Harry Power (1820-1891) was one of Australia’s most infamous bushrangers. He played a significant role in shaping the legend of bushranging during the 19th century. Born as Henry Johnson in Waterford, Ireland, in 1819, Power would lead a life of crime that spanned several decades before his eventual capture at Powers Lookout. He left a lasting imprint on Australian folklore. His story is a fascinating tale of crime, escape, rebellion, and the harsh realities of life in the colonial frontier.

Early Life and Criminal Beginnings

Harry Power was born into poverty and hardship. In the early 19th century, Ireland was a place of extreme social inequality, and Power’s upbringing reflected this. He grew up in a working-class family, and his early life was marred by deprivation. At the peak of convict transportation from Britain to Australia, Powers was convicted of stealing seven pairs of shoes at age 21 in 1840. The system of transportation was brutal, designed to both punish and isolate criminals from society. This marked the beginning of his long and tumultuous career as a criminal.

Upon his arrival at Port Arthur Penal Settlement in Van Diemen’s Land (now known as Tasmania), Power was subjected to the brutal conditions typical of convict life. The harsh treatment and forced labour in the colony’s penal system hardened Power and fueled his determination to escape. By 1855, after serving his sentence and receiving a ticket of leave, Power began his life of crime in earnest. He engaged in various criminal activities, including horse theft, which would become one of his signature crimes.

The Rise of a Bushranger

Powers’ notoriety and reputation as a bushranger soared. In 1856, he was arrested for horse stealing and received a thirteen-year sentence at Victoria’s infamous Pentridge Prison. His involvement in the murders of Owen Owens and John Turner further solidified his reputation. However, he was ultimately found not guilty of the murders. After spending two and a half years in the hulks, he was moved to the Pentridge Stockade but escaped in 1862. Subsequently, he was apprehended again for horse stealing and sentenced to seven years on the roads at Beechworth on February 19, 1864.

Escape

Power again escaped from Pentridge on February 16 1869, and held up the mail coach at Porepunkah on May 7. On May 22nd, he bailed up another coach on Longwood-Mansfield Road. Power then embarked on a series of robberies and hold-ups that terrorised the rural communities of Victoria. His criminal activities included robbing mail coaches, raiding homesteads, and engaging in violent confrontations with the authorities. Power’s audacity and success in evading capture made him a folk hero to some and a feared outlaw to others.

Harry Power became a master of the bushranger’s craft. He used his knowledge of the land, honed as a stockman, to evade capture. His robberies were bold, and he developed a reputation as a cunning and elusive criminal. He primarily operated in the northeastern regions of Victoria, where he terrorised travellers and settlers. Power was known for his “gentlemanly” conduct during his robberies. Unlike some other bushrangers, he was said to refrain from unnecessary violence and was polite to his victims. This image of the “gentleman bushranger” contributed to his growing legend.

The Mentor to Ned Kelly

One of Harry Power’s most intriguing aspects is his connection to the Kelly family. In the late 1860s, a young Ned Kelly, who would later become Australia’s most notorious bushranger, fell under Power’s influence. According to popular accounts, Power took Ned under his wing, teaching him the skills needed to survive as a bushranger. This relationship between Power and Kelly is significant in Australian history. While verifying the full extent of their partnership is difficult, it is widely accepted that Power played a role in shaping Ned Kelly’s early criminal career.

Ned Kelly’s family was well known to Power. The Kellys were struggling Irish immigrants living in the harsh conditions of colonial Victoria. Like many of their class, they had frequent brushes with the law. The Kelly family’s resentment towards authority and their rebellious spirit aligned with Power’s own experiences. Under Power’s mentorship, the young Ned Kelly was exposed to the life of a bushranger, and Kelly learned to live off the land, plan robberies, and outwit the police.

While Power was nearing the end of his criminal career, he may have inadvertently set the stage for the Kelly Gang’s rise, which would eclipse Powers’ fame and capture the nation’s imagination. It would also spark fierce debates about justice, authority, and the nature of rebellion.

Capture and Imprisonment

In September 1869, the Victorian government offered a reward of £200 for Power’s arrest. This was soon increased to £500. As a result, he moved to New South Wales but later returned to Victoria. However, he evaded capture until June 5, 1870, when he was arrested by Superintendents Nicolson and Hare, along with Sergeant Montford and a black tracker.

The trio surprised Power in his hideout at Power’s Lookout, a rocky escarpment overlooking the Quinn property on the King River. James Quinn received a reward of £500 for his information and assistance. Power was sentenced to fifteen years of hard labour at Beechworth for three counts of bushranging and was again incarcerated at Pentridge.

In prison, Power became something of a celebrity. His life stories as a bushranger captivated fellow inmates and the public. Despite his criminal past, Power remained a charismatic figure who entertained with tales of his adventures. However, prison life took its toll on him. By the time he was released in 1885, he was an old man in poor health, a shadow of the fearsome bushranger he had once been.

After being released, Power first worked as a gamekeeper. Later, he became a caretaker on the Success, a ship that had previously served as a prison hulk. However, it had been transformed into a travelling waxworks display showcasing the torture and punishment inflicted on criminals. The ship eventually sank, but Harry survived and returned to the bush. In 1891, he drowned in the Murray River as an old man with only a few shillings to his name.

Visit Powers Lookout

Drive three kilometres on a gravel road from Mansfield-Whitfield Road to a parking area with picnic tables and restrooms. Two lookout points offer stunning views of the surrounding mountain and valley. The first lookout is close to the carpark and wheelchair accessible. To reach the second lookout, you’ll take a short 0.4-kilometre walk with a series of steel ladders which lead to a viewing platform at the northernmost point of the rocky outcrop. It’s easy to see why Power chose this spot as a hideout. The stunning panoramic view allowed him to see and evade mounted police and trackers from miles away.

There’s also a 20-minute return walk through the bush to a waterhole surrounded by beautiful rocky ledges. To get there, follow the path near the toilets in a westerly direction.