Massacre site concerns halt plans for regional Victorian dog park

A proposed dog park at Robinvale's Centenary Park has been put on hold after traditional land owners said the area contains Aboriginal ancestral remains.

Brothers Uncle Brendan Kennedy and Uncle John Kennedy said the area, traditionally known as Bumbang, is a ceremonial, massacre and repatriation site for the Tati Tati people.

Uncle Brendan said the Tati Tati people have always known about its significance.

"It's not new knowledge, and it didn't spring up just because they wanted to build the dog park,"

he said.

"It's obvious that the investigations weren't thorough by whoever investigated the cultural significance of the area."

According to the two men, the last recorded Tati Tati ceremony held at the site was in 1892 and was witnessed by Annie Carrington, a woman who lived at the Bumbang estate as a girl.

In the 1960s, Ms Carrington recounted what she had seen to local historian Kaye Gross, who later shared the account in a letter to Uncle John.

The Kennedy brothers provided the letter to Swan Hill Rural City Council more than 15 years ago as part of a submission opposing a proposed rezoning of Centenary Park.

The letter had stopped that project at the time, but has since gone missing.

"We gave that letter to former Swan Hill councillor, Bill McGinty," Uncle Brendan said.

"We had First Peoples — State Relations investigating the Swan Hill Council about where that letter is and … Swan Hill Council doesn't have that letter.

"But we do know that letter did exist."

Council unaware of history

At the request of the state cultural body First Peoples — State Relations, Swan Hill Rural City Council has paused works at Centenary Park while investigations are undertaken.

Mayor Stuart King says the council was not aware of the site's history before work began, and that council had followed the required process and had an approved cultural heritage management plan for the dog park.

"Going through the process … to get a cultural heritage management plan done, we would expect that those issues would be identified through that process,"

he said.

"It came as a bit of a surprise to us."

Cr King said it was disappointing to have projects halted after going through the proper processes.

Heritage concerns investigated

First Peoples — State Relations has confirmed work in the area has been stopped until the matter is resolved.

A Department of Premier and Cabinet spokesperson said the government was working with the Swan Hill Rural City Council and traditional owners to investigate.

Uncle John and Uncle Brendan have also contacted Deputy Premier Gabrielle Williams to order a cultural heritage audit regarding the Cultural Heritage Management Plan submitted as part of the dog park proposal.

A decision regarding the audit is due in the coming weeks.

The Kennedys say they do not want any further works happening at the site.

"We definitely don't want a dog park built right on our repatriation site or on this ceremonial site," Uncle Brendan said.

They would like to see the area preserved and revegetated with native food and medicine plants, alongside cultural information about its Tati Tati history.

Uncle Brendan said protecting the site was important for future generations.