Beaumont children search: Bones found at site of interest

Hopes of a breakthrough in one of Australia’s most enduring mysteries were quickly dashed on Tuesday despite bones being found in the search for the missing Beaumont children.Ten days after an extensive privately funded dig ended, police were called to the old Castalloy foundry site at North Plympton after reports of bones found.

Several police cars and a van from crime scene investigations turned up just before 2pm on Tuesday.

Watch Above: Police swarm the old Castalloy site at North Plympton

The site is now being redeveloped for housing, after a week-long privately funded dig failed to find a clue to the whereabouts of nine-year-old Jane, seven-year-old Arnna and four-year-old Grant, who went missing from Glenelg Beach on January 26, 1966.

Almost 3000 cubic metres of dirt was moved during the dig last month.

An area was roped off, with bones photographed by investigators.

After a short investigation - 7NEWS understands the bones belong to an animal.

A main suspect in the case was Harry Phipps, who previously owned the site located in North Plympton.

In 2013, police excavated an area after claims by brothers Robin and David Harkin that, three days after the children disappeared, Phipps paid them to dig a “grave-sized” hole on the factory site.

At the request of the children’s mother, Nancy Beaumont, police conducted a second dig in 2018 in an area identified by the brothers earlier that year but after excavating to a depth of about 1.5 metres, abandoned the effort.

The three children have never been found.