Jaren 1870. In het koloniale Australië regeren de Britten met ijzeren hand om de Ieren in toom te houden. Ned Kelly (George MacKay) ontdekt dat zijn familie bestaat uit Ierse rebellen. Hij gaat in de leer bij de beruchte struikrover Harry Power (Russell Crowe). Na de onterechte arrestatie van zijn moeder brengt hij een paar rebellen samen om het op te nemen tegen de Britten.

De film vertelt het verhaal van Ned Kelly, die samen met zijn broer Dan en twee anderen de beruchte Kelly Gang vormde. Gebruikmakend van eigengemaakte kogelwerende uitrustingen pleegden ze tussen 1878 en 1880 een serie roofovervallen.

Based on the story of The Kelly Gang's last stand, Glenrowan is an uncompromising depiction of one man's quest for vengeance that culminates a final showdown between the four iron-clad outlaws against overwhelming odds.

Shot almost entirely in 'Kelly Country', near the country town of Benalla, The Glenrowan Affair takes us back to the era of Victoria's most notorious bushranger, showcasing thrilling action sequences and horsemanship as time and again the Kelly Gang outwit the law. The film begins with old timer, Dinny (some say he knows too much for an outsider) telling the story of the Kelly Gang to a visiting sketch artist. His tale unfolds as Ned Kelly and Joe Byrne surprise the constabulary in the bar of the Glenrowan Hotel and Ned shoots a constable in the hand. The Glenrowan Affair includes the ambush at Eleven Mile Creek, the hold up at the Jerilderie Bank and the siege at the Glenrowan Hotel where Ned, dressed in a suit of homemade armour, taunts the 'traps' in a hail of gunfire before he is shot and captured.

The infamous Kelly Gang is at it again spreading mischief and death throughout bush. However, their gunfire has attracted unwanted attention from the local police. When shots are let loose, which side will come out on top...