Ned Kelly’s armour: a suit becomes a symbol

Ned Kelly's armour is one of the most iconic objects of the Australian cultural landscape. Here, we are granted a rare detailed look at the armour as the State Library Victoria's Conservation Manager, Jane Hinwood, prepares it for display.

On 28 June 1880, the Australian bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang were involved in a dramatic shootout with police at the Glenrowan Inn, in Glenrowan, Victoria. Each of the four gang members wore a suit of roughly hewn armour made from plough shears.

Eventually, Ned Kelly was shot in the legs and captured by police. He was the only member of the Kelly Gang to survive the siege. On 11 November 1880, Ned Kelly was hanged for the murder of Constable Thomas Lonigan.

Film credit: Marleena Forward.

To learn more about Ned Kelly, visit:

For details on how to see the armour at State Library Victoria, visit:

[Newjerseyblows]

The fact that his armor was made out of plough and other farming tools just makes the legend even more badass.

[GrooberNedJardine]

It's not the Armour that is precious, it is the Symbolism of a Mans fight against the oppression of the Establishment . Nothing has changed .

[garymitchell]

I actually got to wear one of the Kelly helmets in the 1960's. My father was in Victoria Police Public Relations - and back in those days it was displayed at the Melbourne Show I believe- and taken around to show various groups. I remember my father coming home with a "special" surprise for me to see; and I believe it might have been Dan Kellys helmet - my Dad put it on my head - but had to support the weight - as I was pretty young - 8 yrs old? He also had one of their colt revolvers for me to look at. I still remember this quite distinctly - and I am now 66. I feel lucky - as not too many people would have worn this armour !!

[chrisbrent]

They were all black powder firearms then. They generally fired pretty big bullets but at slower velocity to modern smokeless powder cartridges. They were also all round nose lead bullets. Modern faster smaller caliber rounds would have punched right through it. I still can’t imagine what it would be like getting hit in it, especially the helmet.

[jonataseuuk]

Tha worse thing to think is that the Australia government still works the same way they did 200 years Ago, billing and over taxing the poor.

[nugley]

And under that armour, close to his heart, he was wearing the sash he was awarded when young, for saving a drowning child.

[alanmacpherson]

I read somewhere that the reason his legs weren't armoured was because the gang was planning to wreck a train and stand at the top of an embankment so they could shoot down on the train. Therefore their legs would have been protected if they stood back from the edge of the embankment.

[samanderson]

So happy to see the whole armour, making an extra large suit is going to be a challenge, but this vid has outlined the construction a lot better than just pictures. Rough bush blacksmithing....what ever gets the job done.

[flamingfrancis]

The thinner section will be the end part of the blade that tilled the earth. It is a remarkable job of bush blacksmithing. The riveting quality alone is something many smiths would struggle with. And to think there are those who do not recognse his intelligence. This workmanship plus his writings say a lot about him.
Amazing dent just below the right eye that would have taken his head off but for the protection.
There was not a lot of science in making of the material and certainly no formal testing in those days.

[MitchDussault]

Minor correction to the subtitles that were edited into the video: it's not plough shears. She was actually saying ploughshare or plowshare. A ploughshare is an old school farming plough that is tied to oxen or horses and pulled to turn the soil to break it up and make it ready for planting.

[narnorfyabizness]

Ned stood up to the corruption that was the Victorian Police.
What ever crimes they committed we're bought on by the police.
Constant harassment towards him and his family and unwanted sexual advances by one of the officers towards one of Ned's sisters and the low arse treatment they gave his mothet was an utter disgrace.
Ned and his gang are heros.

[fuzzymonkey]

Bits of old plough being handled like 400 year old stained glass 😂

[Ticonderous]

If it wasn't for Ned Kelly wearing the Armour he would long be forgotten does not describe it enough...

[jacobcrowfoot]

Got to see it earlier this year in the library and it had a real presence about it I stood there for way to long just staring in amazement

[lil_Kizzy]

This was honestly super cool Ned Kelly was my ancestor

[jjrider]

Good old Ned.. We'll need thousands more like him soon..

[blackmatterlives]

I'm an American, and I've never heard of this guy Ned Kelly. Time to delve into some of Australians history.

[SP-nyfk]

A symbol appropriated by the system - but which forever lives on outside the system.

[michaelthompson]

My Great Aunt Nellie Cooper was a staunch Kelly supporter. She was OLD when I was a small child in the sixties. I can still remember her making his case, though I think she must have been repeating things she heard from her parents.

[Jesta]

The privilege that lady has to hold it. I drove all the way to Victoria just to see his armour and they had it temporarily off display. Was probably my only opportunity to ever see it 😞