The critical connection between Ned Kelly, The Ashes & Janet Lady Clarke
Senior curator Carolyn Fraser reveals how two enduring items of Australian history – Ned Kelly's armour and The Ashes 'sacred soot' – are linked together by one person: Janet Lady Clarke, an influential woman whose engagement in social justice causes led to the foundation of the Women's Hospital and the Australian Women's National League.
About Velvet, Iron, Ashes
Velvet, Iron, Ashes was a free exhibition held at the Library between October 2019 and July 2020. It presented a new way of seeing Victoria's history by drawing threads between people, places and events that were not immediately apparent, and which prompted viewers to make surprising connections and discoveries of their own.
Explore our dedicated Velvet, Iron, Ashes page to find out:
- how the armour of infamous bushranger Ned Kelly is connected to cricket’s celebrated Ashes Urn
- how fairy floss is connected to Victoria’s Latrobe Valley electricity industry
- why the granddaughter of one of our prime ministers once wore a glittering velvet cloak symbolising the Murray–Darling irrigation scheme.
About this video series
This video is the second of three in which Carolyn tells stories from and draws out the surprising connections in Velvet, Iron, Ashes.
- Watch the first video: Freddo Frogs, Cherry Ripes and an averted plane disaster
- Watch the third video: The story behind Jessie Brookes' 1934 outfit