Kombu-merri photographer and anthropologist Michael Aird joined us to speak about commemorations for the Broadbeach Burial Ground on his traditional lands on the Gold Coast.
In the 1960s, soil contractors unearthed hundreds of Aboriginal remains, some of which dated back 1000 years. There was an archaeological excavation and the remains were placed in the University of Queensland’s anatomy department.
It wasn’t until 1988 that they were repatriated to the Gold Coast Aboriginal community, and reburied in a ceremony close to the original burial ground. Michael joined us to talk about the history of the repatriation. We were also joined by Aunty Lilla Watson, who worked at University of Queensland at the time, and was shocked to hear that medical students were tampering with the remains.