Own a piece of history: Incredible 19th century hotel linked to Ned Kelly goes on the market for $580,000

  • A property tied to notorious bushranger Ned Kelly has hit the market in Victoria 
  • The property is steeped in history and was a hotel and a shop before a home 
  • In the 1860s Kelly saved the original owners' son, 7, from drowning in creek
  • Couple gave Kelly a green sash - it became one of his most prized possessions

By Zoe Zaczek For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 22:10 EST, 5 December 2018 | Updated: 22:10 EST, 5 December 2018

A historic hotel linked to notorious bushranger Ned Kelly has gone on the market for $580,000.

The property in Avenel, central Victoria, started life as a store but was transformed into a hotel in 1857.

According to the Victorian Heritage Database, the business was called the Royal Mail Hotel and was owned by Esau and Margaret Shelton.

At some point in the 1860s, Ned Kelly, then aged 10, rescued the Shelton's seven-year-old son, Richard, after he fell into nearby creek. 

The couple rewarded Kelly with a green silk sash, which he would later wear beneath his armour during his famous last stand at Glenrowan in 1880. 

The property in Avenel, central Victoria, started life as a store but was transformed into a hotel in 1857 

The property in Avenel, central Victoria, started life as a store but was transformed into a hotel in 1857 

Ned Kelly saved the Royal Mail owners seven-year-old son, Richard, from drowning after he slipped into a flooded creek

Ned Kelly saved the Royal Mail owners seven-year-old son, Richard, from drowning after he slipped into a flooded creek

The bushranger was hanged at the Old Melbourne Gaol later that year. 

The property was awarded the name 'The Coach House' due to it being a favoured stop off for coaches travelling between Melbourne and Beechworth.

Today the four-bedroom home has kept much of its original charm, thanks to its current owner, history enthusiast Margaret Lindsay-Field.

A family friend of Ms Lindsay-Field, Dean Gardiner, said the property was 'pretty unliveable' when she first purchased it. 

The four-bedroom home was opened as a store but transformed into the Royal Mail Hotel in January 1857

The four-bedroom home was opened as a store but transformed into the Royal Mail Hotel in January 1857

Impressed by Kelly's bravery the hotel owners Esau and Margaret Shelton rewarded Kelly with a green silk sash

Impressed by Kelly's bravery the hotel owners Esau and Margaret Shelton rewarded Kelly with a green silk sash

'I could fit my head through some of the holes in the walls,' he told  realestate.com.au.

Ms Lindsay-Field restored the 12-room property but kept the home’s rare Georgian architecture.   

The house has an asking price of $580,000 and is being sold privately by Janelle Puppa Real Estate. 

The sash became one of Kelly's most prized possessions, wearing it underneath his armour during his last stand at Glenrowan in 1880

The sash became one of Kelly's most prized possessions, wearing it underneath his armour during his last stand at Glenrowan in 1880

The property is currently home to history fanatic Margaret Lindsay-Field, who bought it eight years ago and restored it 

The property is currently home to history fanatic Margaret Lindsay-Field, who bought it eight years ago and restored it 

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Incredible 19th century hotel linked to Ned Kelly goes on the market for $580,000

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