Piecing Together the Past, page 2

From 1890 to 1952, Ned Kelly's armour, now held by the State Library, was displayed at the Melbourne Aquarium. In 1956, the armour was transferred to the Science Museum, and was subsequently transferred to the Historical Collection of the Melbourne Public Library in 1964. (During this time a shoulderplate became separated from the rest of the suit and remained with the Museum, where it is still held today.)

In the 1960s it became apparent to Kelly expert Ian Jones that the pieces of the different suits of armour had been mixed. Jones referenced historical accounts, early photographs and a published sketch from the Australasian Sketcher by Thomas Carrington, a journalist and eyewitness at Glenrowan, to determine that the suits had been incorrectly re-assembled following the siege. Subsequent investigations by historians Keith McMenomy and Ken Oldis, and then by the State Library and other custodians of the armour, confirmed this situation. After a period of consultation and collaboration, it was agreed by the respective custodians that, as a commitment to historical accuracy, the respective armour parts would be exchanged.

The avenues of research are not yet exhausted. the custodians of the Kelly Gang armour hope to undertake extensive forensic, DNA and metallurgical testing to extend their knowledge of the construction of the armour and to answer further questions about the attribution of certain parts, such as the various lappets.

Ned Kelly's reconfigured suit of armour will be on permanent display with the Jerilderie Letter and other original Kelly Gang material in the Dome Galleries due to open in November 2004.