The following are readers thoughts about the 'revitalisation' of Glenrowan.

Hello Dave at 1880,

I live close to Glenrowan and it looks like all the digging has stopped.
Maybe you had some impact with your fight against this vandalism.
Will tell you if/when they start work again, if they do at all.

Cheers Clive.

Hello,
what idiot has given the OK for the destruction of our beautiful Glenrowan?
Some one should get the sack over this. Do you think the site can be restored
to what it was before being dug up? I would be willing to go fix it myself if
no one else will. I thought it was Heritage listed? An angry Adrian James.

A message from Warren P.

I was looking through the site hoping to find some information about partners of the Kelly Gang as i believe my grandfathers first wife ran off with one of them. And to my disbelief, i find that this historic site, probably one of Australias most famous fight till the end, has been or being turn into a car park. I couldnt believe my eyes at what i was seeing. This is a national disgrace. After all, arent homes and buildings put on heritage listings?? Why on earth would someone distroy such a historic, sacret piece of land?? I feel so sorry for the people of Glenrowan as one of their most sacret tourist attractions has been cleared to make a car park. Im disgusted and think its a national disgrace.

A message from Mick Nolan Queensland.

8 years ago, I worked as a part time actor, as Ned Kelly at the Last Stand aminated
show in Glenrowan.

I gave out history and I gave my heart to this little job I had .

The boss took out the die hard's of history and showed the real sites

and exact location's were the real history happened.

And when the boss was not there , it was me !

My great grand father was a supporter of Ned ,and was locked up for it !

Our history need's to be saved .......................not carpark's......

Mick Nolan QLD.

A message from Maz Victoria.

whats gonna happen to the glenrowan we used to visit to see all the history to walk were
ned walked, where maggie walked where the first shot was fired from, where ned fell, how
are we gonna show people what happed there, the history that was the kelly gang, as I write
this I have a tear, but whats the use in complaining about something we can do nothing about,
absoulutly nothing        Im glad I have pics from before it was distroyed and Im glad I got
married there, Id love to speak to ned right now       maz

A message from Joe Victoria.

Greetings Dave,

Friday the 2^nd of June 2006 is a day I shall remember for the rest of my life.

My long awaited return visit to Glenrowan was nothing short of a bad experience; it reminded me of a scene in a War movie, total destruction, our history our heritage lost forever. I suppose I am lucky than most, for I have actually stood on the TRUE capture site of EK and after many months of painstaking research. I have deep regret that I did not mark the exact spot with my hand-held GPS. My Two sons Joseph & Elijah would have to be shown the spot less the remnant stump.

Truly a disgrace to the decision makers.

I’m unable to come to any sort of reasoning as to why such an act had to be committed; I ask my-self who & why are paying off the decision makers? it’s the only thing that makes any sort of sense to me, its an act driven only by money. I spent some time speaking with locals & one in particular who stated the following: “I have been a local here for over 25 yrs & I have never seen or heard of an accident & now look out the front & see the mess they (council workers) have left behind which almost did cause an accident not so long ago”

Dave allow me to express my concerns now that we’re on the subject of accidents & avoiding accidents, “As the decision maker’s would put it”. Opposite the Blacksmith on Siege Street you may have noticed the empty block with a drain & other obstacles with-in its boundaries secured with a rusted barbed wired fence line! How can this area be overlooked or in fact still be considered safe to the general public it angers me to such a degree but the damage has been done. Another point of public safety overlooked & I believe must be rectified immediately is the guardrail at the station. I leaned on it to take a photo of the general area & the rail moved back some distance now if this issue is overlooked there shall be an accident, which may turn out to be a fatality.

Who shall be accountable for this breach of safety? The decision makers I guess

No one anticipated this move & once again as the local resident informed me that the Kelly descendents whom she is close contact with are far from impressed with the decision makers.

My research of the siege site was far from complete as I had plans to measure & map the area for a project I had in mind to share with all but all is lost as is the approximate barley un-scuffed siege site. We have lost much more than the decision makers realize.

By the side & for the boys

Joe Dipisa

The following poem is from Alan Crichton Brisbane

I think Alan's poem pretty well says it all, thanks Alan.

I stood before a block of dirt, all fenced with wire mesh,

My mind soon drifted back in time, to screams and bloodied flesh,

Of outlaws fighting for their lives, in Armour made from ploughs,

And men and women, children too,all terrified for hours.

I heard the shots from men of law,that pierced those paper walls,

Not caring for those souls inside,like crazed bloodthirsty fools,

I saw the fight, i heard the screams,and saw the inn burn down,

I saw two boys all burnt to hell,and laid out on the ground.

I saw a man just early on,come from a misty fog,

In armour and with taunts to police,they shot him near that log,

I saw them cart him over there,all bloodied head to toe,

And where they took him after that,ya don't really wanna know.

But soon the fresh clean air had gone,and diesal filled me nose,

I turned around to see a sight,improvements i suppose!

But what i saw before me eyes,where men and boys were killed,

This sacred ground Australians love,they ploughed it like a field.

And there they stood in shirt and tie, with helmets on their head,

With plans and mobiles in their hands,i think my point is said,

But from my heart they'll never take,nor visions in my mind,

This sacred piece of bloodied ground,will stay 'till end of time.

G'day mate, thanks for sending through the pics of Glenrowan.
What a bloody disgrace! Whatever government authority that decided to completely
alter the seige site should be shutdown.
It is appalling what they have done.
During my previous visits to Glenrowan it was easy to picture the scene 125 years ago
because the landmarks I read about were still there ie: the drain the police hid in, the
small creek going past the spot where Ned was captured etc..
I think it is a tragedy that I will never get to show my kids how it looked before the so
called experts decided on 'improving' the site beyond any remote resemblance to it's
original state.
Another one of our historic sites destroyed by irresponsible decisions.

Dave Brown.

Hi Dave,I was looking forward to my annual pilgrimage to Glenrowan for the dinner and festivities,but after seeing your photos I lost my appetite.I come from a hectic life in suburbia Brisbane and see what councils do for us in so called "improved re developments".The council in Wangaratta is no different than all the others, what they say they are going to do, and what they do, are two different things.What I see is, they have been waiting for this opportunity to come along, to what they call beautifying and tidying the area as only they know how.A lot of these councillors,from what I hear,attend the annual dinner at no expense to themselves.Do they hear anything that is said on those nights, or feel any emotion about the history behind this sacred sight?,I think not.Also, does this so called chief archeologist know anything about the Kelly story,if he did,surely he wouldn't attack this site in such a manner.I've a good mind to write a nasty letter to the minister for stuffups ,but I don't know which one to send it to.Oh well, it's no use crying over spilt ground,at least I had the chance to see and feel the old sight,which is more than I can say for the future generations.I think there is going to be a lot of talk at the dinner this year, and I hope the councillors are all present and accounted for, especially after a few sherbets.Dave, I'm starting to get my appetite back.

Cheers mate

Alan Crichton