ROBBERY UNDER ARMS

William Strutt the artist who painted this scene in 1887, Bushrangers on the St Kilda Road, described it as "one of the most daring robberies attempted in Victoria" in 1852.

The St Kilda Road was the scene of frequent hold-ups during the Victorian gold rush by bushrangers. During the gold rush a temporary camp was set up for new arrivals and it was called Canvas Town.  It was in the part of St Kilda Road between Canvas Town and Melbourne that most hold ups occurred. The bushrangers, who conducted the holdups, were thought to be mostly former convicts from Van Diemens Land which is now called Tasmania.

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