Sunbury is a very historic place a short distance from Melbourne
airport.
Sunbury was founded in 1836 and early on was the home to George
Evans. Evans was the man who owned "Holly Green' otherwise known
as 'Emu Bottom,' now Victoria's oldest homestead. 
At the same time two brothers, Samuel and William Jackson
lived on the banks of a creek that now bears their surname. This area
encompassed land that would one day play host to what was at that
time the most expensive mansion in Australian history. 
From about 1850 on W.J.T. Clarke owned a substantial amount of land 
including most of Sunbury (but not the 640 acres belonging to Evans at
'Emu Bottom').
When the elder Clarke died, his son William inherited all the Victorian
holdings which were equal in size to Great Britain. William, now a
wealthy pastoralist, built Rupertswood Mansion between 1874 and 1876.
The mansion was a 50 room affair on 13,000 hectares! In 1882, for his
services to the Colony of Victoria, Queen Victoria bestowed a hereditary
baronetcy upon William the younger, making him the first Australian-born
baronet.
Sir William knew that a railway line from Melbourne was being built, so
he organized a platform and station for his guests and to move his
livestock.
Rupertswood was where the 'Ashes' originated in 1882. In 1882 an
Australian cricket team played an English cricket team at The Oval in
London. The Australian side surprisingly won, causing a comical obituary
to be placed in the following day's Sporting Times, announcing the death
of English cricket. A part of it read, "The body will be cremated and
the ashes taken to Australia."
A British side was assembled and sailed to the Australia to win back
some British pride. Also on the same ship, returning from a European
holiday, was Sir William Clarke (who happened to be the president of the
Melbourne Cricket Club) and his family. They invited the English team to
spend Christmas and New Year with them at Rupertswood. Sir William
Clarke suggested a game between the visitors and the locals (including staff). 
It is believed the visitors won, and as a comical gesture, Lady Clarke burned
the bails, put one in an urn and presented it to the English captain as
an ongoing trophy. And as they say, the rest is history.
The estate even boasted its own Artillery Battery! The Battery still operates
today and one of the original big-guns can be seen near the Sunbury RSL. 

At that stage I do not think the armour had ever been so
close to the general public view. (nor if it had ever been back to Sunbury)
Since then Joe's armour has been on show at two of the Glenrowan 
siege dinners as well as various other locations. So what of the
former home of Joe's armour today? The mansion which is owned by the
Salesian religious order was leased to Rupertswood Mansion P/L which was
owned by Dominic and Marie Romeo. Rupertswood Mansion P/L was
responsible for the restoration of the mansion and setting it up as a boutique
hotel for accommodation, weddings and corporate meetings.
It is open regularly for people to see the restoration that has taken place. 
If you are up this way, it is well worth a visit. 
Just don't come expecting to see any armour! These days
visitors can drive past the gate-keeper's residence which is now a
lovely tea-house. They can travel the bitumen road down to the mansion.
It does not come into view for some time. The ducks and geese do their
best to stay clear of your car as they go back and forth to what was at
one time a man made lake in the shape of Australia minus Tasmania. At
one time the river was dammed and turned into a 3 acre water feature.
Today it is a much smaller affair. The original site of the 'Ashes'
cricket match is hardly recognizable and amongst some wonderful old
trees. Eventually you come face to face with the side of the mansion.
Cars are no longer allowed to drive to the front door, instead they have
to park a short distance away. The thing that hits you most is the size
and grandeur of this place. This is just from the outside, and felt even
more so when inside and the original leadlight and staircase can be
viewed. One stained glass window depicts the arrival of the first rabbits
into Australia. Much of the building has been restored to its original glory.
What would Joe have thought of his armour ending up in such a
place? Not too happy I bet. As a side issue, it may interest readers to
know that Ned Kelly's teacher in the art of bushranging, Harry Power,
was once employed by the Clarke family as a gamekeeper on one of their
remote stations after his release from prison. The book 'Clarke of Rupertswood'
states that Harry Power was employed as a gardener for 14 years. I have also
been told he (Harry) worked at Bolinda Vale.