The Burial Files

In 1918–19 an influenza pandemic took an estimated 15,000 Australian lives, and millions more around the world. One hundred years on, as we grapple with COVID-19, this five-part series rakes through the archives of the State Library of NSW with historians, public health experts and scientists to trace the path of the 1918-19 pandemic. An eerily familiar story of loss, resilience and discovery in a world turned upside down.

Archaeologists unearth more bones at the Sydney Metro site.

Music provided by Jamendo: Passando-Mattia Vlad Morleo, Sur le fil-Eracilon, Suspense-Matti Paalanen,Suspence-Rally Wender, Cellenade-Eracilon, Cellofan-Eracilon, Sad Keys-Julian Guacaneme, Respiro-Mattia Vlad Morleo, Merci-Ad Libitum. Additional Music: Cylinder Six-Chris Zabriskie.

Sydney’s struggle with the 'unsound mind'.

Music provided by Jamendo: Funeral piano melody-Nerevarin, Mirage-Ad Libitum, Cellomane-Eracilon, Cellofan-Eracilon, Piano and Classic Man-Armando Lagozza, Cinematic-Moff, Suspence-Rally Wender, Color Blue-Ad Libitum, Strings of Sorrow-Szymon Pytel, Fate-Gregoire Lourme

A bold plan, a printing press and a violent murder: the rise and fall of Dr Robert Wardell.

Music provided by Jamendo: Perpetuum II-Ad Libitum, Cellendade-Eracilon, Cellofan-Eracilon, Sad Keys-Julian Guacaneme, Suspence-Rally Wender, Charcoal-Chad Crouch, Folitude (piano)-Eracilon, Szymon Pytel-Strings of Sorrow, Anxious Thoughts-Celestial Aeon Project

How thousands of human remains were exhumed and moved.

Music provided by Jamendo: Passando-Mattia Vlad Morleo, Cellofan-Eracilon, Mirage-Ad Libitum, Cellomane-Eracilon, Cellenade-Eracilon, Mendelsshon-Barcarola op.19 n.6-Aufklarung, Reflexion-Whiteyes, Perpetuum II-Ad Libitum, Folitude (piano)-Eracilon.

The gruesome story behind the murder of Samuel and Esther Bradley.

Music provided by Jamendo: Ad Libitum-Color Blue, Szymon Pytel-Strings of Sorrow, Gregoir Lourme-Insomnia, Titan Slayer-Eerie Atmosphere. Additional Music provided by: RoyaltyFreeMusic, Instrumental Version-Cinematic Dark Mysterious Suspense Grand Piano Drama Pictures Theme Soundtrack 022

As Sydney’s population explodes, the cemetery has to go.

Music provided by Jamendo: Waiting-DDmyzik, Sad Piano-DDmyzik, Etincelle-Eracilon, Volucelle-Eracilon, Train-Sergey Kovchik, Cellenade-Eracilon, Yeti Cave-Celestial Aeon Project, Anxious Thoughts-Celestial Aeon Project, Dancing Clock-Nicoco, The Clock is Ticking-AudioSphere, Strings of Sorrow-Szymon Pytel. Additional music: Cylinder Four-Chris Zabriskie

What the headstones from the Devonshire Street Cemetery can tell us about life and death in 19th century Sydney.

Music: J.S.Bach Partita in D minor for solo violin -Sergey Dolgunov, Mendelsshon-Barcarola op.19 n.6-Aufklarung, Sad Piano-DDmyzik, Suspence-Rally Wender, longtime-Reman. Provided by Jamendo.

From a peaceful resting place to an abandoned wasteland.

Music: Cellofan-Eracilon, Cellendade-Eracilon, Sad Piano-DDmyzik, Cellomane-Eracilon, Le Fil Du Temps-Eracilon, Cellotude-Eracilon, Insomnia-Gregoire Lourme. Provided by Jamendo. Cylinder Four-Chris Zabriskie, Suspence-Rally Wender.

Human remains were recently discovered at Central Station. How long have they been there?