Rottnest Island bus stop redevelopment over after bones found

By Kenith PngTopic:Indigenous AustraliansPosted Wed 7 Oct 2026 at 8:06pmWed 7 Oct 2026 at 8:06pm, updated Wed 7 Oct 2026 at 8:09pmWed 7 Oct 2026 at 8:09pmRottnest Island is one of WA's most popular tourist destinations. (ABC News: Kenith Png)In short:A project to redevelop the main bus stop at Rottnest Island has officially ceased.Aboriginal human remains were discovered in early April during the construction works.The Rottnest Island Authority says the ancestral remains will be part of larger memorialisation works.WARNING: Some Indigenous readers may find the content of this story distressing.A project to redevelop the main bus stop at tourist destination Rottnest Island — Wadjemup — has officially stopped six months after Aboriginal remains were found at the site.The decision to cease works was made following advice from the Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation (WAC), the Wadjemup Aboriginal Reference Group (WARG) and the Wadjemup Whadjuk Cultural Authority (WWCA).The ancestral remains, referred to as Baalang, were discovered in early April on the grounds of the Holy Trinity Church during the construction works.Works to upgrade the precinct, which began in March, were then suspended as the bones were brought to the mainland for testing.A culturally appropriate burial was conducted in May. (ABC News: Briana Shepherd)In early May the remains were brought back to Rottnest Island for a culturally appropriate burial.The Rottnest Island Authority (RIA) said it had collaborated with the WAC since the remains were found and that a ground-penetrating radar survey found there were no more human remains at the site."RIA will not proceed with the main bus stop project at its current location," a joint statement released by the island authority and the WAC read."The project may be revisited if an alternative suitable site becomes available in the future."The site where the bones were discovered. (ABC News)The release stated a new pathway to the church would proceed because "it improves access to the building without impacting the burial site".The authority's release said the remains would tie into larger memorialisation works."Future memorialisation of the Baalang site will be developed in consultation with Whadjuk Traditional Owners and will have regard to the broader memorialisation work being undertaken through the Wadjemup Project," it said.Dark historyRottnest Island was used as an Aboriginal prison between 1838 and 1931.According to state records, more than 3,700 men and boys from across WA were imprisoned there.An Aboriginal elder holds the remains during the burial. (ABC News: Briana Shepherd)Hundreds of prisoners are estimated to have died on the island, many of them buried in unmarked graves.A separate location was found to be the site of 373 unmarked graves, now referred to as the Wadjemup Aboriginal Burial Ground.The RIA said memorial works at the burial grounds were expected to be finished early next year.