Indigenous artefacts returned to Country

Repatriation and smoking ceremonies have been held across EnergyConnect’s western alignment, with Indigenous Elders and Registered Aboriginal Parties returning culturally sensitive artefacts to Country following construction of the 159km section of the nation-critical interconnector.

Transgrid Executive General Manager of Stakeholder, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Maryanne Graham said: “As we build the critical transmission projects to support the clean energy transition, we are working hard to ensure culturally sensitive artefacts discovered during delivery are managed sensitively and returned to Country in a respectful way.

“Reconciliation isn’t just about words – it requires real and meaningful action. That’s why we’re proud to have honoured our commitment to the Traditional Custodians to repatriate culturally significant artefacts as close as possible to the areas in which they were found.

“These repatriation ceremonies represent the culmination of four years of working closely with the Traditional Custodians of Barkindji Country. 

“Extensive heritage surveys identified the artefacts before they were salvaged by hand, catalogued and stored in a safe off-site keeping place. The new transmission lines were then constructed before the artefacts were returned to Country and the Traditional Custodians.”

The cultural materials were primarily collected in areas near current and ancient sources of water, including the Murray River, Darling River, Greater Anabranch and Lake Victoria, showing the deep connection between the Aboriginal communities and waterways.

The Aboriginal artefacts were buried in 27 repatriation pits across a 135km corridor, between Buronga and the South Australian border, and a 24km corridor between Buronga and Red Cliffs in Victoria, and included:

• 521 stone artefacts;
• 30kg of shell middens which radiocarbon dating shows are potentially up to 3,000 years old at Lake Victoria and up to 2,000 years old at the Murray River. Shell middens are the remains of meals of shellfish once gathered and eaten by Aboriginal people; and
• 25kg of ancient campfire remains in the form of baked clay heat retainers.

On the request of Registered Aboriginal Parties, special approval was sought from the NSW Government to bury the artefacts without plastic bags. The cultural material was carefully covered with native eucalyptus leaves and vegetation. Detailed records of the artefacts were placed inside the pits. 

Barkindji Elder Uncle Arthur Kirby said his ancestors would be proud that this culturally sensitive material has been returned to Country. 

Uncle Arthur said the artefacts provided “a connection to Country” and were “something we hold very close to our hearts”.

“If you come out here in the still of the night you will hear their voices that will be carried on the wind,” he said of his ancestors.

“For the last 40,000 years, these people have been looking after this Country and they are looking after it still today. It is a spiritual connection.

“We look at our culture as a Bible if you like, and we use that to connect to our Country and our old people and through this we can say that we did the right thing and they can say that proudly. I think everybody’s at peace.”

Repatriation pits have been located in areas that will not be impacted by transmission network operations and maintenance. 

Transgrid and its construction partner Elecnor Australia have worked closely with Everick Heritage, Registered Aboriginal Parties, Heritage NSW, and the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to protect and preserve Indigenous cultural material.

The EnergyConnect project has also provided local Aboriginal communities with employment and training opportunities, support for Indigenous businesses, and grants under Transgrid’s Community Partnerships Program.

For more information about Transgrid’s cultural heritage and reconciliation commitments, visit: https://www.transgrid.com.au/community/cultural-heritage-and-reconciliation 

For more information about EnergyConnect, visit: https://www.transgrid.com.au/projects-innovation/energyconnect 

EnergyConnect fast facts

• A 900km interconnector from Wagga Wagga (NSW) to Robertstown (South Australia) and Red Cliffs (Victoria).
• Transgrid and its construction partner Elecnor Australia are delivering the 700 NSW section from Wagga Wagga to the South Australian border, with a connection to Red Cliffs. South Australia’s ElectraNet has delivered the remaining 200km from the border to Robertstown.
• The project will integrate large-scale renewable energy into the grid, provide access to cleaner and cheaper energy for millions of customers, and help achieve Australia’s emissions reduction targets.
• EnergyConnect is creating up to 1,500 jobs and training Australia’s own transmission line construction workforce through the Legacy 100 program.
• Sustainability measures include guyed towers which require 21% less steel and 15% less concrete, low carbon concrete, reduced vegetation clearing, and thousands of nestboxes to provide fauna habitat for local species.

Media enquiries: Mark Nolan 0429 047 136