Culture

An Outlaw's Grave: Exhuming Ned Kelly

by Jordan Yerman | March 9, 2008 at 06:36 am

1115 views | 5 Recommendations | 9 comments

Ned Kelly, an Australian outlaw famous for his homemade plate armor, was hanged for multiple murder in 1880. With that in mind, one could assume that finding his remains would be easy, but this is not the case. Though he was famous at the time of his death (a folk hero to many), he was buried in a mass grave which was then relocated.

Scientists in Australia believe they have found the grave of 19th Century outlaw and national icon Ned Kelly.

His remains are thought to be among those of executed prisoners found on the site of an abandoned prison in the southern city of Melbourne.

Kelly was a bank robber who was hanged in 1880 for murdering three policemen.

After evading arrest for several years, he used home-made armour in a final shoot-out with police; his exploits have been the subject of several films.

The scene of his last stand has also been designated a national heritage site.

Archaeologists have located three mass burial plots containing the remains of prisoners executed at the Melbourne Gaol and reburied at Pentridge in 1929. Five sets of bones have been exhumed and sent for forensic analysis.

Jeremy Smith, senior archaeologist with Heritage Victoria, said it would be difficult to establish whether any of the bones of the approximately 32 prisoners discovered were Kelly's.

Kelly, who was hanged in November 1880, was a celebrity even in 1929 when the bodies were dug up and moved, Mr Smith said, and some souveniring took place.

Ned Kelly's exploits were the subject of several films, the most recent of which starred the late Heath Ledger.

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Barry Artiste

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 07:26 on March 9th, 2008

jordan, I like this story. It's good stuff.

One wonders if in a hundred years our British Columbia government will take the recent arrest of long time convicted criminal Tracy Caza whose penchant for robbing 91 year old women amputees will get a provincial monument dedicated to him as well. Of course that may put other criminals noses out of joint as one criminal will mostly likely want to top the other criminal in their quest to see how many robberies and assaults they can comitt without serving any time, which has exceedingly been the norm in this Province as Flatulent Policiticans who repeatedly state to the Universe as the "Best Province and City to Live in the World".

I am certain Jordan during Ned's Time, the citizens and law enforcement of the day certainly didn't think of Neddie as a National Treasure.

Good Story though.

Jordan Yerman

at 09:28 on March 9th, 2008

Even in his day, Kelly was seen in a similar way to someone like Jesse James, an outlaw who was the product of a vindictive colonial government; Tracy Caza isn't seen as anything but a punk.

Barry Artiste

at 10:15 on March 9th, 2008

Still you have to agree The Law is the Law, from the people, by the people, innocent people were still killed by both Jesse and Ned.

Jordan Yerman

at 11:02 on March 9th, 2008

Whilst I can't condone murder, at the time the law in Oz was not by/for the people- it was more "at the people" than anything else. Eventually the settlers got angry, and some got violent. In light of this, I'm not surprised that the bushrangers (of whom Kelly is the most famous) were lionized.

Edit: reminds me of another article I read this morning that wasn't NowPublic post-worthy on its own... but, thanks to this discussion, it's been newsified: I like to watch

rheasmom

at 08:55 on March 9th, 2008

Photograph taken in the Old Melbourne Gaol,February 2008

rheasmom has contributed a photo to this story.

ssoross1

at 13:50 on March 9th, 2008

From the Victorian State Library exhibit.
Kelly's helmet has become an icon in Australian art and culture.

ssoross1 has contributed a photo to this story.

douglasfamilydooz

at 14:37 on March 9th, 2008

Good work Jordan, it's amazing how much of a cult hero he is. We did the tours around Beechworth and Glenrowan and the effort gone into the memorabilia was amazing

il cerchio

at 00:37 on March 11th, 2008

A lovely piece of stencil work from Melbourne.

il cerchio has contributed a photo to this story.

michalki

at 20:25 on March 19th, 2008

Early 2008, i was driving through the Wilmot Valley in Tasmania, on the way to Cradle Mountain. Many of the properties in the Valley have extraordinary, creative letterboxes made from all manner of recycled materials.

In fact, there is a museum to celebrate this local culture, as well as a mural featuring painted representations. Outside the museum is this letter box based on the legend of Ned Kelly.

michalki has contributed a photo to this story.