Victorian senator's Ned Kelly suit to be sold at auction

John Madigan has hand-forged a suit of Ned Kelly armour to fund his bid to remain an independent senator for Victoria.

The Ballarat-based former blacksmith is selling the steel suit to raise money for his campaign and it had already fetched $2425 after 55 bids on the auction site eBay on Thursday, with one day to go.

Senator Madigan agreed to make it after a documentary maker invited him to the forge in Hepburn Springs - where the senator had worked - for a bit of filming.