Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Buried in consecrated ground: Ned Kelly’s final wish is honoured

 

Kathy Marks
Wednesday 16 January 2013 20:21 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

More than 130 years after he was hanged, the remains of the notorious bushranger Ned Kelly will finally be laid to rest – minus his skull.

A folk hero to many, Kelly was buried in the grounds of Old Melbourne Jail in 1880, but his remains were later exhumed and reburied in a mass grave outside Melbourne’s Pentridge Prison. In 2008, an archaeological dig uncovered a skeleton which – with the help of DNA tests – was identified as his and returned to his family last year.

Now his descendants plan to honour his final wish, which was to be buried in consecrated ground.

His skull was stolen from a display case at Old Melbourne Jail in 1978 and its whereabouts remains a mystery.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in