Human bones found on Rottnest Island found to be historical remains of Indigenous person
A pile of bones unearthed in a Catholic churchyard on Rottnest Island has been revealed to be Indigenous remains, possibly associated with the island’s horrific past as a detention center for Aboriginal men and boys.
The ruins were first discovered Wednesday morning while construction workers were renovating a bus stop next to the Holy Trinity Church.
The discovery was immediately reported to the police by the on-site Noongar cultural heritage monitor.
Cultural heritage monitors are required to attend all sites on Rottnest Island, also known as Wadjemup, that involve excavation or ground disturbance due to the historical significance of the area.
Police arrived at the scene on Thursday accompanied by the state anthropologist, and a forensic examination concluded the bones were “historic in nature and consistent with indigenous ancestors.”
“WA Police have liaised with Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation (WAC) and Rottnest Island Authority (RIA), who will undertake the ongoing management of the matter,” police said.
In a joint statement on Friday, the WAC and RIA said all work at the bus stop had been halted until further notice and expressed “sincere regret for the deep distress this incident has caused Aboriginal people”.
“RIA and WAC are working closely together to ensure that all appropriate cultural protocols are followed and respectful, culturally informed decisions are made regarding the conservation and ongoing management of the site,” they said.
“RIA and WAC will continue to provide updates on this matter as more information becomes available.”
While Rottnest Island is now known for its easily accessible tourism opportunities, friendly quokkas and beachside getaways, the island’s history as a prison for Aboriginal men and boys is a source of great suffering for the Whadjuk Noongar people.
According to WA state records, 3,700 Aboriginal men and boys – some as young as eight – were imprisoned on the island between 1838 and 1931.
In 1883 the island suffered successive epidemics of measles and influenza, and 60 prisoners died of disease, most of them already exhausted and malnourished.
Rottnest Island contains the unmarked graves of more than 370 Aboriginal prisoners, making it the largest site of Indigenous deaths in custody anywhere in the country.
The identity of the person whose body was found has not yet been determined.
