Skull find may be Yagan father

A human skeleton has been found in central Perth at the site where legendary Noongar leader Midgegooroo faced a firing squad in 1833.

Contractors working on Anglican Church land off St Georges Terrace uncovered the grave on Friday. The skull was confirmed on Wednesday to be Aboriginal and historical, raising hopes that Midgegooroo had been found.

Midgegooroo, the father of warrior Yagan, was shot without trial and, according to some records, his body was displayed for days as a signal to the "natives".

Historians believe his skull should be identifiable by a prominent forehead bump and possible damage from large bullets.

Other Aboriginal people died at the site, which was a temporary jail in early colonial times.

A skull and bones were found in 1923 and presumed to be Midgegooroo's but were lost. A report in 2010 concluded they were not likely to be his and a Coronial report is being prepared.

South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council chief executive Glen Kelly said it would be enormously significant if they were the Noongar chief's remains.

"His death was pivotal in the history of our State," he said. "His execution set off a big chain of events that led to bloodshed and a hardening of government policy against Noongars."

Mr Kelly said SWALSC hoped to facilitate a plan for the remains. He was disappointed the Anglican Diocese did not have an Aboriginal monitor on site despite knowing its significance.

Elder Albert Corunna said his ancestors and culture were being treated with contempt because work was continuing metres from where a skull was removed.

"Monitors should have been there," he said. "We should have been informed straight away and the remains taken out carefully, every little bone, and taken together to the morgue."

A spokesman for the diocese said monitors were not legally required, police had declared the area a crime scene and works continued in the basin of the old Playhouse Theatre while the grave area was cornered off.

The 2010 report advised architects the execution of Midgegooroo was highly significant.

It marked a dramatic change in colonial policies towards Aboriginal people and laid the basis for policies directed at dispossession over many years.