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Man who used homemade radar as teen helps uncover 600 lost graves in Australia

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Ground-penetrating radar specialist Dave Hunter located 658 unmarked grave sites across the White Cliffs and Menindee cemeteries without disturbing the topsoil. Rather than detecting human remains directly, the radar equipment registered variations in underground soil structures to pinpoint old burial pits based on their dimensions and depth. Cemetery officer Tammie McMaster is currently reviewing records and speaking with local residents to match names to the plots. Following this work, the local council is weighing similar non-invasive mapping initiatives for the towns of Wilcannia and Tilpa.

Key points

  • Non-invasive underground radar identifies historical graves by detecting disturbed soil p…: Non-invasive underground radar identifies historical graves by detecting disturbed soil patterns rather than searching for actual human remains.
  • The mapping initiative provides local officials with the necessary data to safeguard exis…: The mapping initiative provides local officials with the necessary data to safeguard existing plots and safely plan upcoming burials.
  • Council authorities are exploring similar geophysical cemetery surveys for other regional…: Council authorities are exploring similar geophysical cemetery surveys for other regional Australian communities such as Wilcannia and Tilpa.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

As a teenager, Dave Hunter built a rudimentary radar device to locate buried bulls on his grandfather’s farm. Decades later, that childhood experiment has evolved into a career helping communities find forgotten burial sites without disturbing the ground. His latest project has helped an outback council in Australia uncover 658 previously unmarked graves across two cemeteries in far-west New South Wales.

Hunter, known as ‘Dave the Grave Hunter’, was contracted by the Central Darling Shire Council in July 2025 to investigate possible lost graves at the Menindee and White Cliffs cemeteries. Using specialist ground-penetrating radar equipment, his company, Hunter Geophysics, identified more than 300 burial sites at each location. A local report put the final tally at 338 graves at White Cliffs and 320 at Menindee. The project was completed in September 2026, according to the council.

The discoveries were made without digging up the sites. Instead, Hunter pushed a machine resembling a lawn mower across the cemetery grounds, scanning the soil for signs of old burial pits. The findings have allowed the council to mark and protect places that…

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