The nine minute fragments that remain of The Story of the Kelly Gang, with its promotional booklet to contextualise the tale, have historical significance as the first Australian narrative film, and thus the foundation of a vigorous Australian film-making industry. The film has creative significance as the germinal filmic representation of the Kelly bushranger legend, a central element in Australian culture, which has since been made at least 22 times.

Inscribed on the International Memory of the World Register in 2007.

The Memory of the World International Register lists documentary heritage which has been identified by the International Advisory Committee in its meetings in Tashkent (September 1997), in Vienna (June 1999), in Cheongju City (June 2001), in Gdansk (August 2003), in Lijiang (June 2005), and in Pretoria (June 2007) and endorsed by the Director-General of UNESCO as corresponding to the selection criteria for world significance.