November 22, 2022
There has long been a story that bushranger Dan Kelly – brother of the infamous Ned – and his comrade-in-arms Steve Hart survived the fiery Kelly Gang siege at Glenrowan in 1880 and fled to Queensland.
The doubt rests on the fact the bodies returned to their families were just charred remains, which could not be identified..
The tale continues that Hart then spent many years droving during the late 1880s before settling down … in the South Burnett.
Many Murgon residents believe a former resident, Billy Meade, was in fact Steve Hart.
A few years back there was even pressure to exhume Mr Meade’s body for DNA testing!
Now a novel written by Brisbane author Peter Long – brother of Murgon Real Estate’s Gary Long – has examined Steve Hart’s colourful life and the legend that he survived Glenrowan.
“Steve Hart: The Last Kelly Standing” explores the “what ifs” if Steve and Dan really did survive that siege.
“To survive, Steve and Dan travelled the State searching for gold, as far north as the Palmer River,” Peter said.
“Then they joined the legendary Harry Redford – better known as bushranger Captain Starlight – on his epic cattle drives from Mareeba to Dubbo, and Birdsville north-west to Brunette Downs in the Northern Territory, where they found sanctuary.”
The book describes the journeys and the country they passed through, a reflection of the many years Peter spent travelling throughout Queensland.
Peter’s poetry and short stories have been long-listed and short-listed in literary competitions but this is his debut novel.
Copies of the book can be bought for $30 from Murgon Real Estate and the Murgon Visitor Information Centre.
