Dave Hunter uncovers 658 unmarked graves in New South Wales
The specialist used ground-penetrating radar to identify burial sites at two cemeteries for the Central Darling Shire Council.
Dave Hunter, through his company Hunter Geophysics, has identified 658 previously unmarked graves across two cemeteries in far-west New South Wales, according to the Times of India.
The project, which involved the Menindee and White Cliffs cemeteries, was completed in September 2026 after the Central Darling Shire Council contracted Hunter in July 2025.
A local report stated there were 338 graves at White Cliffs and 320 at Menindee. Hunter used ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to scan the soil for signs of old burial pits without digging.
Hunter told ABC News that the equipment identifies the hole originally dug for a burial rather than human remains or skeletal remains. He noted that the process requires data interpretation and is not an exact science.
The discoveries allow the council to mark and protect sites that had lost visible markers or disappeared from records. Council cemetery officer Tammie McMaster is examining archives and speaking to residents to identify the people buried there.
The council has considered extending the project to other regional communities, including Wilcannia and Tilpa.