Overview
Steve Hart (13 February 1859 – 28 June 1880) was an Australian bushranger who became a close associate of the Kelly brothers. As a member of the group commonly known as the Kelly Gang, Hart was implicated in the events at Stringybark Creek and died during the final confrontation at Glenrowan. His short life and violent end have made him part of a widely discussed chapter of colonial Australian history.
Background and association
Born in 1859, Hart came of age in north‑eastern Victoria during a period of social tension, policing expansion and economic hardship. He formed strong ties with the Kelly family and in particular with Dan Kelly. Those personal bonds drew him into the cycle of outlawry that produced the Kelly Gang, and into the confrontations with police that followed.
Participation in Kelly Gang actions
Hart rode and acted with the small band led by Ned Kelly. The group’s activities ranged from horse and mail robberies to armed clashes with police. Hart was directly connected to the incident at Stringybark Creek, where three policemen were killed in a dramatic encounter that escalated the pursuit and public notoriety of the gang. Contemporary reports identified Hart among those present.
Glenrowan and death
In late June 1880, the Kelly Gang made a stand at Glenrowan, in north‑east Victoria. The confrontation—commonly called the siege at Glenrowan—ended in a firefight and a hotel fire. Hart died there on 28 June 1880; like other members of the gang, his death occurred amid chaotic conditions that have invited later discussion and differing accounts.
Legacy and significance
Hart is remembered as one of the younger figures in the Kelly circle. The Kelly Gang as a whole occupies a contested place in Australian memory: views range from criminality and cold‑blooded violence to resistance against perceived injustice. Steve Hart appears in histories, novels, stage works and film adaptations that explore this era. He is often portrayed as loyal to his companions and emblematic of the blend of desperation and defiance associated with bushrangers.
Key facts and further reading
- Born: 13 February 1859.
- Died: 28 June 1880, during the Glenrowan siege.
- Notable incidents: Present at the Stringybark Creek encounter; member of the Kelly Gang.
- Associates: Ned Kelly, Dan Kelly, and other gang members.
For introductions to the broader phenomenon of colonial outlaws see resources on bushrangers and the social context of 19th‑century Victoria. Specialist biographies and archival collections provide more detailed chronologies and primary documents about Hart, the Kelly family and the policing responses of the period.