He was hung for murder at Old Melbourne Gaol in 1880 but the whereabouts of Ned Kelly's remains were a mystery to historians and archaeologists alike until they uncovered records from the period of Kelly's death indicating that his remains were re-interred at Pentridge Prison.

Ned Kelly, the head of The Kelly Gang, is notorious for robbing banks and fighting against colonial oppression in the late 1800s.

Archaeologists feel that this is the best lead they've had to discover the whereabouts of Kelly's remains, though it may take up to two weeks before they are able to establish if the outlaw's bones are amongst those found at Pentridge Prison.

"If he's anywhere, he's probably here and that he's been discovered," Jeremy Smith, an archaeologist, said.

Kelly is famous for the steel suit of armour he fashioned and wore during his last stand against police at a hotel in the country town of Glenrowan. Ned was injured by police during the siege who shot at his unprotected legs. He was convicted of murder and hung only two weeks after being tried for murder.