After 141 years of debate, two researchers from the North East believe they have evidence of the exact location of a tree in the Stringybark Creek reserve where Sergeant Michael Kennedy died after being shot by the Kelly gang.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
From there, they also found what they say is the site of the nearby police camp set up to search for the Kelly brothers in 1878.
There is another spot in the area that is marked at the place Sergeant Kennedy died, but this has been debated by historians for years.
Adrian Younger and Tony King now say they have evidence of the correct location and want the signage changed.
"Those locations have been lost for a long time," Mr King said.
"We knew the trees were the key.
"Trees are like thumbprints, they are all unique."
IN OTHER NEWS:
He said it took some time, but they found the eucalyptus tree with the same markings as the one from a photo taken at the time.
"If you go to the site, you can clearly see that they match," he said.
The findings were put into an extensive report and presented to Heritage Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning firstly in July, then - after a horticulturalist determined the age of the tree - again on October 2.
The researchers are still waiting on a response.
"We're pretty passionate about the history, particularly this story. We just didn't want visitors, from overseas or wherever, come and stand there and think that's the site when it's not," Mr King said.
"We would just like the sites officially marked or recognised. They've been lost for that long and now we have hard evidence to prove that they're the right ones.
"Hopefully in time they'll be recognised and officially marked."
As well as the photographic evidence, they looked at the path Sergeant Kennedy would likely have taken after being shot, and then pursued by Ned Kelly.
They believe it was unlikely that with the bullet wound he had, he would have run as far as the tree that is currently marked.
Mr Younger said they had started talking to descendants of Sergeant Kennedy and wanted them on board as they pushed for change.
He said the full report would be released at a later date and they would be happy to answer questions about their research.
