The Appearance of Mrs. Skillion

Rare c.19th engraving depicting Ned Kelly’s sister riding away from the Kelly’s.

Margaret Skillion, was the younger sister of the bushranger Ned Kelly and occupied a crucial role within the network that sustained the Kelly gang.

She functioned as an effective intelligence gatherer and scout. Drawing upon her accomplished horsemanship and intimate knowledge of the local terrain, she was able to evade and outmanoeuvre police surveillance. Her capacity to monitor and interpret police movements enabled her to deliver timely warnings, thereby assisting her brothers in prolonging their evasion of capture. In addition to her intelligence work, Skillion assumed responsibility for the complex logistical demands of sustaining the gang while they remained in hiding. In collaboration with her sister Kate, she organised the provision of food and essential supplies to various bush hideouts. This effort ensured that the outlaws remained adequately supported despite the constraints of their fugitive existence. Her loyalty to her family was further demonstrated through her leadership among local sympathisers, where she contributed to maintaining a protective community network that helped shield the gang from authorities.

Her involvement in the events surrounding the Kelly outbreak came at considerable personal cost. In 1878, she was convicted of aiding and abetting the attempted murder of Constable Fitzpatrick, resulting in a six-year term of imprisonment. Even after Ned Kelly’s eventual capture, she continued to advocate on his behalf, attempting to secure funds for his legal defence and seeking visitation rights in order to assist in coordinating aspects of his trial. In later life, her continued association with the Kelly circle was reflected in her relationship with Tom Lloyd, Ned Kelly’s cousin and a devoted supporter, whom she eventually married.