Nightmare at Ned Kelly’s Last Stand
Ever been to the Ned Kelly's Last Stand Show in Glenrowan? If so, sign in and let us know what you thought!
One Australian Traveller reader’s run-in with the theme park from hell . . .
A little while ago, AT received a letter from a concerned mother detailing her and her family’s rather dodgy experience at the Ned Kelly’s Last Stand Show in Glenrowan, Victoria. I immediately contacted Bob, the manager of the show, and told him that I’d received this letter and would fax him a copy if he’d like to make comment. Bob indicated that he would reply to the rather lengthy letter, but he never did.
Some months have passed now, and we’ve decided to go ahead and print the letter in full here and let you be the judge. Who knows? Perhaps you’ve had a similar experience at the Ned Kelly’s Last Stand Show – or even another “great Australian attraction” altogether – and can tell us all about it.
LETTER BEGINS:
On our way home to Melbourne following a two-week driving holiday to Qld, we decided to finish off by treating our children (aged five, eight and ten) to the Ned Kelly Last Stand show in Glenrowan. The “gentleman” (I use this word with tongue in cheek) assured us everyone loves the “new” sound and light show he’d just finished and gave us a “special deal” of two adults and two children, allowing one free child (upon reflection, youngest was free anyway?!)
So, our $60 credit card processed, we proceeded into the show only to have my five-year-old son cry hysterically that he was scared and it was too loud (it was for me too) and another child (not part of our family) also crying and being taken out by her father, so I too left and tried to calm my son down outside.
Only a couple of moments later, the other group with us (mum and two kids) were outside with us, followed closely behind by my husband and two daughters, one sobbing her heart out!
A total of five minutes spent in “the show” and two out of my three children (together with the other family’s three children) all crying, we proceeded back to the counter to receive what we thought an obvious refund. I was told by “the man” that he had to run the show with no-one in it and he’d never had a child leave (wow, two families at the one show were the first ever?!).
After a slight discussion, he begrudgingly gave me $14 and the proceeded to take me outside and read the board saying children may find the show “loud” and should be accompanied by adults. He then walked inside telling possibly the whole street quite loudly that I was full of s***(!?) and many other choice things! We of course quickly left as my children really didn’t need to see or hear behaviour like that.
As a “normal” family on a “normal” family day out I cannot express how deeply one man’s arrogance has ended our holiday on such a sour note and affected my children (who are still talking about the horrible man that made mummy cry).
I can assure you all I will make sure I tell everyone I can what an awful experience we had and to never make the effort to go to “Ned Kelly’s Last Stand” show in Glenrowan!
LETTER ENDS
What do you reckon? Sitting in the Big Chair at Australian Traveller Magazine, I tend to receive many letters of this kind – whether it’s poor service at a restaurant, a severely run-down resort, or even rip-offs or consumer difficulties with major airlines.
So if you’ve been to Ned Kelly’s Last Stand and can add to – or detract from – this letter of complaint, sign in to the AT Website and let us know with a comment below.
COMMENTS
ADAM HOWIESON
I,m not going into to much detail but the above letter could have been written by myself, we had the same experience, my boys were 5,8 and 10 years old, and we paid out $80. The show may suit some people, but its definately not for young children, especially under the age of 6. We were ripped off, kids could only handle 10 minutes, when we walked out, the old liarer reackons we were the first family to walk out in 30 years, not from what i,ve read and heard.Big tip, the road behind has a lovely working blacksmith shop, so i,ve since read, the kids will love it, and should,nt have any nightmares afterwards.
JASON PLATT
In response the the person who said her family were scared and they demanded a refund. Shame on you. What did you expect. It was the story of Ned Kelly!!! Not Blinky Bill!!
We read the signs that said “Can scare even adults” and that “parts were loud”. So toughen up princess… Youw were clearly warned.
Now, onto what we thought of the show. Yes it was a bit loud in parts, but other than that I thought the show was very clever & entertaining. I’ve seen similar shows at Disney land & I must say, this guy has produced a show that even Mr Disney himself would be impressed with.
Well done. I’d recommend it to anyone.
ARTEMIS HORTON
To be fair, I haven’t actually stepped into the actual theatre to see Ned Kelly’s Last Stand. Two years ago, my husband, my friend and I stopped in at Glenrowan to have a look around. We were on the home stretch after a two week trip through Victoria which took us through a few other sound and light shows…one was very well done, while the others, not much to report. While sizing up the rather prominant Ned Kelly statue out the front, we were skeptical about attending the show, especially at $15 per person. (Note to the concerned mother writing the letter – you are correct, youngest should have been free anyway).
We decided to give it a miss and instead strolled around and snapped photographs of each of us affectionately comforting the carved and painted telegraph-pole version of a wounded Ned. Since this trip, I have heard several accounts from people who splurged and went into the show. None have been positive. In fact, travel author Bill Bryson takes a generous page to review his experience at Glenrowan and only reaffirms what several before and after have reported – too much money, too loud, not too impressed.
The day we arrived in Glenrowan, had the price not been comparable to that of an IMAX show, given the significance of the place and the story, I would have given it a shot. Having recently relocated to Australia from Canada, I am all about absorbing Australian history in any shape or form…but sincerely, not at any cost.
Due to the focus of this response, I will not go into detail, but after having driven around the country in search of cultural insight, I have found there to be an all too frequent over charge for such attractions. I appreciate the pride instilled in the fame of each region, but I do feel there comes a point where just because it might be the best (ahem..and only) show in Glenrowan, does not mean it should cost the world to see it. And like any decent customer service should allow for, a refund for scaring the daylights out of children would have been appropriate. They say if you can’t fix a complaint, don’t drop it…at least a response from ‘Bill’ would have been in order.
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LOCATION
Glenrowan, VIC
Retracing the steps of Australia's most celebrated and notorious criminal Ned Kelly is No, 78 on Australian Traveller's list of 100 Things To Do In Australia Before You Die
THE DETAILS
Where // VIC, Australia
