Deebing Creek mission residents removed in shock morning eviction

Occupants at a historic Ipswich site, believed by some to be the burial place of 200 First Nations people, claim they were forced to leave this morning and watch behind gates as their homes were demolished.

Protesters outside a Deebing Heights site after its First Nations occupants were evicted this morning, May 2. Picture: Nicola McNamara

Land rights tensions surrounding a historic Ipswich site have come to a head this morning, with the Indigenous occupants saying structures on the site were demolished following a shock eviction this morning.

In the early hours of today, a group of local First Nations people claim they were woken and forced to leave their s0vereign camp near the Deebing Creek Mission site without warning.

Heated protests followed, with some protesters climbing onto and pushing down fences around the site — triggering the need for more than 15 police officers to man the site.

The Deebing Creek Mission Site has been the subject of heated land rights debate in recent years, after new plans for a childcare centre were proposed for the historic location.

Protesters climbed onto and pushed down fences at a Deebing Creek site after its First Nations occupants were evicted this morning. Picture: Nicola McNamara

The proposal received push back over claims the site may be home to skeletal remains of First Nations People suspected to be left after a massacre.

The site of the sovereign camp, 144 Grampian Drive, is now part of AVJennings’s planned Deebing Springs community.

The developer states on its website that the Deebing Springs site “was never part of the former Deebing Creek Aboriginal Mission” and that they have been engaging with the Yggerra Ugarapul people to “identify, recognise, protect and conserve Aboriginal Cultural Heritage” on the site.

Site senior Jody Williams said the site still held much value to the local First Nations people, and that the eviction came without warning.

He said their vehicles were removed from the site in the early hours of morning and a number of structures were demolished.

Demolition at the Deebing Spring site after its First Nations occupants were evicted this morning, May 2. Picture: Nicola McNamara

Protesters and local First Nations people rallied outside the gates in the following hours.

“What if this was your people? What if this was your grandparents? You’re getting blood money!” one protester was heard yelling at the security guards lining the gates.

Acting sergeant Dan O’Keefe addressed First Nations protesters just after midday and said he was instructed they had been issued with a notice to leave the property two to four weeks ago.

The protesters claimed they never received any notice.

Mr Williams said he and others chose to live on the site to preserve the local wildlife, including koalas, and protect the site where their ancestors were suspected to have been buried.

He said he came to the mission three years ago after records showed his people from Central Queensland had been through the area.

Mr Williams said they believed there were around 200 bodies buried on the sight, including between 30 and 50 children.

“That’s what we’re trying to protect,” he explained.

“We want those bones repatriated. They’ve got to go home to their people.”

“Our old people are just not being shown any respect, and it’s pretty disheartening.”

Protesters outside a Deebing Heights site after its First Nations occupants were evicted this morning, May 2. Picture: Nicola McNamara

Among the protesters was Yuggera woman Carla Davidson-Fewquandie, who claims her great great grandmother was the last person born on Deebing Creek country, and that her great great grandmother’s sister’s remains were believed to be on the site.

Ms Davidson-Fewquandie said her mother was a Yuggera elder, now in her 70s, and that the construction was “breaking her heart”.

“They (the elders) are dying broken hearted because of what’s happening here.

“We just want people to be respectful, acknowledge and understand.”

She said the occupants lived on the land peacefully and the fact their “basic necessities” had been “taken” from them was “disgraceful”.

“There’s a lot of ancestral remains out here and they’re just bulldozing, they don’t care”.

Yuggera woman Carla Davidson-Fewquandie. Picture: Nicola McNamara

There was a heavy police and security presence this morning as members of the Electrical Trade Union attempted to negotiate entry to inspect the site.

A Queensland Police spokesperson said police were assisting at the property on Grampian Drive “in respect to a request by the developer”.

“Local police have engaged and liaised with all interested parties including traditional owners of the land who are also on site,” the spokesperson said.

Stewart Traill from the Electrical Trade Union said bulldozers and excavators “came through knocking it down” this morning.

He said an electrical contractor was allegedly observed unlawfully doing electrical work alone that morning after bulldozers and excavators “came through knocking it down”.

“We have a right to be in there for safety,” he said.

After hours of negotiation, Mr Traill was allowed through to inspect the site around midday.

At one stage security guards could be seen rolling black tarp over the wire fencing to conceal outsiders’ view of the demolition beyond the gates.

Mr Williams claimed multiple individuals, himself included, had been arrested during the eviction that morning.

A police spokesperson said one person had been arrested in relation to an unrelated matter.

“Police continue to monitor the situation in respect to protest activity.”

An Ipswich council spokesperson said the council was aware of the activity at the site but that the council “had no involvement in this action”.

Originally published as Deebing Creek mission residents removed in shock morning eviction