Ned Kelly returns to face judge who sent him to gallows in 1880

In an eerie twist of fate, Ned Kelly is again facing off with the man who sentenced him to death 143 years ago. The notorious bushranger’s armour has been relocated to Melbourne - directly opposite a portrait of the famous judge.

A rejig at the State Library has landed Ned Kellys armour in the Redmond Barry Reading Room. Ashley Yii, Neve Pianta and Ned Schrever check out his armour. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ned Kelly and his greatest nemesis are facing off yet again after 143 years.

In an eerie quirk of fate, the notorious bushranger – or his armour at least – is back before the infamously harsh judge who sent him to the gallows in 1880.

Kelly’s armour at the State Library has been relocated, by sheer coincidence, to the Redmond Barry Reading Room, opposite a portrait of the famous judge.

And behind the armour is a stunning new 7m x 4m reproduction of an 1880 wood engraving depicting the dramatic courtroom scene in which Barry sentenced Kelly to death.

The statue of Supreme Court judge Sir Redmond Barry who presided over the Ned Kelly trial and death sentence stands outside the very place Ned Kelly's armour is now displayed. Picture: David Caird

Ned Kelly in his suit of armour is a recognisable icon in Australian history.

The coincidental juxtaposition of the two giants of Victorian history has revived memories of the famous “Ned Kelly curse”, which many blamed for Barry’s untimely death.

After Barry handed down the death sentence, he pronounced: “May God have mercy on your soul.”

Kelly replied, “I’ll see you there, where I go”, sparking a sensation in the packed courtroom.

Barry died following a short illness only 12 days after the bushranger’s execution on November 11, 1880 – leading to rumours of the “Ned Kelly curse”.

Tim Hogan, the principal librarian for Victorian & Australian Collections, said it was decided to find a more accessible location for the armour, and it was coincidence the best spot turned out to be the Redmond Barry Reading Room.

“It’s a little bit of an ironic twist of events,” Mr Hogan said.

“It’s like they can’t keep away from each other!

“But having made note of the fact that Redmond Barry and Ned Kelly crossed paths numerous times throughout Kelly’s life, we thought, well, that’s a prompt to tell part of the Kelly story.”

Some of the Kelly hunters after bringing down Ned Kelly in his last shootout at Glenrowan in 1880.

Barry was an influential figure in Melbourne’s early history and founded the State Library in 1854, only 19 years after the city was settled.

The Ned Kelly trial was held across the street from the State Library, at the old Central Criminal Court on Russell St.

Kelly’s armour – the library’s biggest drawcard – and the revamped display including his rifle and boot are being unveiled on Friday.

In the courtroom scene behind, Kelly stands in the dock, while Barry oversees the case from the bench wearing the wig and robes of the British legal system.

The new exhibit delves into the engravings on Kelly’s rifle, including an etched tribute to his father, “Red” Kelly.

Also engraved is a cryptogram with a picture of a deer, the characters K8, and a heart around UR, believed to mean “Dear Kate, you are in my heart”, for his sweetheart, Kate Lloyd.

As for the tale of the Kelly curse claiming Barry’s life, Mr Hogan said the judge was simply old and in poor health.

“Ned Kelly happened to say that to him, and Redmond Barry happened to die, so it’s just one of those little ironies really,” he said.

Visitors should enter through the library’s Russell St entrance for easy access to the exhibit.