Ronald Ryan: Last Man Hanged

The execution of Ronald Ryan in 1967 had a profound effect on Australian society. Fourteen months before, Ryan had undertaken a daring escape from Melbourne’s Pentridge Prison with fellow prisoner Peter Walker, but his bid for freedom resulted in the death of warder George Hodson. Ryan and Walker were ultimately found guilty of Hodson’s murder and that of another man while on the run. Although grounds for a possible appeal had not been exhausted at the time of his execution, Ryan was hanged on 3 February 1967. Ryan’s execution galvanised public opinion against capital punishment in Australian and ultimately led to the abolition of the death penalty.