The bushrangers that stole and held up actually had a reason, it was to survive . . . Without what they stole they wouldn't survive. However, this was only the case for some bushrangers. Others were just reckless and looking for adventure. Many bushrangers had a hard family life and had family members in prison, they would then have to help around home and run errands. It was hard work and some people chose the easy way out: becoming a bushranger. Most bushrangers travelled with certain things necessary for living in the bush, some of these things included:

 

• Billy

 

Bushrangers would use a billy can to boil water and 

cook the livestock they stole.

 

• Guns 

 

They'd carry guns to kill animals, as well as fighting

to stay alive.

 

• Armour

 

Not just Ned Kelly wore armour, plenty of other

bushrangers did too. They did this to protect

themselves since it was hard for the bullets to

penetrate the steel.

 

• Photographs of family

 

It's safe to say nearly every bushranger had a

photograph of their family. It's something we still

do today.

 

• Books

 

It may surprise you but a lot of bushrangers

were a big fan of literature. It is said that Ned 

Kelly would always carry around a copy of Lorna

Doone.

 

• Clothes

 

They wore cheap, plain clothes because they didn't

have enough money.

 

• Hat

 

Bushrangers travelled with a hat to protect themselves 

from the sun and murder flies with corks.