A powerful Australian myth that inspired writers and artists is that of the bushranger.
Bushrangers, or bush rangers, were the convicts who succeed in escaping from the British settlements of Australia and had the ability to survive in the wild bush the rural, undeveloped Australian land.

The figure of the bushranger in literature assumed the romantic meaning of the man who opposes to the Old World principles of government.
The national “hero” in Australia was Ned Kelly (1855 –1880), of Irish origins. His father was an Irish convict and he soon started fighting with the Victoria Police. After he killed three policemen, the colony proclaimed Kelly and his gang wanted outlaws. He is described wearing an armour like a medieval knight. At last he was captured and hanged at Old Melbourne Gaol in November 1880.
In literature he is considered like an Australian Robin Hood who fought against the violent and hard (=dura) riding police troopers. Sydney Nolan portrayed (= dipinse) his gestures in a series of paintings in 1946.