Our Stay at Ned Kelly’s Marlo Cottage, Beechworth

Built c. 1874, this was the home of photographer James E. Bray, where he took private portraits of the Ned Kelly Gang.

A Little History

Born the year of the Eureka Stockade in 1854, bushranger Ned Kelly is an Australian folklore legend. Feisty, fearless, anti-establishment, and controversial to this day, Kelly was both violent cop killer, and working class hero. Capturing the imagination of the public, over 30,000 people across Victoria signed a petition opposing his hanging in 1880.

An Irish outlaw with a convict father, Ned’s family were very poor, at a time when some were enjoying significant wealth during the gold rush. His convict father led a life of crime, stealing horses to help feed his family. Ned followed in his father’s footsteps, first arrested at the age of 14 for stealing 10 shillings, and later forming the ‘Ned Kelly Gang’. The group of bushrangers staged bank robberies and took whole towns hostage - ending with the siege of the Glenrowan Inn in June 1880, where Kelly was the only surviving gang member. The photographer to arrive on the scene that day was James E. Bray.

James Bray was a portrait & landscape photographer who lived in Marlo Cottage until 1891. It was both his home and place of work, with his studio in the upstairs room. Working for the police as their photographer, Bray captured the famous portraits of the Kelly family in this very room.

Now the main bedroom in Marlo Cottage, there’s an incredible sense of history walking up the original, wide timber staircase to where Ned Kelly himself spent time.

Our Stay

School holidays, and it’s time to attempt to get the kids off screens and hit the road for a good dose of country fresh air. Visiting old country towns doesn’t generally make the list of favourite teenage things to do, so unsurprisingly, there was a bit of initial resistance. Fortunately, Marlo Cottage changed all that once we walked through the front door. What a beauty! Much larger than its charming, compact facade suggests, it’s deceptively spacious, with three bedrooms over two levels, two bathrooms, and fully-equipped modern kitchen.

Throughout Marlo Cottage are beautiful well-preserved original features. The name MARLO in cherry-red leadlight above the entry door, front two rooms with timber wall & ceiling panelling, and warm polished floors. The staircase leading to what was once James Bray’s studio is unique in its design, with unusual shallow, wide steps, and cedar banister that’s silky-smooth after decades of use. You can truly feel the history here.

We appreciated all the thoughtful nods to the 19th century and local history that are placed throughout. Browse framed photos of the Kelly family and the Glenrowan Inn siege, along with antique relics like glass bottles, books, clocks, teapot and vintage camera. In front of the cosy fire in the lounge, to my absolute delight, the boys rediscovered chess and card games, while I managed to sneak in some quiet relaxation time upstairs in the main bedroom. Situated to the rear of the cottage, it feels like a private parents’ retreat.

One of the biggest drawcards of Marlo Cottage for us was its location. Tucked in a quiet spot off the main street, yet right in the heart of town, we were metres away from shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs. On our first evening, it was a pleasure to stroll down to Tanswells Hotel built in 1873. We enjoyed classic pub fare with friendly service next to a roaring open fire.

The next morning, we ordered excellent coffee and fresh croissants from Project 49, then wandered across to Beechworth Honey’s main store, which was impossible to leave empty-handed. A walk around Beechworth’s heritage precinct is always worthwhile, and we toured both the Beechworth Museum and Courthouse, both comprehensive and run by knowledgeable locals. Standing in the small holding room adjacent to the court room, you can imagine Ned Kelly here, tensely awaiting his fate.

In the afternoon, we all headed to Billson’s Brewery that was founded in 1865. It’s fantastic to see this handsome red brick factory building now fully restored. Underground, we discovered their very cool bar and restaurant area with beautiful old limestone walls. Gourmet burgers for the boys - and Mum may or may not have had a cocktail or two!

Ending the day sitting out on Marlo’s front verandah at sunset, watching the kids kick a soccer ball past the old Beechworth Fire Station across the road - you realise that when it comes to the best getaways, nothing beats the simplicity of country road trips to rediscover your own backyard.

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