Dig for Beaumonts continues as neighbour reveals new details of North Plympton factory site hole

As the last-ditch dig continues for the missing Beaumont children, a neighbour of the former Castalloy factory site has revealed a startling bit of new information.

A local Adelaide man who lived across from a former North Plympton factory has revealed new claims, as the search for the remains of the Beaumont children continues.

Nine-year-old Jane, seven-year-old Arnna and four-year-old Grant went missing from Glenelg Beach on January 26, 1966.

Shortly after their disappearance, the man, who remaina anonymous, said he witnessed two young people digging a large hole at the former Castalloy factory site.

“We didn’t want to become involved in any of it, so we just let it slide, which we probably shouldn’t of,” the man told 9News.

“I actually saw the two young fellas digging the hole and the older gentleman, or whatever you call him, sitting in his car with the door open watching them dig.

“They said they were digging a hole to bury a dog, a big dog.

“I thought to myself ‘it must be a big dog”.

SA missing Beaumont children in the back of car during family outing in 1965. (L-r) Jane, Arnna and Grant. Picture: File Photo

Nearly 60 years later, the children’s remains have never been found and no one has been charged.

The third and final search for the children’s remains at the disused site resumed on Monday at 7am.

The new dig is reinvestigating two sites, along with a third which has never been searched. It is the third dig at the property after unsuccessful attempts in 2013 and 2018.

The week-long excavation is expected to dig deeper and cover a new area before it concludes on Saturday March 1.

The first dig at the factory site was prompted after two brothers told police that they had dug a grave-like hole at the property – two days after the children vanished – at the request of site owner Harry Phipps.

Businessman owner Mr Phipps, who died in 2004, has been a long time prime suspect.

Family photo of the missing Beaumont children (L-R) Grant (6), Arnna (7) & Jane (9), who disappeared from Glenelg Beach on Australia Day 1966. Picture: Supplied

The children have never been seen since. Picture: Australian Federal Police

Private excavators Flavio and Sons Civil began digging up the North Plympton site on Saturday – free of charge – launching a week-long effort to find the missing siblings’ remains before the government-owned land is sold to developers.

“It’s just a way of us wanting to give something back to South Australia”, Flavio and Sons Civil’s owner Flavio Anfiteatro said.

“Whether we find something or not, that’s yet to be determined but we’re going to give it the best shot”.

MP Frank Pangallo, forensic archaeologist Professor Maciej Henneberg, retired major crime detective Bill Hayes and author Stuart Mullins at the site being excavated. Picture: NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Independent MLC Frank Pangallo (right) pictured with Flavio Anfiteatro from Flavio and Sons Civil who has volunteered time and equipment for the dig. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

SA MP Frank Pangallo was at the site on Saturday, where he revealed a familial connection between the Beaumonts and the key suspect in the cold case, Mr Phipps.

He said that Mr Phipps’ niece was married to a cousin of the children’s father, Jim, as reported by The Advertiser.

“That hasn’t been previously known and it’s another link in this case that shows Mr Phipps could have known the Beaumont kids and the family,” Mr Pangallo said.

“It’s another piece of circumstantial evidence that points to (Phipps) being the prime suspect ... we of course did verify that fact with family members and others that knew them.”

Ms Pangallo attended alongside forensic archaeologist Professor Maciej Henneberg, retired major crime detective Bill Hayes and Stuart Mullins, one of the authors of a 2013 novel on the Beaumont cold case.

Originally published as Dig for Beaumonts continues as neighbour reveals new details of North Plympton factory site hole