An Australian council hired specialists to search two remote cemeteries for lost graves; the project has now located 658 unmarked burials, with 338 at White Cliffs and 320 at Menindee

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A long-running search for lost and unmarked graves at two remote Australian cemeteries has identified 658 previously unmarked burials. According to Central Darling Shire Council, which funded and commissioned the project, specialist investigators located 338 unmarked graves at White Cliffs Cemetery and another 320 at Menindee Cemetery. The work was carried out to help identify and preserve graves that had been lost over time, while giving the council a clearer picture of the two historic cemeteries. The findings could also help with future cemetery management and heritage preservation in the region.

Specialists searched two remote cemeteries

Central Darling Shire Council contracted Hunter Geophysics, a company that specialises in locating lost, forgotten and unmarked graves, for the project. The work began in July 2025 and used specialist, non-invasive scanning technology to examine the cemetery grounds without the need for digging. The project focused on White Cliffs and Menindee, two communities within the Central Darling Shire in New South Wales. The area is known for its remote outback setting and long history, with cemeteries containing graves dating back through earlier generations of the communities.Rather than relying only on visible headstones or grave markers, the specialist search was designed to identify burial locations that were no longer clearly marked or recorded. This allowed investigators to map areas where burials were believed to exist even when there was little visible evidence at the surface.

658 unmarked graves identified

The completed survey identified 338 unmarked graves at White Cliffs Cemetery and 320 at Menindee Cemetery, bringing the total to 658, according to Central Darling Shire Council.The discoveries do not mean that the identities of the people buried at the sites are now known. According to the council, the passage of time means there are no details available about the individuals associated with the newly identified unmarked graves. The scanning project instead established the locations of the burials, helping distinguish them from areas where no grave was detected.The results provide a more complete picture of the cemeteries and give the council information that can be used to protect the burial sites from accidental disturbance.

The discovery of 658 unmarked graves gives a clearer record of two cemeteries that have accumulated generations of burials (Image Credit: Central Darling Shire Council)

Why locating the graves matters

Finding previously unmarked graves is important not only for cemetery management but also for preserving the history of the communities in which they are located. Central Darling Shire Council said the project would help preserve the history and heritage of its cemeteries and towns. For local authorities, knowing where graves are located can also make future maintenance, planning and development work easier. Areas containing previously unidentified burials can be mapped and managed appropriately, reducing the risk of graves being disturbed during work within the cemetery.The project also adds to broader efforts to document the region’s historic burial grounds. Central Darling Shire Council has previously worked on cemetery heritage projects intended to record information about graves and the people connected with the region’s history. Council documents describe regional cemeteries as important repositories of historical information about the communities and individuals who lived in the area.

A memorial at White Cliffs

The newly identified graves are also being incorporated into plans to recognise the cemetery’s history. At White Cliffs, a large rock has been placed in the cemetery to provide space for memorial plaques, according to the council’s project information.The memorial provides a way to acknowledge people whose burial locations can now be identified even though their names and other personal details have been lost. The use of non-invasive scanning was central to the project. Hunter Geophysics describes its work as using methods that can find and map buried features without excavation, including lost human graves and archaeological remains.

Preserving cemetery history for the future

The discovery of 658 unmarked graves gives Central Darling Shire Council a clearer record of two cemeteries that have accumulated generations of burials. While the project cannot recover the identities of those buried in the unmarked graves, identifying their locations provides an important step towards protecting the sites. The White Cliffs and Menindee survey ultimately turns areas of uncertainty into mapped burial sites. For the council, that information can support future cemetery planning, heritage conservation and respectful management of the grounds, while helping preserve a part of the history of two remote Australian communities.