Historical information

This photograph was taken in c.1870 and depicts Aaron Sherrtt who is best known for his involvements with, and eventual assassination by, the Kelly gang. He stands upright in the image with his arm leaning on a podium which reaches his hip. He is wearing an outfit for which he was infamous. Richard Warren, son of the proprietor of the Ovens and Murray Advertiser once stated that “anyone seeing [Aaron] coming down Ford Street would ask, “Who the hell’s this? Some advance agent for the circus?”’. The outfit Aaron wore for this particular photoshoot is reminiscent of this quote. He wears an unusual spotted shirt with a waistcoat and a sash is tied at his waist. He wears boots which turn up slightly at the toes. The hat is a “pork pie” hat which is worn in the typical “Greta Mob” style with the chinstrap under the nose.

Aaron Sherritt was born in 1854 in Prahran, Melbourne, to Irish Protestant parents John and Anne. Sherritt stood at 5 foot 10. He had hazel eyes, dark brown hair and pale olive skin. Sherritt was childhood friends with Kelly Gang member, Joe Byrne, having previously attended the same school. Both men had a reputation for stealing horses and on one occasion, after stealing and butchering a cow, Sherritt and Byrne were convicted to six months in Beechworth Gaol (1876). Sherritt, along with Byrne, were reportedly recruited by Ned Kelly in 1877 in stealing stock; however, Sherritt never became a fully-fledged member of the Kelly Gang. Nevertheless, Sherritt scouted for the Kelly Gang in 1878. He later struck a deal with the police (specifically, with Chief Commissioner Standish) to save Joe Byrne's life in exchange for leading the police to the other members of the Gang. From then on, Aaron Sherritt lived the dangerous life of a double agent, providing police with what is assumed today to have been outdated or incorrect information in return for money.

On the 26th of June 1880, Aaron Sherritt was murdered in the Woolshed Valley. He was approximately 23-25 years old at death. This event marked the start of the Kelly gang’s last days. Sherritt was murdered by Byrne in front of his wife, 15 year old and heavily pregnant Ellen “Belle” Sherritt and her mother Ellen Barry. Also in the Sherritt dwelling on this particular night were four policemen. The intention behind Sherritt’s murder was for the police to send word to Melbourne that the Kelly gang had murdered Sherritt and a police train would be sent to Glenrowan where the rest of the Kelly gang were waiting. This plan did not go as predicted and ultimately the Kelly gang fell at Glenrowan in 1880.

This photograph was taken by James Bray who worked as a professional photographer in Camp Street Beechworth from 1870-1891. He was one of four men who photographed the Kelly Gang after the siege in Glenrowan in 1880. He is also renowned for his previous work photographing members of the Kelly gang.

Significance

This photograph is part of the Burke Museum "Kelly album" which includes a significant collection of photographs and artefacts connected to Ned Kelly and the Kelly Gang. Ned Kelly and his gang have become ingrained in Australian popular culture and thus many museums, art galleries and private collections house material connected to the Kelly story which allows the events and people to be researched and interpreted.

Artefacts and photographs pertaining to the Kelly gang are particularly valuable for Australian museums. This particular photograph is significant for its connection to Beechworth photographer James Bray who is responsible for many images depicting members of the Kelly Gang. The photograph is also of artistic significance as an example of a Carte de Viste dating to 1880 and it's connection to Aaron Sherritt.

Physical description

Sepia rectangular photograph printed on card.

Inscriptions & markings

Obverse:
J.E.Bray./ Photo/ Beechworth

Reverse:
Portrait & Landscape/
Photographer
5/ Aaron Sherritt
J E Bray Signature
Beechworth/
Victoria
Beware (almost erased out)
Negatives Kept. Copies 5I/.Each May/
Be Had By Forwarding Name And Address/
Accompanied With Remittance To/
The Amount Of Order/
Photographs Coloured In Water Colours
10237.