Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) studies have uncovered suspected burials on the Deebing Springs development site next to the Aboriginal cemetery at Deebing Heights.

The south-eastern boundary of the development site, where part of the GPR study was conducted, is within three metres of the lone cemetery headstone of Julia Ford, who died aged 32 in 1896.

Local Aboriginal groups have told the story passed down in their oral history of a massacre of school children from the adjoining Deebing Creek Mission and their teacher, who some believe was Julia Ford. However in the 1970s, Aboriginal elder Les Davidson, who lobbied for the cemetery reserve, identified Julia Ford as an Aboriginal woman. 

Seven anomalies and one rectangular feature were detected on a small section on the south-eastern boundary of the massive development site at 144 Grampian Drive, next to the State-Government owned Aboriginal cemetery reserve. 

One anomaly was also detected in a survey area on the development site close to Grampian Drive.

The report by 4C Optimised Solutions recommends further investigations by an experienced archaeologist and anthropologist be conducted where significant anomalies were detected. 

“4C recognises that the anomalies detected may be burial areas, therefore consultation and permission to completed the physical investigation should be sought from the Traditional Owners,” the report states.

The GPR study also covered the State Government-owned cemetery reserve. Those scans found no evidence of remains at the Julia Ford headstone, but two anomalies nearby.

Two more large anomalies, one which appears to be a large trench-type structure 27m long, 9m wide and up to 900mm deep, are between the headstone and the creek on the cemetery reserve. Four smaller anomalies were also in the same area.

Several further anomalies were detected throughout the cemetery site.

The High Density GPR Subsurface Investigation Report dated August 16, 2019, commissioned by AV Jennings, was obtained by the Guardian & Tribune this week after the developer said they would not release the report until Aboriginal group Yuggera Ugarapul People (YUP) had signed off on the development’s Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP).

Human remains were reported to be unearthed in the creek bank within the cemetery reserve during illegal sand mining operations around 1990. Erosion of Deebing Creek has also exposed human remains.

A heritage report on the cemetery, released in 2015, refers to 63 to 231 graves on the cemetery site. 

It also states that Mr Davidson initially asked for a larger allocation of land and cites newspaper articles referring to a two-hectare cemetery alongside the creek.

A spokesman for AV Jennings said there were no historical records which indicated that there were burials on the AV Jennings site. 

“There have not been human remains found on the AV Jennings site,” he said.

“AV Jennings began consultation with YUP in October 2017 when a meeting was held with Aboriginal Elders and YUP Applicants at the cemetery.

“Following an extensive process of engagement and consultation, a CHMP was agreed in April 2019.

“The CHMP clearly sets out a process to be followed if suspected human remains are uncovered during construction activities. 

“This process is in keeping with the recommendations of the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships.”

The AV Jennings site has planning and construction works consent from Ipswich City Council and is ready to commence construction works on Stage 1 off Grampian Drive. Aboriginal activists set up a protest camp on the site after builders moved in and pegged out with steel stakes and set up a demountable building.

An AV Jennings spokesman said the title search showed the Deebing Springs site was purchased by Michael Macnamara on July 8, 1867. It is referred to as Walsh’s Paddock as the land was owned or controlled by the Walsh family from 1901 to 1969.

He said as part of the CHMP, the south east section near the cemetery was agreed as a “future cultural heritage investigation area”.

“The CHMP area was kept approximately 130m from the cemetery at the request of the YUP. This was done to enable a Cultural Heritage clearance to be given over the low risk areas in the western part of the site and allow more time and research to be conducted on the area closer to the cemetery before works commenced in that area.”