Historic Ned Kelly site leaps into the future

After a generous $30,000 grant from Heritage NSW, Murrumbidgee Council now has the funds needed to start working on their project Hero or outlaw — Ned Kelly Raid Trail 1879 comes to life.

The project will see local historic sites filmed using a 360 degree camera, to allow people from all over the world to visit from anywhere in almost complete immersion.

In preparation for the project, the ‘Doing the Bolt’ exhibition inside the Jerilderie Library will receive a makeover.

Murrumbidgee Council Mayor Ruth McRae said Ned Kelly is an iconic figure in Jerilderie’s history, etched into our past in 1879 when the gang held the town’s citizens hostage in the Royal Mail Hotel.

“The local Bolt Exhibition is an important way of preserving and promoting this fascinating story to locals and visitors,” she said.

“We were delighted to receive the New South Wales Government grant that will enable us to produce the virtual tour.

“This will mean we can share our story right across the world.

“It will be an integral part in attracting visitors and also keeping our history alive.”

In development of the virtual tour, local history experts will be interviewed and included in the video. It will add to the immersion experience for viewers.

Other sites in Jerilderie will also feature in the virtual tour, specifically those impacted by the ‘Ned Kelly Raid’.

“A professional videographer is producing the video and the sites will be determined when he is in Jerilderie,” Cr McRae said.

For those who wish to see the ‘Doing the Bolt’ exhibition in person, it is open Mondays, Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays, with access via the library.

The exhibition can be viewed between 10am and noon and 12.30pm and 5pm on days it is open.