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Aboriginal people are advised this page contains information and links to names of deceased Aboriginal peoples and kin
Council is working with the community to investigate possible options for better recognising and managing the heritage of the historic Jerry Bailey Burial Ground at Shoalhaven Heads.
The former burial ground was associated with the historic Coolangatta Estate and records indicate more than 80 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members were laid to rest at the site from the early 1800s to 1917.
As our community has grown and changed over the decades, knowledge of this important site has gradually faded for most. Now, we have an opportunity to acknowledge this history respectfully.
To receive updates about the Jerry Bailey Burial Ground project and upcoming consultation opportunities, please subscribe to this page.
Please note: The FAQs information comes from both Council records and publicly available documents. There may be other sources in the community we haven't reviewed yet, so this isn't a complete history of the burial ground. Council is committed to continually updating this as soon as possible as new information comes to our attention.
Aboriginal people are advised this page contains information and links to names of deceased Aboriginal peoples and kin
Council is working with the community to investigate possible options for better recognising and managing the heritage of the historic Jerry Bailey Burial Ground at Shoalhaven Heads.
The former burial ground was associated with the historic Coolangatta Estate and records indicate more than 80 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members were laid to rest at the site from the early 1800s to 1917.
As our community has grown and changed over the decades, knowledge of this important site has gradually faded for most. Now, we have an opportunity to acknowledge this history respectfully.
To receive updates about the Jerry Bailey Burial Ground project and upcoming consultation opportunities, please subscribe to this page.
Please note: The FAQs information comes from both Council records and publicly available documents. There may be other sources in the community we haven't reviewed yet, so this isn't a complete history of the burial ground. Council is committed to continually updating this as soon as possible as new information comes to our attention.
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Council is now reaching out to descendants, landowners and residents in the area, and Aboriginal community members connected to the site to build a shared understanding of the burial ground’s history and significance. This phase of consultation will continue through December 2025 and into next year. Once complete, we will seek input from these stakeholders on options to better recognise and manage the burial grounds heritage. This feedback will inform proposed actions, which will then be presented to the wider community for consultation before Council makes any final decisions.
We will engage with the community in a variety of ways over an extended period to ensure we work through this complex and sensitive matter in a respectful way for all.
We are eager to hear from any descendants of people laid to rest at the site. The list of people known and believed to have been laid to rest at the Jerry Bailey Burial Ground can be foundhere(Aboriginal people are advised this page contains names of deceased persons).
For more detailed information about the history of the site and the timeline of events, view the Frequently Asked Questions section on this page.
Page last updated: 02 Dec 2025, 03:53 PM
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Lifecycle
Community Consultation and Engagement
Jerry Bailey Burial Ground is currently at this stage
Phase 1: Building a Shared Understanding
Share information on the project to support awareness and understanding of the burial ground’s history and significance
(Proposed timeline September to early 2026)
Phase 2: Feedback from Key Stakeholders
Formally seek feedback from the most directly affected people (descendants, landholders and residents in the area, Aboriginal communities with connections to the site) on possible actions to better recognise and manage the heritage of the burial ground.
Phase 3: Feedback from Broader Community
Undertake community wide consultation on the refined list of options developed through Phase 2.
Council Decision on Way Forward
this is an upcoming stage for Jerry Bailey Burial Ground
Council to consider the final proposed actions and decide how to proceed.