Ned Kelly returns to Beechworth Courthouse

03/05/2024

Ned Kelly walked the floors of the historic Beechworth Courthouse more than 140 years ago. Visitors can now come face to face with him, as part of a multimedia experience at the site.

The Courthouse Kelly Trials exhibition in Beechworth has officially opened and will increase visitors to the region. The historic courthouse is expected to attract around 50,000 people a year.

Modern projection technology is bringing Ned Kelly and other key figures to life. The experience invites visitors to step back in time to experience a significant moment in Australia’s history.

Visitors can experience more than 40 courthouse trials of the Kelly family and associates. The experience is made possible through web and app-based technology. Visitors can also view original artefacts and traditional museum displays.

The centerpiece of the experience will unfold in the main court room where Ned Kelly’s committal hearing occurred. The exhibition is inspired by technology-based museum displays in France and Scotland. The project was supported via funding through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.

The project has been delivered by a team with research, design, conservation, curatorial and specialised museum expertise. It includes significant conservation work on the courthouse.

The exhibition project has been designed to be sympathetic and non-invasive to ensure the historic building remains a powerful element of the visitor experience.

The Kelly era marked one of the most significant and well-known periods in Australia’s early colonial history. The new exhibition complements other related tourism opportunities in the heart of Kelly country.

Recently the Ned Kelly Discovery Hub in Glenrowan also opened. Located in the heart of the Glenrowan Heritage Precinct, it features a viewing platform that allows visitors to take in panoramic views of key locations connected to the Kelly story.

Find out more and plan your experience by visiting Explore Beechworth.