The Last Outlaw (miniseries)

The Last Outlaw is a 1980 Australian four-part television miniseries based on the life of Ned Kelly. It was shot from February to May 1980 and the end of its original broadcast, in October–November 1980, coincided with the centenary of Ned Kelly's death.

The complete miniseries has been released on region 4 DVD in Australia by Umbrella Entertainment.

Cast

 * John Jarratt as Ned Kelly
 * Steve Bisley as Joe Byrne
 * Elaine Cusick as Mrs. Kelly
 * Lewis Fitz-Gerald as Tom Lloyd
 * John Ley as Dan Kelly
 * Ric Herbert as Steve Hart
 * Peter Hehir as Aaron Sherritt
 * Debra Lawrance as Maggie Kelly
 * Sigrid Thornton as Kate Kelly
 * Tim Eliott as Steele
 * Leslie Dayman as Jack Lloyd
 * Anthony Hawkins as Superintendent Hare
 * Anne Scott-Pendlebury as Mrs Devine
 * Frank Gallacher as Detective Ward

Production
The mini-series was made by Pegasus Productions, the company of Ian Jones and Browyn Binns. They had made the hugely popular mini-series Against the Wind. Jones had long been interested in the story of Ned Kelly and did extensive research. "I recognised the impossibility of his situation in a frontier society," said Jones. "He was the centre of a tragedy which could have been avoided." Jones wanted to make the series in part to make amends for his dissatisfaction with the 1970 film Ned Kelly.

Filming took six months.

Reception
The mini-series was considered a ratings disappointment.