrical sensory experience by visiting the Glenrowan Heritage Precinct, where you can witness the animated portrayal of Kelly's last stand. You can also wonder around the authentic replica that is the Ned Kelly Museum & Homestead to see how the man himself lived.

The homestead offers a stark insight into the hardships of the times, in a colony that had only recently evolved from its barbarous convict origins. You'll see straw-stuffed mattresses, newspaper and hessian-lined walls and floors made from earth consolidated with bullock's blood.

And is there honour amongst thieves? You be the judge of that.

Ned Kelly has an enduring presence in Australian folklore and his larrikin spirit is immortalised in the mammoth statue of the man found on the corner of Gladstone and Kate Streets. Dressed in his famous helmet and suit of armour, the statue stands at six metres high and eerily towers over the town. Be sure to get a photo up against his legs, if only just for comic value!

Foodies for thought

But there's much more to this 'hood than Ned Kelly. Glenrowan has some of Australia's oldest vines and is a bit of an undiscovered hotspot for foodies.

Drop into Dad and Dave's Billy Tea Rooms on the main strip of Gladstone Street for old-fashioned Aussie tucker. We recommend the Shearer's Damper laden with jam – you'll be sure to get sticky fingers! Wash that down with Bundaberg Ginger Beer or sip on billy tea with fluffy pikelets and buttery scones.

There's also soup for the soul and chunky sandwiches with nourishing fillings. The warm hospitality from owners Linda and Carol will make you feel as if you've walked into their living room and you'll be transported to a bygone era.

Get a real taste of history at Baileys of Glenrowan, the largest vineyard in the region and home to award-winning reds and fortified wines. Established in 1870, the certified organic vineyard contains some of the oldest plantings in northeast Victoria. Enjoy a stroll around the quaint native garden and then follow the heady wine aroma into the old-world cellar door – bliss!

It's also worth dropping into Taminick Cellars, which sits on the side of the Warby Ranges, overlooking the vast Taminick Valley. The cellar door is 10 minutes' drive from Glenrowan town and is owned by fourth-generation family winemaker, James Booth. The vineyard still has the Shiraz, Trebbiano and Alicante Bouschet vines planted back in 1919.

Glenrowan Tourist Park

Now, about where to park your caravan…

The Glenrowan Tourist Park is situated off the Hume Highway at the foothills of the Warby Ranges and Mt Glenrowan. The park is set on 35 acres of bushland and is just two kilometres from the township. Mt Glenrowan is part of the Warby Ovens Park and was a base for Ned Kelly, who used the viewpoint to sneakily keep track of the local constabulary...

The park offers a wide range of accommodation from three bedroom self-contained cabins to standard cabins, caravan and tent sites and drive-through sites. Key features include a fully covered camp kitchen, renovated amenities block, swimming pool, laundry and a sandpit for the kids.

For the more active-minded, there are bushwalking and cycling tracks through the national park. There's a selection of bikes available to hire, you just need to remember to bring a helmet.

You'll feel truly immersed in nature as you're surrounded by native birds and local kangaroos, all against the backdrop of Mt Buffalo. And as dusk turns to night, you'll fall into deep slumber with little else save for the sounds of the bush…

For more information contact the Glenrowan Tourist Park on tel: (03) 5766 2288 or 0417 676 605, or via email at enquiries@glenrowanpark.com.au. The park is located at 2 Old Hume Highway, Glenrowan VIC 3675.

Destination: Glenrowan

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