Between 2001-2006, Matt was fortunate enough to either co-curate or curate three major exhibitions on the life and times of Ned Kelly. The first, and perhaps best-known, was Ned: The Exhibition, which was staged at the Old Melbourne Gaol between October 2001 and July 2002.

At the time, it was the largest and most comprehensive exhibition ever mounted on Ned. It was significant because it was the first major exhibition to combine publicly owned Kelly material with many other privately owned treasures, most of which had never been displayed before. Highlights of Ned: The Exhibition included all four sets of Kelly Gang armour, as well as the first ever public display of the famous Jerilderie Letter and Ned Kelly’s long-lost boot, removed after his capture at Glenrowan, amongst many other items.

Matt also worked on The Legend of Ned Kelly, and  The Ned Kelly 125th Anniversary Exhibition at the Burke Museum, Beechworth.

Through the exhibitions Matt has been privileged to handle some priceless treasures from the Kelly saga: a favourite rifle of Ned’s, the revolver he used during his last stand at Glenrowan, fragments of the Kelly homestead, police artefacts, Joe Byrne’s armour, original reward notices, photos and documents.

Through the years Matt has assisted with Kelly material for numerous projects such as the documentary that was included as a bonus feature on the Heath Ledger Ned Kelly DVD, television documentaries including Besieged, Outlawed and Ned’s Head, and provided material for books including Black Snake: The Daring of Ned Kelly by Carole Wilkinson; revised editions of Ian Jones’ wonderful books, Ned Kelly: A Short Life, and The Fatal Friendship: Ned Kelly, Joe Byrne and Aaron Sherritt;  and Keith McMenomy’s epic contribution to the Kelly story, Ned Kelly: The Authentic Illustrated History.

Matt also contributed to the first Ned Kelly Exhibition ever staged in Ireland, Ned at the Dead, which saw precious Kelly artifacts leave Australia for the very first time.

Matt has also been able to visit the locations of the story and meet some wonderfully generous people who have contributed to his exhibitions and whose friendships he continues to enjoy whenever he’s in the North-east.

Matt was also the preferred Ned Kelly tour guide for Tourism Victoria, who often called on him to escort visiting overseas journalists through Kelly Country. He was also featured on a recent episode of the ABC-TV cult show, Collectors.

Since then, Matt staged the last Kelly exhibition at the Burke Museum, and worked on a state government-funded feasibility study for a Ned Kelly Centre at Avenel. Matt continues to  assist the National Trust with Kelly material for display at the Old Melbourne Gaol.

Along the way Matt has also been married and started a family!

Now Matt’s tours are back - with a new team and a revamped and greatly improved tour experience.

Sue Hunter (Sue Barnett) owned and operated her own retail / wholesale travel agency in Balwyn, Victoria for 27 years.  Since selling the agency in 2007, Sue has continued to work in the Travel Industry as a very busy temporary Senior Travel Consultant, and also still advising and packaging her beloved India, as an India Travel Specialist.  

During her years at ‘Sue Barnett Travel Agents’, Sue joined with Matt Shore to run and escort ‘Ned Tours’ during the years 2001 - 2003.  The never-ending interest in this famous character, has drawn Sue back to join Matt in this new venture.