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NED IN THE NEWS
More than a century after his hanging on 11 November 1880, Ned Kelly continues to make news
headlines.
In September it was announced that his remains had been identified and, as the 131st anniversary of
his hanging approached, Attorney-General Robert Clark agreed to return his remains to his
descendants so they could meet his final request to be buried in consecrated ground.
The preferred option appears to be a small cemetery in the Greta church yard south of Glenrowan
where his mother Ellen and other relatives rest.
While much of the focus of these announcements was on the forensic work done to identify the
remains, a great deal of earlier work had been undertaken by Heritage Victoria.
For almost a decade, extensive archaeological investigations and historical research has been carried
out into the burials of all prisoners executed in Melbourne from 1880 onwards.
Over the past 50 years, the knowledge of the location of these prisoner burial sites had become
confused or forgotten, and was not accurately represented in official records. Much of the confusion
dated back to 1929 when, following the closure of the Old Melbourne Gaol, approximately 30 burials
were exhumed and the remains relocated to Pentridge in chaotic circumstances.
Recent archaeological excavations at the Old Melbourne Gaol and former Pentridge prison have done
much to disentangle the complex history of the prisoner burials and archaeologists are confident that
all burial sites at the Old Melbourne Gaol and former Pentridge prison from 1880 onwards have been
located.
The first ‘find’ was an intact coffin in the area of the former gaol hospital at Old Melbourne Gaol
unearthed in March 2002. The subsequent investigation (in consultation with the Coroner’s Office and
the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, and conducted under strict protocols) found:

It was several days from the discovery of the first graves in 1929 before an undertaker was
engaged to ensure sets of remains were carefully placed in coffins and relocated to Pentridge.
The first remains uncovered had been relocated in a disorganised manner.

In 1937 four burials from the OMG Hospital grounds were relocated to Pentridge but a fifth, the
one discovered in 2002, was missed.

A plan of the supposed burial ground at Pentridge at the end of D Division, long regarded as the
Pentridge cemetery site (although recorded in at least two different formations), contained only the
remains of Ronald Ryan, executed in 1967 (exhumed and handed to his family in early 2008).

The ‘missing’ burial ground, containing the nine prisoners executed at Pentridge between 1932
and 1951 and the mass grave of those relocated from the OMG hospital site, was located using
early aerial photographs, followed by an archaeological investigation.

Later excavations discovered a further two mass graves at a greater depth – one contained 12
coffins and the second five coffins.

While the coffins of the nine prisoners executed at Pentridge were all clearly identified, those from
the mass graves were exhumed and delivered to the Coroner’s Office.

In 2009, during trenching works for the redevelopment of the Pentridge site, the third mass grave,
containing 24 burial boxes in two layers, estimated to be the 15 missing burials, was found and
excavated (below).

Via negotiations by Heritage Victoria, the skull originally displayed at Old Melbourne Gaol as Ned
Kelly’s, and stolen in 1978, was returned to the Coroner and DNA tested. It proved not to be
Ned’s, but was the skull of one of the other executed inmates.

Colin Campbell Ross, convicted on the notorious Gun Alley Murder in February 1922, received a
posthumous pardon following the discrediting of key police evidence. His remains were identified
and released to his next of kin in October 2010.
The bluestone removed in the 1929 works was re-used in seawalls stretching from Brighton to
Beaumaris. Some stones bearing initials and dates have been located along the wall.
The outstanding mystery is the identity of the skull removed from Old Melbourne Gaol in 1978 and
long believed to be that of Kelly. Odontological analysis (which assesses teeth and facial bone
structures) and comparisons with death masks suggests that the skull may be that of notorious serial
killer Frederick Deeming, but this has not been confirmed with DNA or other testing.
Below: Boxes used to rebury some of the remains at Pentridge and at right, in November 2011 Tom
Baxter (second from right) delivers the skull stolen from the OMG to officers of the Coroners Office in
with Heritage Victoria’s Senior Archaeologist Jeremy Smith (right).
SUMMER SCHOOL
Jenny Dickens, Heritage Victoria’s Senior Conservator was the only Australian to attend the 2011
Attingham Summer School in the UK.
The Attingham Trust states that its Summer School has three main purposes:

To EXAMINE the architectural and social history of the historic house in Britain and its gardens
and landscape setting.

To STUDY the contents of these buildings – their paintings, sculpture, furniture, ceramics,
silver, textiles and other applied arts – as well as the planning, decorative treatment and use of
the interiors.

To STIMULATE debate on problems relating to the conservation and presentation of the
country house and its contents.
Jenny reports the course fulfilled these purposes admirably. “The range and richness of the houses
and their contents was incredible and it was easy to learn a huge amount about the relationships
between buildings, interiors and collections.
“The mirrors and elaborate gilding in 18th century interiors can seem almost ‘too much’ to modern eyes
and in modern lighting. In fact the mirrors and gilding in these elaborate interiors were deliberately
placed and designed to reflect the limited artificial light available at the time – candles and gas lights.
“For example Apsley House (below left) had sliding mirror panels hidden in the walls. These were slid
over the windows at night to reflect the artificial light around the room. Shiny silk wall coverings and
upholstery, as well as gilding on the ceiling, walls, picture frames, sconces and furniture, further
reflected the scarce light. Many of these objects and materials were carefully specified by the building
architects.”
Jenny also noted that the high levels of visitation and volunteering at many of the properties was
something that custodians of Australian historic buildings can only dream of.
“Even remote properties such as Erddig (below centre) had large numbers of garden and house
volunteers. This was reflected in the quality of the gardens which themselves created a very attractive
venue to visitors.”
The English Heritage Archaeological and Architectural store was a fascinating repository of building
materials and decorative fragments (below right) from demolished; fire and war damaged and altered
properties all over the UK. It is being used by researchers and is just about to be put online, making
this information more accessible to researchers, renovators, conservation architects and the public.
The majority of the participants were curators of historic houses in the UK, US and the Netherlands,
with a few conservators and conservation architects.
“It was a rare and wonderful opportunity to examine collections in context and to learn how the objects
were made and used,” said Jenny.
ENCYCLOPEADIA LAUNCH
The long awaited Encyclopedia of Australian Architecture was launched by award winning architect
and Grand Designs Australia host Peter Maddison at Melbourne Museum on 16 November.
Published by Cambridge University Press, the 832 tome is edited by Professor Philip Goad, Director,
Melbourne School of Design, and Associate Professor Julie Willis, Melbourne School of Design at the
University of Melbourne
Peter noted this ‘impressive book’ was four years in the making with more than 150 contributors, and
more than 1000 entries.
“Thankfully its 500 photographs and drawings make it highly accessible even to us, the visually reliant
architectural profession,” he noted.
And at 4.2 kg, it's truly a heavyweight! But it’s not just impressive because of its weight, notes Peter:
“This is definitely a dangerous book…because it's seriously addictive.
“This book is a matrix of architects, styles, construction materials, influences on the profession and the
built environment. It tracks aboriginal habitation and through 241 years of white man’s built world and
is inclusive of all things architectural.
“It has the sensibility of an aerial map,” said Peter. “If you are like me: I know certain places well but
the spaces between only marginally, if at all.
Peter said the book joined all the dots in the architectural landscape.
“Linkages, done in bold type, cross reference individual buildings, architects, firms, styles, building
types and even certain architectural building components,…so that it's now possible to get a deeper
understanding of the ‘in between bits’.
“How logical it is to arrange the book alphabetically, to provide further reading references at the end of
every entry, have a variety of visual documentation from perspective renders, archival and
contemporary photographs, cartoons, paintings, plans, sections and even portraits,” he said
Peter related learning that the ES&A Bank in Parkdale, the suburb he grew up in, was by Stuart
Macintosh Architect and it was designed in 1958 the year his family moved to the area.
“I have passed by and admired that building for 50 years and not known its designer. My Dad even
worked there!”
Sharing other gems he’d learnt from the book, such as the youth and sporting skills of some well
known architects, he said the book would be a landmark in the architectural and literary landscape.
See http://www.cambridge.org/aus/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521888578
FARM PARTNERSHIP
Nehill Brothers Farm at South Purrumbete will showcase the region’s farming heritage and heritage
breeds – all with a touch of technology.
When Alex Nehill died, his will detailed the dream that he and his brothers Peter and Joe held for the
National Trust to develop the property as an education site. The Trust has spent close to $100,000 on
the heritage reserve which will house Sussex sheep, Clydesdales, black pigs (below) and other rare
breeds thanks to The Australian Farm Animals Conservation Trust.
While much of the funding was spent on new animal enclosures, the re-roofing the house and
restoring the old orchard, the Trust has added a high-tech touch with interpretive signage including
quick response codes which visitors scan with a mobile phone to receive relevant information.
The Nehill Brothers Farm Living History Reserve was opened on 9 October by Governor of Victoria
and National Trust Patron Alex Chernov AO QC who toured the farm before the official opening.
Mr Nehill ran a well known Large Black Pig stud, Purrumbete, which will continue. A live-in manager
will care for the stock and run educational tours from February 2012. The next open days are Sunday
11 December, 12 February 2012 and 11 March 2012.
For further information see
http://www.nattrust.com.au/places_to_visit/geelong_the_west/nehill_brothers_farm
MAIDS QUARTERS BENGA HOUSE
Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens in Dandenong re-opened the Maid’s quarters in Benga
House on 6 November so now visitors can understand what it would have been like to be a live-in
maid in one of Dandenong largest homes during 1930s.
With several rooms open to the public for the first time, visitors can walk through Benga’s original
kitchen, maid’s bedroom, laundry and fully stocked pantry all presented as they would have been in
the 1930s.
This interactive installation, developed with assistance from a Heritage Victoria grant, is a permanent
display at Heritage Hill. With fully restored fixtures and genuine furnishings, visitors have the
opportunity to touch and feel objects from the era.
Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, at 66 McCrae Street, Dandenong is open Monday Friday, 10am - 4pm and Sunday, 12 - 4pm. The site includes:

Benga, designed by renowned architect Fredrick Ballantyne was built by Norman Taylor in the
Tudor Revival style, in 1936 it was the largest house built for some time

The 1869 Laurel Lodge, one of the region's oldest buildings and linked to several prominent early
settlers, it was an elite ladies private school between 1869 and 1884

St James Anglican Church (1864) one of Dandenong’s oldest buildings which continues to
welcome congregations to its services.
Benga holds regular exhibitions and its collection, which can be accessed by prior arrangement,
includes tapes and transcripts of more than 300 interviews with a cross-section of people Dandenong.
Heritage Hill will be closed 23 December 15 January. See
http://www.greaterdandenong.com/Documents.asp?ID=306&Title=Heritage+Hill+Museum+%26+Histo
ric+Gardens
VICTORIAN HERITAGE REGISTER
There were no additions to the Victorian Heritage Register in November. Please note Ararat Civic
Precinct (H2286) in Barkly Street, including the former Shire Hall (1871) and Town Hall (1899) and
War Memorials commemorating the Boer War, World War I and World War II was included in the
Victorian Heritage Register (not Overlay) in September.
DIARY DATES
Australian Heritage Week – Saturday 14 April until Sunday 22 April 2012
National Trust of Victoria Heritage Festival - Innovation and Invention, 21 April - 21 May 2012
Inherit is published monthly by the Heritage Council of Victoria.
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