Over 1,300 human remains have been exhumed from a construction site at a Hobart school since July, the principal has revealed.
As first reported by Pulse, work at The Hutchins School was halted earlier this year after multiple bodies were discovered during the initial stages of building the new N J Edwards sporting hub.
The school, which was built on the site of the former Queenborough Cemetery, called in experts from the Department of Health to assist with the exhumation process.
In a letter sent to parents on Monday, Principal Dr Rob McEwan said a total of 1,331 human remains had been found.
So far, 80% of the remains have been identified.
“The remains have been individually boxed with identification plates attached where identification has been possible,” McEwan wrote.
“It has now become clear very few of the previous exhumations had occurred on the site of the current building works.”
“The school will maintain and make available the records of exhumations and re-internments in perpetuity and a copy of these records also be provided to the cemetery manager at the Cornelian Bay Cemetery.”
The Sandy Bay Historical Society has previously noted that over 3,000 burials took place at Queenborough Cemetery.
“Many of the early Settlers and Merchants of Sandy Bay and well known Hobart Town identities were buried there,” the society said.
“The cemetery originally occupied the site from the edge of Sandy Bay Road, extending up Nelson Road on the left, to where Churchill Avenue and the Hutchins School are today.”
McEwan informed parents that a memorial will be erected for those found at the school at Cornelian Bay Cemetery and a memorial plaque will be installed at Queenborough Memorial Garden.
He said the names of those found, where they were found and where they now rest will be made public in due course.
