Information: Former Queenborough Cemetery Exhumations
In accordance with s.73 of the Burial and Cremation Act 2019, notice is given that 1,981 human remains have been exhumed from the former Queenborough Cemetery, 71 Nelson Road, Sandy Bay, and are to be reinterred at the Cornelian Bay Cemetery.
Further to the list of names published on The Hutchins School website (as advertised in The Mercury on 14 December 2024 and 8 February 2025) and in the Tasmanian Government Gazette on the 18 December 2024 and 12 February 2025, the following supplementary list has been released.
Including those names in the earlier publications, 1,981 individuals have been exhumed. A total of 1,781 (90%) of these individuals have been identified.
The remains have been reinterred at the Cornelian Bay Cemetery. The names of those identified are included on new memorials at Cornelian Bay and the Peel Street Memorial Reserve (Sandy Bay).
A public service was held at the Wellington Chapel, Cornelian Bay Cemetery, New Town on Wednesday 11 June 2025 at 10.00am. View a recording of the livestream.
Download Reinterment Service program
POEM FOR THE REINTERMENT SERVICE
After so many years lying in the earth,…we found you.
We gently wiped away the earth, brushed the soil from your brows and gazed upon your faces.
We greeted you, whispered to you and wondered about your names, your life, your loves, your hopes, your dreams.
We freed you from the earth and held your hands, counted your toes.
We saw you in all your humanity and learnt your secrets.
We brought you back to the sunlight, sheltered you from the rain and guarded your privacy, your dignity.
We gently lifted you from the ground and held you in our arms, carefully wrapping you in sheets.
We carried you carefully, sheltered you, sought your names and learnt your stories.
Ada, Elizabeth, Henry, George…
We wept for you, bled for you, wondered at your deeds, your bravery, the toughness of your life…
And we raised a glass to you.
Now, those who have come to know you, have come to see you laid to rest (once more).
But, know that you will not be forgotten,
For we will remember you always.
How ever long we live, we shall carry you in our hearts wherever we go.
So, now, finally rest in peace.
The Hutchins School will maintain a permanent archive of the exhumation project, and a copy of the report can be found below. It has also been lodged with the Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office and the National Library of Australia.
- Final exhumation report
- Survey of exhumation locations
- Identification/research database PDF or Excel