Push to find resting places for remains found in desecrated graves
The Castlemaine cemetery has been the site of a disturbing discovery involving thousands of human remains that were improperly disposed of. Cemetery manager Deb Tranter estimates that between 3,000 to 5,000 remains have been disturbed, with evidence of graves being reused dating back to the 1800s. Efforts are now underway to restore dignity to those affected and to connect with descendants of the individuals whose remains were disturbed.
- ▪Sally Eaton discovered her ancestor's remains were among piles of dirt in the cemetery.
- ▪Deb Tranter estimates that the disturbed remains belong to at least 3,000 people.
- ▪The practice of reusing graves has been documented as far back as 1963 and continued until 2019.
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Thousands of human remains from desecrated graves in Castlemaine could finally find resting placeNBy Nate WoodallABC Central VictoriaTopic:Community and SocietyTue 26 May 2026 at 5:17amTue 26 May 2026 at 5:17amTue 26 May 2026 at 5:17amSally Eaton says she was devastated to learn her ancestor's remains were dumped in the bush. (ABC News: Nate Woodall)abc.net.au/news/castlemaine-cemetery-desecrated-graves/106695938Link copiedShareShare articleWhen Sally Eaton visited a cemetery in Castlemaine looking for the resting place of her ancestor, it was easy enough to find his name.The headstone for James Monks, an Irish convict who settled in the central Goldfields region before he died in 1862, sits along the dirt road running through the cemetery."It was a big moment for me because he was one of…
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