- In short: Work has begun to exhume historical human remains on the site of a prestigious boys' school in Hobart, after bones were unearthed during construction at the site, which was built over an old cemetery.
- It was thought all of the gravesites had been identified with remains transferred years ago, but the school says given the "likelihood other gravesites were not exhumed at the time the land was acquired", an archaeologist will supervise an exhumation process. It is unclear how many bodies remain.
- What's next? Measures will be taken to protect "students and staff from scenes which may be confronting" the school says, but due to the remains being buried for between 90 to 150 years at the site, the risk to public health is considered "negligible".
Screens will be set-up to "protect students and staff from scenes that may be confronting" during works to exhume an unknown number of bodies, some buried for up to 150 years, on the grounds of one of Hobart's most prestigious private schools.
Two graves were uncovered last month during initial excavation works at The Hutchins School in Sandy Bay, as part of a new senior school campus.
After the find in March, work was immediately suspended and Tasmania Police officers attended the scene, ruling out any suspicious circumstances.
The Hutchins site was once the Queenborough Regional Cemetery, before it was closed in 1934 and — it was believed — all graves exhumed and remains transferred to another cemetery.
Before: The old Queenborough Cemetery (marked by red rectangle). . After: The Hutchins School campus sits over the top of the old cemetery.. .
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Thousands believed buried at old cemetery, with questions over how many remain
A Department of Health spokesperson said it granted authorisation for exhumation because the human remains on the site had been buried for between 90 — 150 years and did not pose a risk to the public.
Following the discovery of the remains in March, Ann Ricketts, from the Sandy Bay Historical Society, said that it was unlikely all remains were exhumed from Queenborough "because over 3,000 burials took place there".
"They couldn't have gotten everyone up, I'm sure, so there must've been a few left behind."
On Monday, Hutchins principal Dr Rob McEwan said the "implementation of the exhumation plan will be supervised by an archaeologist whose team will ensure all remains are treated with utmost respect and dignity".
"As the number of gravesites not previously exhumed in 1961 remains unknown, it is difficult to suggest the duration of the archaeological work."
Hutchins said it had developed a plan, "prepared in consultation with a qualified archaeologist and the Government Regulator of Burials and Cremations", which involved "detailed analysis of historical documents including the burial register".
"Where remains can be identified, there will be a public process to attempt to engage descendants," Dr McEwan said.
"Site security will be strictly maintained, with privacy screens and tents erected around all archaeological work to sensitively and respectfully manage human remains".
In an email to parents, Dr McEwan said Hutchins "recognises that the exhumation process may be upsetting for some and will provide support as required".
What will happen to the remains?
Dr McEwan said "all human remains will be re-interred at a public cemetery in the Hobart municipal area, or if no such site can accommodate those remains, the closest practicable public cemetery, as soon as practicable after exhumations are completed".
"The school is currently in discussions with the Cornelian Bay Cemetery regarding re-interment and a permanent memorial for those buried at the original Queenborough Cemetery."
There are also plans underway to install an additional memorial plaque at the Queenborough Memorial Garden on Peel Street, Sandy Bay, subject to Hobart City Council approval.