Bizarre photo reveals Ned Kelly-style armour trialled by Victoria Police

IT’S not Ned Kelly’s early prototype for his iconic armoured helmet — nor a late April fool’s joke. Believe it or not, Victoria Police trialled this bizarre armour in 1968.

IT’S not Ned Kelly’s early prototype for his iconic armoured helmet — nor a late April fool’s joke.

This bizarre headwear was part of new Victoria Police armour unveiled in 1968 after the design had been kept under a veil of secrecy for 3½ years.

The first picture of Victoria's new police armour which was revealed in 1968.

Victorians got their first glimpse of the strange armour after reporter Alan Dearn posed in this photograph for The Herald.

While it may look primitive, it could stop a .32 bullet from three metres.

The resemblance to Ned Kelly’s famous armour wasn’t coincidental.

But while the bushranger’s armour was fashioned from plough parts, leather and iron bolts, this armour was made of overlapping 5cm squares of specially toughened high-tensile steel.

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The bodywork was covered with navy cloth.

Look closely and you’ll notice two eye slits — too narrow for precision rifle sighting, but big enough to use a teargas gun.

Unfortunately, the new design never took off, and was abandoned after trials.

If you know more, let us know.

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