Rottnest Island bus stop project suspended after Aboriginal remains found
Aboriginal remains discovered at Rottnest Island bus stop halted a six-month redevelopment project.
The Rottnest Island Authority stopped its bus stop redevelopment project. Aboriginal remains were found during construction in early April.
The ancestral remains, known as Baalang, were found at the Holy Trinity Church site. The bones went to the mainland for testing.
They returned to the island in May for a culturally appropriate burial. Ground-penetrating radar confirmed no further remains were present.
The authority, the Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation and other cultural groups agreed not to continue the project at its current location. However, the project may be revisited if an alternative suitable site becomes available.
A new pathway to the church will still be built. It does not disturb the burial site.
The remains will be included in broader memorial works planned for the site. Memorial work at the island's burial grounds is expected to finish early next year.
- Six months
- Project duration
- Holy Trinity Church, Rottnest Island
- Location
- Baalang
- Remains name
Why it mattersRespectful handling of ancestral sites and remains is central to reconciliation. This decision puts cultural authority ahead of development schedules.
AustraliaRottnest Island, Wadjemup, has deep and painful Aboriginal history: it operated as a prison from 1838 to 1931, holding more than 3,700 men and boys, with hundreds dying and 373 buried in unmarked graves now being memorialised.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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