Site of Aboriginal Sitting Burial - Tambo River Mouth Area - Swan Reach, Gippsland, VIC

On the 11th October 1965, the holder of the east bank of the Tambo River grazing lease, noticed a skull protruding from the alluvium some 200 m from the mouth of the river.  He reported the discovery to the Victoria Police at Bairnsdale who found that the body had originally been buried in a sitting position, facing west, with the top of the head approximately two feet below the surface of the ground.  The erosion of the river bank had been substantial, especially over the preceding fifty years which saw the river banks receding some 40 metres, hence the exposure of this aboriginal burial.

Following pathology, it was revealed that the bones had belonged to an aboriginal female, approximately 20 years of age, about 5’4″ tall and of slim build.

The bones were sent to the National Museum . . .

Records of such findings had determined that the aborigines partook in various modes of burial, depending on the region from whence they had originated.  Some aborigines were found to be buried in sitting positions, some flexed, some lying on their side, and, some extended.  Numerous burials in the Murray River area were found to be oriented North to South, or, East to West.

(Reference:  The Victorian Naturalist, Volume 82)

Helpful Hints:

– Other Historical POI’s nearby

– Museums

– History Tours

– Facilities available nearby